Related Article: Free up storage space on your Mac

System data taking 155gb on Sonoma macOS

Just updated to Sonoma on my iMac (M1 chip) and it is taking 159gb of System data!


How do I free up that much space?


iMac 24″, macOS 14.0

Posted on Sep 26, 2023 9:13 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Sep 29, 2023 12:38 PM

System Data used to be called Other Category on earlier systems. The Other category is a potpourri of files which can include:


• System temporary files

• macOS system folders

• Archives and disk images (.zip, .iso, etc. - often found in the Downloads folder)

• Personal user data

• Files from the user’s library (Application Support, iCloud files, screensavers, etc.)

• Cache files: browser, Mail

• Mail messages & attachments

• Fonts, plugins, extensions

• Safari reading list

• iTunes backups

• Crud resulting from jailbreaking your iDevice

• Game data

• Saved data files

• Call history

• Notes

• Media

• Voice memos

• Other files that are not recognized by a Spotlight search

• Media files that cannot be classified by Spotlight as a media file because they are located inside of a package

• Files created and modified by other user accounts on your Mac.


They can be located anywhere on your hard drive.



The files that you have control over are located in the Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music and Movies folders.  You can use this free app, GrandPerspective, to find the largest files on your drive so you can determine if they can be deleted or moved to an external HD for storage.


Note: you can empty the Downloads folder after the apps and/or updates that were downloaded have been installed or applied.  Some users have found a couple of Gigabytes of files in their Downloads folder which are no longer needed. 


Also do this: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.


NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files


NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.


18 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Sep 29, 2023 12:38 PM in response to yuritp

System Data used to be called Other Category on earlier systems. The Other category is a potpourri of files which can include:


• System temporary files

• macOS system folders

• Archives and disk images (.zip, .iso, etc. - often found in the Downloads folder)

• Personal user data

• Files from the user’s library (Application Support, iCloud files, screensavers, etc.)

• Cache files: browser, Mail

• Mail messages & attachments

• Fonts, plugins, extensions

• Safari reading list

• iTunes backups

• Crud resulting from jailbreaking your iDevice

• Game data

• Saved data files

• Call history

• Notes

• Media

• Voice memos

• Other files that are not recognized by a Spotlight search

• Media files that cannot be classified by Spotlight as a media file because they are located inside of a package

• Files created and modified by other user accounts on your Mac.


They can be located anywhere on your hard drive.



The files that you have control over are located in the Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music and Movies folders.  You can use this free app, GrandPerspective, to find the largest files on your drive so you can determine if they can be deleted or moved to an external HD for storage.


Note: you can empty the Downloads folder after the apps and/or updates that were downloaded have been installed or applied.  Some users have found a couple of Gigabytes of files in their Downloads folder which are no longer needed. 


Also do this: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.


NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files


NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.


Nov 7, 2023 9:06 AM in response to Ondashek

Ondashek,


CMM is considered malware by most experienced users. It does absolutely nothing to enhance Mac OS and does nothing that Mac OS cannot already do. I (and many other experienced users) recommend locating CMM's uninstall instructions and following them to the letter.


Only download third party:


  • Cleaning apps
  • Antivirus apps
  • Security apps
  • VPN apps


if you want to have a slow, unstable and feature rich (in a bad way) experience with Mac OS.

Nov 10, 2023 6:02 AM in response to yuritp

I had to be pretty brutal with my iCloud Drive and pare storage shared on my MacMini given space available. Most was detached from iCloud sharing so almost nothing is shared to local storage. I just download as necessary, manually and manually upload. As a result, do not get shared using space any more.


Hope this is a clue so you'll be able to implement what settings you prefer. Use of iCloud in this manner is a bit tricky. My space is now pretty stable. The Mini balks badly in Sonoma when at free space below 90GB, FYI.


System data taking 155gb on Sonoma macOS

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