How to delete software update files in update volume on Mac running macOS Sequoia?

Question

How to delete software update files in update volume on Mac running macOS Sequoia?

Hello, I have an M3 MacBook Air that runs MacOS Sequoia. Recently, a software update file got downloaded(MacOS 15.3) which I don't intend on installing. It appears that I might have lost approximately 10 GB of drive space as a result of this update having been downloaded, despite the size of the software update being approximately 3.5 GB. I believe the update folder containing the associated update files is located in the Update volume under System. I don't seem to be able to delete the update folder or the files within it, probably because it's protected or I don't have permission to handle them. I really want to delete the software update folder with its files as I want to retrieve the 10 GB that were lost after the update was downloaded. How do I do this? I'd be grateful if anyone could help me out with this, please.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Feb 10, 2025 2:57 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 11, 2025 7:06 AM in response to dialabrain

Update: I went to the Updates folder in the Library and deleted a pkg type file which I believe was the software update file. I then clicked on 'Software Update available' and clicked on the 'Update' option and I was able to retrieve the 10 GB of drive space that was lost. I guess that's how it's to be done. It's all good now. Whew!!

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Answer 2

dialabrain

Level 10

136,797 points

Feb 10, 2025 10:34 PM in response to mrmagnetoman88

Yes, I'm actually running Sequoia 15.3.1. No idea why you don't want to install Sequoia but, you can try selecting the folder and pressing command+option+delete and see if that works. Otherwise I don't know.

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Answer 3

Feb 10, 2025 4:08 AM in response to dialabrain

Hello dialabrain, thanks for your response. Yes, that's true. I disabled Apple Intelligence when I found that after prolonged periods of usage without shutting down, swap would start being used. Do you know how I could delete the software update file in the Update volume?

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Answer 4

dialabrain

Level 10

136,797 points

Feb 10, 2025 4:35 AM in response to mrmagnetoman88

I checked an Intel and an Apple Silicon Mac running Sequoia 15.3 and have no "software update" file in either, so I can't tell you what it might be or whether it can or can't be removed, or if you should.

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Answer 5

Feb 10, 2025 9:06 PM in response to dialabrain

It was a software update(MacOS 15.3) which automatically downloaded that I don't want. Do you happen to know where files for an update as such are stored on a Mac? I really want to get rid of it as it appears to have caused a 10 GB reduction in drive space.

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Answer 6

Feb 10, 2025 11:11 PM in response to dialabrain

Oh, the reason I want to stay on MacOS Sequoia 15.1.1 is because there's a particular third party application that allows me to configure the dock such that it has a 3D look which I believe may not be supported on MacOS Sequoia 15.3. Also, when I upgraded from MacOS Sonoma to MacOS Sequoia, the battery percentage and health percentage were incorrectly recorded and I had to do a clean reinstallation of MacOS Sonoma followed by an upgrade to MacOS Sequoia to get the percentages to be correctly recorded. Those are the two reasons I'm rather reluctant to upgrade my operating system any further. Did you encounter any issue with the battery percentage recorded or any other bug, for that matter after upgrading from MacOS 15.1 to MacOS 15.3?

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Answer 7

Owl-53

Level 10

105,639 points

Feb 11, 2025 3:22 AM in response to mrmagnetoman88

mrmagnetoman88 wrote:

Oh, the reason I want to stay on MacOS Sequoia 15.1.1 is because there's a particular third party application that allows me to configure the dock such that it has a 3D look which I believe may not be supported on MacOS Sequoia 15.3. Also, when I upgraded from MacOS Sonoma to MacOS Sequoia, the battery percentage and health percentage were incorrectly recorded and I had to do a clean reinstallation of MacOS Sonoma followed by an upgrade to MacOS Sequoia to get the percentages to be correctly recorded. Those are the two reasons I'm rather reluctant to upgrade my operating system any further. Did you encounter any issue with the battery percentage recorded or any other bug, for that matter after upgrading from MacOS 15.1 to MacOS 15.3?

As has been suggested elsewhere

The storage space available recorded on m… - Apple Community

Holding back from updating because of the Third Party Application may not or will not function after applying Sequoia 15.3 ?

Sorry but that would definitely fall solely to the Third Party Developers to have Tested their software against Sequoia of any version

Developers do have the opportunity to Test Beta Versions long before even Beta Tester are permitted to test the beta version

If they have fallen that far behind.

You may reconsider you options carefully as it relates to this 3D Dock application

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Answer 8

Owl-53

Level 10

105,639 points

Feb 11, 2025 3:59 AM in response to mrmagnetoman88

In the interest of a full discloser

The Current version as of Monday Feb 10, 2025 is now version 15.3.1

Apple security releases

This version ( 15.3.1 ) seems to be a very important update in regards to Security of the computer and operating system >> " This update has no published CVE entries. "

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Answer 9

Feb 11, 2025 7:24 AM in response to Owl-53

Hello again, PRP_53. Thanks for your concern and sound advice regarding keeping my system up to date. While I'm excited about having finally been able to retrieve the 10GB of drive space that was lost, I'll bear all that you've said in mind(especially the security factor) and consider updating my system.

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Answer 10

dialabrain

Level 10

136,797 points

Feb 10, 2025 3:11 AM in response to mrmagnetoman88

FWIW, if you disable Apple Intelligence you will get back much of the drive space. Of course you give up the benefits of Apple Intelligence.

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Answer 11

dialabrain

Level 10

136,797 points

Feb 10, 2025 4:16 AM in response to mrmagnetoman88

To be honest I don't know what you are referring to. If I look at /System/Volumes/Update mine is only 49.6 MBs.

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Answer 12

dialabrain

Level 10

136,797 points

Feb 10, 2025 4:20 AM in response to mrmagnetoman88

Just to add, I have no "software update" file in /System/Volumes/Update.

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Answer 13

Feb 10, 2025 6:10 AM in response to dialabrain

It's the file named 'softwareupdate.35819.dBQHII.

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Answer 14

dialabrain

Level 10

136,797 points

Feb 10, 2025 6:15 AM in response to mrmagnetoman88

FWIW, that's a folder not a file. None the less, it's not on my Macs and I still don't know what it is.

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Answer 15

Feb 10, 2025 7:51 PM in response to dialabrain

I see. Do you happen to know what exactly accounts for the additional space that is lost when an update is downloaded and where I can locate the files accounting for this lost space?

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