com.apple.mediaanalysisd files filling drive in macOS 15.1

Since updating my mac Mini M1 to macOS 15.1 on 28th October, my computer has been creating a 67.9 MB file roughly every hour when the computer is not in use in the following location: ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mediaanalysisd/Data/Library/Caches/com.apple.mediaanalysisd/com.apple.e5rt.e5bundlecache/24B83/9CBD0F43A800584A3C4CABAFAE15CF754A6CC75117BE0645B8F09A3EF4974D11.

The files are in the following format, e.g. the latest one is BF43FD565F5326E554005345F8EE2E2C0271B9C0A9695FACB868D079B6B64D88.tmp.1443.bundle. As these are cache files, I deleted the Caches folder on 5th. November, when it had grown to 17.1 GB: since then, the newly-created Caches folder has grown to 3.16 GB. I have rebuilt the Photos library, also run Disk Utility over the drive. Note that this issue did not occur in macOS 15.0.1. Has anyone else experienced a similar issue, and possibly found a resolution? I have submitted a bug report to Apple.

Mac mini, macOS 15.1

Posted on Nov 8, 2024 8:07 AM

Reply
69 replies

Mar 17, 2025 3:52 AM in response to grumpyoldman2

While it's true that upgrading to the newest version of macOS cleans up some of this mess, but it is not a permanent solution. I've been on macOS 15.3.2 for a few weeks and after the upgrade, I was able to reclaim about 50GB of space but I'm already down to just 200MB (yes, M, not G) and no amount of restarting helps. My com.apple.mediaanalysisd folder is currently 40GB and contains a lot of symlinks to my entire user directory so it seems to be scanning everything. Whatever it's doing, it's doing it wrong. The system shouldn't have the privilege or right to consume all available space for some fringe benefit that 1) isn't user-controlled 2) is completely out of control.


This is to say, upgrading your OS will NOT resolve this issue permanently, it's a temporary remedy.

Dec 2, 2024 2:25 AM in response to paulmacsmurf

I have the same problem. The process com.apple.mediaanalysisd (in

systemdata) is filling up my entire Mac mini SSD (140gb so far). Does

anyone know how i can stop this? I downloaded the CCleaner to clean up

some system data (including the com.apple.mediaanalysisd file) but a

week later the **** process starts filling out my entire SSD again.


I have around 20gb free space on my SSD and the ****

com.apple.mediaanalysisd taking up 140gb, and im getting warnings from

macos that my internal SSD is getting low on space.



I do have around 80.000 photos stored on a external 4TB SSD (with 2TB

free space). Is it possible to make the "com.apple.mediaanalysisd" to

use that SSD instead? or is there a way to turn is this process or make

is stop filling out my entire internal SSD?



im on the latest version of MacOS!



Jan 1, 2025 1:02 PM in response to mohysfb

mohysfb wrote:

I tried cleaning my device using CleanMyMac

CleanMyMac is infamous for corrupting macOS. 3rd party virus apps do the same.


"I have tested the trial version s of the earlier CleamMyMac versions twice, and every time it damaged my Photos Library, when I let it clean a simple test library. It removed original image files of edited versions as unnecessary working copies, and it linked quite a few edited versions to the wrong originals. The damaged library could not be repaired and needed to be restored from a backup."


How to prompt Photos in MacOS Sequoia to … - Apple Community


Jan 15, 2025 4:13 AM in response to paulmacsmurf

Me too... Is there anyone left in Apple that remembers how to program in 64K of memory?


If (iphone & no space while trying to upgrade)

offload Photos & reload later! - That would make it simpler!

Or is it apple policy to force people into buying a new phone &/or a real Mac?


If (df at 90%)

kill mediaanalysisd & do not restart it till space below 90%

Use space more efficiently!

Manage caches appropriately!



etc. etc.


Come on Apple are there any old & careful programmers left?


Having to poke around in plists is not a solution!


This is all really simp-le stuff you seem to have forgotten!



Jan 23, 2025 7:15 AM in response to Andrei Gladkyi

Anyone with this problem all have ICloud... I have ache files that are exeeding over 100 gbs. And Im not quite sure what to do, I have been struggiling with space for quite awhile now , and even got an 8TB to help out, however seemingly always end up having the same issue at the end of he day.


Has anyneremoed these files or copied them over? Does anyone know if removing them will cause my computer to malfunction?

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com.apple.mediaanalysisd files filling drive in macOS 15.1

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