LQ1026 wrote:
Two issues as I see it: 1) I'm receiving error messages that I don't have enough space to install an "urgent" update. I've deleted photos and files, and should have enough room, but the deletions don't seem to be showing up. I've also deleted trash (numerous times).
With APFS volumes, things are a bit complicated. First, the storage space may not be released until a bit later if you are using backup software such as Time Machine or even third party backup software since the backup software will create an APFS snapshot which will retain "deleted" data until the backup has been transferred to external media. Even then, it may take a day or two for the backup snapshot to be deleted (perhaps even longer depending on how the backup app works & is configured).
If you copied any data to another location within the same APFS volume, then you did not actually make a second copy of that data, but just created a small file which links to the original data. In this situation, both (or rather all) copies (or rather links) of the data must be deleted before any significant storage space is released (also pending the previously mentioned APFS snapshots)..
2) My two external hard drives are not appearing in Finder, which would enable me to move files off of the Macbook. Nothing I've tried or read works.
Is this a new issue, or old issue?
Has anything recently changed in the hardware or software setup with this laptop or your external devices?
Have you tried restarting the Mac? If so, then try booting into Safe Mode to see if it makes any difference.
What are the exact makes & models of these external drives, plus the file systems used on them?
How much actual Free space is listed on the boot drive? Use Disk Utility to get this information....you will want to click on the "Data" volume on the left pane of Disk Utility and check the right pane for the "Free" space value beneath the right portion of the bar.
