The title pretty much says it all. I want to get my storage back but don't want to have to do a factory reset ideally. I've had this computer for 4 years but the amount of storage the system uses hasn't been an issue until recenty. Is this a common experience for other users?
MacBook Air 13″
Shall this thread with below
That is if you have the time and patience to pursue this
System Data technically, has a mount point /System/Volume/Data
With a mount point of /System , this Volume is part of the Operating System and can not be deleted - full stop
It is where your User Account (s) was / are made when the computer was First Setup as New
We can point-out what maybe included in this Volume
Though, as mentioned earlier, how to reduce this is a long and complicated trial and error process
This process does not always prove fruitful
The category itself is a collection of files which may 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
Fonts, plugins, extensions
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
Then there is Purgeable Space which is controlled by the operating system.
When the system needs more empty space, it moves some purgeable space to empty space.
There’s no user action to hasten this transition. It can take days or longer.
Add in Time Machine Backup Snapshots that have not been transferred to the TM Backup Drive
Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Was there or is there another user account currently or previous used on this computer ?
Has the account been removed ?
Did the removed user account Home Folder been removed ?
If using a Cloud Based Services to sync files, like iCloud and One Drive. These can also occupy space on the Internal Drive
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 either of these two free apps,
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.
Another Application to find and analyze what is using space on the drive is Etrecheck >> Clean up
Follow on
The more popular way to address this issue is to Start Over from Scratch
For Apple Silicon computer >> Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.
For Apple Intel computers >> Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac followed by How to reinstall macOS
Always make a Time Machine Backup before proceeding
It is also suggest to Only Migrating the User Account and nothing more.
Emphasis on User Account Only
Reinstall the Needed and not the Wanted applications from the Apple Apps Store or Directly from the Developers
How can I clear System Data on my MacBook… - Apple Community
From what I have seen on these Forums
This issue has been discussed and discussed and discussed many a time
Generally when this issue is discovered by the User ( you in this case )
It is because the Internal Drive Capacity of this computer maybe on the small size
Meaning, the computer may have a 256 GB Capacity Drive or possible the 512 GB Drive Capacity
The 256 GB drive in 2025 is akin to the time when Apple sold the Entry Level 128 GB Drive
Even the 512 GB drive is on the small size though easier to be managed by the User ( you )
Unfortunately, the users' needs for Storage may have grown since the time it was originally purchased
The implications being that on your next purchase
Spend the Extra Money Up Front on a larger Drive Capacity Drive and add more RAM
This may just Future Proof the computer for your growing needs
Just saying, we get what we have paid for
And No, I do not get any remunerations for trying to Up Sell new equipment / computers
louiejay1999 wrote:
‘You get what you pay for’ is completely missing the point that nearly 3/4 of my storage is being taken up by MacOS.
What size is your drive? System storage takes up a greater percentage the smaller the drive.
louiejay1999 wrote:
‘You get what you pay for’ is completely missing the point that nearly 3/4 of my storage is being taken up by MacOS.
The point remains, the Internal Drive, of any computer, has a Defined Drive Capacity
Once it gets full or too full - that is when things get difficult for the user to accept what has happened
I’m using ~50GB of my storage. I am frustrated that over 2/3 of the storage is being taken up by the system data. This is nothing about trying to get more than the capacity out of my SSD. I don’t mean to cause any offence in stating this but regrettably your responses have not been particularly helpful.
To follow up on a good question by @BobTheFisherman
OP wrote " You get what you pay for’ is completely missing the point that nearly 3/4 of my storage is being taken up by MacOS.
From a M4 Desktop with a Drive Capacity of 512 GB
macOS in and of itself uses about 21.52 GB
System Data on a " lean and mean machine " , mine uses about 12.55 GB
BobTheFisherman wrote:
louiejay1999 wrote:
‘You get what you pay for’ is completely missing the point that nearly 3/4 of my storage is being taken up by MacOS.
What size is your drive? System storage takes up a greater percentage the smaller the drive.
All yours, if you please 👍
‘You get what you pay for’ is completely missing the point that nearly 3/4 of my storage is being taken up by MacOS.
Not helpfull ?
Not offence taken
Fact are facts and are unavoidable
System Data is using 70% of my Mac's storage. What can I do?!
