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system files take up an ungodly amount of space?

hey there.


my "system data" files are taking up an ungodly 300 gigabytes of storage. i genuinely do not know why. as far as i know, there isn't a way to like clean them up or delete anything unnecessary.


uhhh please help

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.0

Posted on Sep 8, 2022 8:39 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 8, 2022 10:19 PM

"System Data" is controlled by macOS. The largest contributor to its size are Time Machine local snapshots. These snapshots are done hourly and are retained for up to 24 hours.


One method to delete them, is to simply disable the Time Machine "Back Up Automatically" option. Wait about 10-15 mins; then re-enable it. You will find this option at System Preferences > Time Machine

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 8, 2022 10:19 PM in response to maxnnnn

"System Data" is controlled by macOS. The largest contributor to its size are Time Machine local snapshots. These snapshots are done hourly and are retained for up to 24 hours.


One method to delete them, is to simply disable the Time Machine "Back Up Automatically" option. Wait about 10-15 mins; then re-enable it. You will find this option at System Preferences > Time Machine

Sep 9, 2022 1:27 AM in response to maxnnnn

Is user profile accurate MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.0 ?


Current stable version is 12.5.1


Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac


What is “Other” storage on a Mac, and how can I clean it out?


Free up storage space on your Mac


OmniDiskSweeper Safe to use


GrandPerspective 


How to delete Time Machine snapshots on your Mac


See used and available storage space on your Mac


Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch


Notation - If the user is using a cloning software like Carbon Copy Cloner - suggest tweaking the Safety Net Feature in this software. It may be making addition Snap Shots that are not being Cloned to the Eternal Drive. If this should be the case, these Snap Shot could be using additional space on the drive 


The final word from Apple on Managing the " Other/ System Data “ Category


Other / 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.

system files take up an ungodly amount of space?

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