160GB of "system data"!
Help! My storage says that I have 160 GB of 500 being used by "system data". What is this, and how do I get rid of the excess?
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.2
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User profile for user:
OrigamiFan1
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Community Specialist
Hi hughbin,
Start with the steps outlined in the article here: Free up storage space on your Mac
Specifically the section for reviewing files and using the "Reduce Clutter" option to ensure there are no third-party files taking up a large amount of space.
You can also find and remove files with the help of the guide here: Find and delete files on your Mac
Additionally, the article here See used and available storage space on your Mac mentions.
- System Data: Contains files that don’t fall into the categories listed here. This category primarily includes files and data used by the system, such as log files, caches, VM files, and other runtime system resources. Also included are temporary files, fonts, app support files, and plug-ins. You can’t manage the contents of this category. The contents are managed by macOS, and the category varies in size depending on the current state of your Mac. You can manage your data that falls outside the other categories using Finder or the 3rd party apps that created it.
If you continue to have any issues after attempting to clear storage data, reach out to Apple Support directly to further assist.
Contact - Official Apple Support
Cheers!