I am unable to update Mac OS due to not enough space in memory despite my having nearly 2Tb of unused memory in iCloud. I have compressed and deleted repeatedly but still only ~11 Gb space available.
MacBook
The point BDAqua has made and is clearly outlined further in his link - the Internal HD / SSD requires more Empty Space to update the macOS. Until unnecessary files of Video, Music, Documents, email attachments, Applications, Pictures are removed, the update will not happen.
Whatever is stored in iCloud and only in iCloud has no bearing on the update you are trying to install.
The point BDAqua has made and is clearly outlined further in his link - the Internal HD / SSD requires more Empty Space to update the macOS. Until unnecessary files of Video, Music, Documents, email attachments, Applications, Pictures are removed, the update will not happen.
Whatever is stored in iCloud and only in iCloud has no bearing on the update you are trying to install.
using MacOS and downloading new versions requires space in the internal disk/drive of your computer, not iCloud, you might just have to move stuff from your internal drive to iCloud to make space
I recommend that it may be time to buy an external disk and move some of those files to it for storage. Once they are copied over, you can then delete them from your computer's hard drive, clearing up needed space. These days, external disk prices are very reasonable and they are easily installed with a USB cable (usually provided with the disk). They are also very compact and most don't even require any external power. You might have to reformat the disk, though. Then, problem solved.
It's difficult to say without having more information. This back up drive - what size is i? You say that you have two terabytes that are unused. I am assuming that you are not using Time Machine to do the backups. If you are, eventually, it will fill up the drive and then erse the older backups when loading the newer ones. If you are manually backing up, as I do, then the backed up date will remain fairly steady in volume. If this is the case, you could erase and reformat the existing back up drive, create two partitions of appropriate size, recopy the back up data to one partition and then copy the "other" files to the other partition. That method would help you keep things organized and separate. Both can then appear on the desktop as two drives.
As to how to move the files over to the other drive, if they are in a folder, then merely copy (drag) the folder over to the external drive. It won't take long for that process to complete.
My current Memory includes the following: Documents 29.69 Gb; Apps 18.09 Gb; Mail 10.15 Gb; iCloud 4.15 Gb; System 11.18 Gb; Other 165.72 Gb; Available 10.6 Gb. I am totally unable to access 'Other'. I do not understand why so much of the 256 Gb total is taken up by 'Other.'
Will FreeZSpace solve the problem?
Dear Ronasara--Thank you. I am using Time Machine for the back-ups to a G Drive mobile.USB with total of 2 Tb memory, of which more than 1.9 Tb still available. I doubt that in my life time, I will fill it up with the weekly back-ups.
Liverdoc.
Free up Storage Space. Click Here
I have an external hard drive with nearly 2 terrabytes of unused memory.
I use it for weekly back-ups with Time Machine.
But it is not clear to me how to move files to this external hard drive. And I am unable to 'see' what files are actually in the "other' stuff that currently is taking up 165.75 Gb of the total of 256 Gb. What is the best way forward?
iCloud doesn't help at all, you need Free ZSpace right on the Hard Drive, how muxh do you have?
https://www.macworld.com/article/2972775/how-to-check-a-mac-free-hard-drive-space.html
I am unable to update Mac OS due to not enough space in memory despite my having nearly 2Tb of unused memory in iCloud. I have compressed and deleted repeatedly but still only ~11 Gb space available.
