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Can't install Big Sur. "Not enough space"

I've been struggling with this for a coupe fo weeks and it simply does not make any sense. Even after everything I've read around here.


My early 2015 MacBook pro has just over 35GB of free space, with around 25GB of "Other" used space that I cannot seem to free up.

The Big Sur update is 12.20GB to download, leaving me just under 24GB once the update is downloaded.

However, it will not install because I apparently need another 12GB of space.


Why does this update need almost 50GB of space to download and install?


I don't have any spare external drives to move my 45GB of music to.


How can I free up more of that "Other" used space?

I've been through as many steps as I can to get rid of unused/unwanted items, cleared caches and emptied the bin.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Dec 15, 2020 1:39 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 15, 2020 1:51 AM

If you click on this link,

How to upgrade to macOS Big Sur - Apple Support

read the Check Compatibility section you will notice it says that

Big Sur needs 35.5GBs of free space to install, that plus the installer app at 12.2Gbs makes 47.7GBs.


You will have to free up this much space and more to get Big Sur in, the installer app will self delete

on completion of the installation.


You will need to go through the Users account on your mac to find items that you can move to an external

drive, anything you do not use on a daily basis. Music, Movies, Images usually take up the most space.

Once you have confirmed you have copied them over successfully you can delete them from your mac.


External drives are cheap. Or you could offload to a high capacity USB stick.


If you want an accurate report of the storage on your mac download and install this app, it is free.

https://www.omnigroup.com/more



Similar questions

11 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 15, 2020 1:51 AM in response to LostSoul 301281

If you click on this link,

How to upgrade to macOS Big Sur - Apple Support

read the Check Compatibility section you will notice it says that

Big Sur needs 35.5GBs of free space to install, that plus the installer app at 12.2Gbs makes 47.7GBs.


You will have to free up this much space and more to get Big Sur in, the installer app will self delete

on completion of the installation.


You will need to go through the Users account on your mac to find items that you can move to an external

drive, anything you do not use on a daily basis. Music, Movies, Images usually take up the most space.

Once you have confirmed you have copied them over successfully you can delete them from your mac.


External drives are cheap. Or you could offload to a high capacity USB stick.


If you want an accurate report of the storage on your mac download and install this app, it is free.

https://www.omnigroup.com/more



Dec 15, 2020 3:51 AM in response to LostSoul 301281

As it is brand new operating system then it may have bugs that will need to be ironed out in

the coming months.

Third party software companies often take a while to catch up.

A lot of people wait until the 2nd or 3rd version is released before upgrading, some wait longer.


If you are going to install Big Sur make sure you are fully aware of the changes and

if you are ready. Make sure your third party apps have updates available so they will

continue toward in Big Sur, this also goes for the drivers and software for any printers/ scanners

and any other hardware you use withy your mac.

Dec 15, 2020 3:58 AM in response to dialabrain

No. It needs at least 47.2GB.

12.2GB for the installer download and a further 35GB for installation.

Saying 35GB is misleading.


Even if it was 35.5GB, that's still a required 47.7GB of space required.


As I said, I have 35.5GB of free space.

I download the installer, which is 12.2GB, I am left with 23.3GB of free space.

During installation I get a message saying I require another 12GB of free space.

Do the maths, 12.2 + 23.3 + 12 = 47.5GB required for installing Big Sur.


So I will say again, claiming that only 35GB(or 35.5GB according to you) is required is misleading.

Can't install Big Sur. "Not enough space"

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