My "Users" folder on my Sytem SSD says I have 840 Gb in it! BUT If I "get Info" on each folder [inside the "Users" folder ...and add them up it only 109 Gb!?! what on earth is going on?
OK SO I'm going to answer my own question... only because I don't feel any of the answers I found in the community answered the question WELL?
The solution is simple, [but only solved in this ONE manner.. that I could tell?] : Just Manage your System Drive by accessing it thru the Apple emblem on the top left of your screen... then select "About this Mac" followed by selecting "Storage" followed by selecting "manage" [that last selection, seems to be only available for the system drive]
I need to give you a little background, that matters as to why my case seems pretty extreme. As it turns out, I have a LOT of iOS devices. I'm a Pro Audio and Video guy and am heavily invested in Apple. I think I'm dealing with with 6 or 7 iPads and 3 iPhones [only 1 phone functions as a phone the other 2 as video cameras] but my point is that all the devices have the maximum available memory [that could be bought at the time of purchase] and that memory was heavily used in capturing UHD Video data or playing large MOV. files.
SO, FOLKS!, that means enormous "backups" what makes me mad is that these iOS backups are HIDDEN in your "Users" folder! and I mean UNLESS you use the "Manage files" [thru the Apple Symbol at the top left of your screen...
---- YOU WILL NEVER FIND THESE FILES---
I tried everything I could even using "Terminal" to run "OmniDiscSweeper" that revealed a whopping 40 more Gb's [sarcasm] than all the other attempts which wasn't even close to the [around 800+ Gb's] of files that where un accounted for!
Lastly: I feel Apple needs to improve the cross referencing of their search engines in these community boards!! I spent all day trying to word the question in JUST the "right" way that FINALLY gave me a close enough result, to then find this Solution!
I HOPE this helps?? I suffered along, with very little" wiggle room" On my system drive and it NEVER made sense how little space was available on that drive because I [intentionally] use HUNDREDS of external Hard Drives and go OUT OF MY WAY to never store any "DATA" on the internal System drives [but only temporarily as a project requires?] so as to have a LOT of bandwidth on the system drive. It never occurred to me that all my device backups would account for 85% of my system HD's data!?! made worse that Apple wants to HIDE the backup data ?!?! GEEZ guys! Show us the GD files!!! it's OK if you want to make it "hard" to Alter that data.. but not being able to FIND it is just stupid [sorry]
OK SO I'm going to answer my own question... only because I don't feel any of the answers I found in the community answered the question WELL?
The solution is simple, [but only solved in this ONE manner.. that I could tell?] : Just Manage your System Drive by accessing it thru the Apple emblem on the top left of your screen... then select "About this Mac" followed by selecting "Storage" followed by selecting "manage" [that last selection, seems to be only available for the system drive]
I need to give you a little background, that matters as to why my case seems pretty extreme. As it turns out, I have a LOT of iOS devices. I'm a Pro Audio and Video guy and am heavily invested in Apple. I think I'm dealing with with 6 or 7 iPads and 3 iPhones [only 1 phone functions as a phone the other 2 as video cameras] but my point is that all the devices have the maximum available memory [that could be bought at the time of purchase] and that memory was heavily used in capturing UHD Video data or playing large MOV. files.
SO, FOLKS!, that means enormous "backups" what makes me mad is that these iOS backups are HIDDEN in your "Users" folder! and I mean UNLESS you use the "Manage files" [thru the Apple Symbol at the top left of your screen...
---- YOU WILL NEVER FIND THESE FILES---
I tried everything I could even using "Terminal" to run "OmniDiscSweeper" that revealed a whopping 40 more Gb's [sarcasm] than all the other attempts which wasn't even close to the [around 800+ Gb's] of files that where un accounted for!
Lastly: I feel Apple needs to improve the cross referencing of their search engines in these community boards!! I spent all day trying to word the question in JUST the "right" way that FINALLY gave me a close enough result, to then find this Solution!
I HOPE this helps?? I suffered along, with very little" wiggle room" On my system drive and it NEVER made sense how little space was available on that drive because I [intentionally] use HUNDREDS of external Hard Drives and go OUT OF MY WAY to never store any "DATA" on the internal System drives [but only temporarily as a project requires?] so as to have a LOT of bandwidth on the system drive. It never occurred to me that all my device backups would account for 85% of my system HD's data!?! made worse that Apple wants to HIDE the backup data ?!?! GEEZ guys! Show us the GD files!!! it's OK if you want to make it "hard" to Alter that data.. but not being able to FIND it is just stupid [sorry]
Did you include your Library folder (the one in your user area)? It is normally hidden from the user. You can see into it by holding the option key when you open the Go menu. You can also open your home user folder and then in the View menu select Show View Options and check the box by Show Library folder.
You can use Daisy Disk or Omnisweeper to completely analyze your disk usage. Daisy Disk can, with your Administrator authentication, provide size information on EVERYTHING, it is the most thorough of these utilities I have found.
Thank you, but Like I posted only one way deals with this issue. WHEN, the issue is caused by iOS backups! you MUST use the "Manage"menu button [for the system Hard Drive] thru Apple symbol in the finder menu .
I spent most of my day trying everything and nothing worked... not even close [to the amount]... only 40 to 50 gigs of "hidden stuff" revealed itself when I used "Terminal" to Open "OmniDIskSweeper"... And obviously, that isn't even close to the 800+ Gig's that "Info" said was in the "Users" folder! "OmniDIskSweeper" [without using terminal], showed only what the finder showed! no more!
They are not hidden any more than your user Library is hidden.
They can be viewed through the Finder on the device for which they were made.
If you unhide your Library (or access it through the Go menu in Finder), you can view them as shown in the link provided by P. Phillips.
Have you tried the Official Apple Support information from below link ?
Thank you, but I don't think you get my issue.
this is kind of a "which came first" issue "the chicken or the egg?"
I agree that ONCE you know what is hogging your disk space...it's, THEN , easy to deal with!!
Both You, P. Phillips and Barne-15E suffer from the same "Occupational hazard" that I do in my field of expertise ! When you know something so well... it EASY to take for granted that someone else hasn't got that background knowledge you take for granted!!
I am NOT a "mac guru" like you folks... I'm a [LONG time] Mac user... I use Mac's because they are more dependable [arguably?] then the PC counterparts? and the Mac OS is more familiar to me. and, because of the latter.. I expect a more "intuitive" approach from the OS. from MY [having been a Mac user, from way back in the PRE OS X days] perspective... I feel the "hidden" files thing [in the modern OSX] to NOT be intuitive... or I wouldn't have wasted a day trying to figure out what was going on?
And So I feel have earned my perspective... even if it looks "ignorant?' to you?? In many ways I AM the "average" Mac user? and like the average Mac user I'm not exactly lost...
So I'll say it again: HEY, Folks @ Apple this little peon over here [me] thinks you'd do better to "SHOW the GD files"! instead of requiring me to Know, what I don't know, in order to address this problem. anybody get what I'm trying to say?? and ONCE I knew where to look... YUP NO BIG deal! it is VERY easy to deal with!! [typical of what makes the Mac platform awesome]
I offer my thought on a solution? Maybe create a FCPX [like] Library file that you can see but doesn't open to reveal it's components [unless you learn how...] so again you can even know the file exists ?!?!
The dominant issue was as and I quote " I need to give you a little background, that matters as to why my case seems pretty extreme. As it turns out, I have a LOT of iOS devices. I'm a Pro Audio and Video guy and am heavily invested in Apple. I think I'm dealing with with 6 or 7 iPads and 3 iPhones [only 1 phone functions as a phone the other 2 as video cameras] but my point is that all the devices have the maximum available memory [that could be bought at the time of purchase] and that memory was heavily used in capturing UHD Video data or playing large MOV. files."
That specific issue has been addressed
There has been more than sufficient advise offered , from more than one contributor, for the User ( you ) to make an informed and educated choice what the next course of action is required for this computer.
The suggestions have been put forth on a volunteer basis, in good faith and in the best interests of the computer.
"info" on my "Users" folder shows a size WAY bigger than the sum of all the folders INSIDE the "users" folder, combined.
