How to reduce huge System Data on MacBook Pro 2016?

RadArekat wrote:

How to reduce huge System Data (271.41 GB) on MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)?

I've already tried to reduce the huge system data by removing the unnecessary cache files of the following:

/Users/macbook/Library/Logs

/Users/macbook/Library/applicationsupport/adobe/common/MediaCache

/Users/macbook/Library/applicationsupport/adobe/common/MediaCacheFiles

Is there anything else I can do to delete the extra 271.41 GB of System Data?

*Most importantly I am trying to avoid deleting any critical system files 😅

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/5b5858d1-b4e8-4cce-87d0-d2f71f433bd3

You can not delete any critical system files....

Since Big Sur/ and your Monterey loads the System from a locked SSV Macintosh HD...

Big Sur/Monterey use this snapshot of the current system for its SSV (Signed System Volume ) w/ strong cryptographic protections to store system content .

What Apple used to label "Other" is now labeled "System Data".

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Thin local snapshots—

Time Machine force it to delete Local Snapshots from Time Machine Preferences> uncheck “Back Up Automatically”

wait a few minutes while the local Snapshots are automatically deleted then recheck the box to “Back Up Automatically.”

Try something like OmniDiskSweeper for a GUI to get a good look at itemized file size and location:

OmniDiskSweeper http://www.omnigroup.com/more

RadArekat wrote:

Thanks for your response, still i am not able to locate the unnecessary files that are occupying a major space on my HD.

Is it fine to delete whatever files are located in the caches folder? they are just massive it's 41.21 GB.

I've taken all the aforementioned measures to clear the clutter, but as you can see in the screenshot below, the system data is still enormous and has to be at least reduced by half.

Cache file are temporary files, there is no harm in deleting them...

A safeboot will clear System cache files as well...

 How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support