Macbook Air 2024 beachballing and freezing every few minutes after update to 26.2

ralphfromupnorth wrote:

1. Why does one analysis say I have 14 MB free while the disk app says 57MB?

14 GB is your amount of free storage. That's what's important. This is critically low.

The 57 GB is Apple's invented concept of "available" storage. It's unimportant and has no value other than confusing people. EtreCheck only includes it because people are likely to be confused. So I figure if I show both, users will understand that they are two different values.

And even if you had 57 GB of free storage, that would still be critically low.

2. Several years ago Apple moved my docs to the cloud, leaving little on the Mac.  This happened on a previous Mac.  Now most docs are both places.  I never moved them back, how did this happen?  Can I set something so they are all in the cloud?

Not sure what you're saying here.

You can configure iCloud Drive (and other iCloud services) to "optimize" storage. The theory with this is that they will try to keep most data in the cloud unless and until you need it. For iCloud Drive, go to System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Drive > Optimize Mac Storage and turn it on. If you weren't already using Desktop & Documents, turn that on too.

You have a 250 GB hard drive, so you have to do everything in your power to conserve your storage. Turn on all iCloud optimizations.

If you find any large files on your local hard drive in an iCloud folder, in the Finder, you can control-click or right click on the file and choose "Remove download". This will "evict" that file from local storage. If you ever try to open it again, iCloud will have to download it. But if this is a large file that you don't need every day, you might want to do that.

All these iCloud settings can take a while (weeks) to configure themselves optimally. Most likely, you'll have to force the issue by locating large files yourself and performing the "Remove download" operation.

3. Why is system data 75 MB?  Is this normal?

It's actually not too bad. Most people with storage problems have much more "system data".

4. Why did this suddenly become a problem in updating to 26.2?  Can I revert?

This is one problem that has nothing to do with 26.2. What you're experiencing has been a common problem for a few years now. You were probably right on the edge of noticing and then the 26.2 download pushed you over. That's all.

Unfortunately, a 250 GB hard drive is really too small to be useable. You're going to have to do a lot of extra work to keep the storage in a manageable and useable state.

I suggest backing up a step and observing how well that Mac functions in "Safe Mode": Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

Use the Mac long enough in that mode to be able to subjectively characterize its performance. In broad terms describe how well it works — better, worse, or the same. There is no need to run EtreCheck while in that mode.

Then, restart that Mac normally (not "Safe Mode") and observe again. Reply with your observations.

There is no doubt that Mac is a modestly equipped entry level model that is likely to be suffering under the burdens placed upon it (starting with Google's notoriously invasive processes) but I will reserve judgement on whether its configuration is the limiting factor pending your reply.

It shows that I have x86 programs that were moved from my old 2012 Mac (Why Apple Why?). 

They had been migrated along with the contents of your previous Macs. There is nothing wrong with that,l and that's the right way to set up a new Mac. Some of mine still have files that predate even the PowerPC. When I find them I trash them, but your x86 programs will continue to function under Rosetta (not a concern for now). So leave them alone.

Some are in the Apps window, some not.  Question 1. Can I just delete the ones not in the Apps window wherever they are, along with associated folders, or is that asking for trouble? 

Lacking specific information regarding specific programs and how they were installed it's asking for trouble.

Question 2.  Some are in with the hundreds of Apple programs. 

It's best to leave macOS supporting files alone. Again, don't do anything without additional specific information.

It's unlikely either of those concerns are contributing factors.

ralphfromupnorth wrote:

Where I stand on the Macbook Air M3 running 26.2 beachballing/freezing problem as of 1/6/26.  I have removed about 45GB of my stuff and there is still a problem. 

Is that a typo? When I compare your original EtreCheck report and this latest one, it looks like you've removed about 4.5 GB (note the decimal point) of your stuff. That's simply not enough. If you can remove 20 times that, then you might be in business.

I bought the EtreCheckPro Power user package and I'm trying to figure out what I can do with it 

I can't stop someone from making a purchase. It's always out there. But I explicitly told you that it wasn't going to help. And I pointed out that it did have a fee Storage management tool available that would help. And I even complained about how no one ever even mentions said free, but super useful, feature.

It shows that I have x86 programs that were moved from my old 2012 Mac (Why Apple Why?). 

Maybe you still need them? Just because they're old doesn't mean they don't still work. EtreCheck points them out only to warn you that they might not work in the future. If you rely on one of those older apps, you should be investigating new replacements.

For example, I have a great app called "Graphic" that's still x86. The company was sold or something so it's never going to be updated. But it still works great. I know I'm on borrowed time so I'm always looking for a replacement to use when it stops working, as it will surely do one day. Alas, haven't found a replacement yet.

Question 1. Can I just delete the ones not in the Apps window wherever they are, along with associated folders, or is that asking for trouble? 

Yes and yes. You can delete them. But if you don't have a replacement, you might lose them forever. One very nice thing about Apple's Migration Assistant restorations is that it (usually) restores even apps that have complicated licensing models. So if you have some old x86 apps from 2012, and you really need them, there's a good chance that you can't ever reinstall them if you delete them.

And it's also important to point out that you will, in no way or fashion, recover any storage this way. It's a waste of your time.

Question 2.  Some are in with the hundreds of Apple programs.  I have no idea how to find them there.

You can't delete those.

I have Plug-ins that are not attached to Safari or Chrome.  Can I just delete them and their folders? e.g. Silverlight plug in Me>Library>Internet plug-ins?  If not how do I get rid of them?

As I said before, you need to be looking for folders that are 139 GB, not ones that are 10 GB. Those old-school plugins are probably well within the KB range. This is a total waste of your time.

Can I just drag stuff from the Applications folder on the disk to trash? 

Sometimes.

If not, how do I get rid of them?  e.g. Silverlight folder there?

It depends.

Most importantly, this is a waste of your time. You aren't going to recover any storage this way. Some apps can be deleted by dragging them to the trash. Some need a dedicated uninstaller. Anything that shows up in System Extensions, Launch Agents, or Launch Daemons in your EtreCheck report probably needs a dedicated uninstaller. Anything else can probably be dragged to the trash.

But if any particular app was responsible for consuming all of your storage, deleting said app will probably have no effect. You'll still need to track down the actual storage that it used. Most uninstallers won't do that.

EtreCheckPro Power User says I have both storage and CPU usage issues, but I’m not seeing clear advice as to how to solve those porblems.  Am I missing something?

I'm pretty sure EtreCheck tries to get you to use the Storage Tool to free up storage. In general, the Power User package is intended for people to use after they've resolved some problem by using EtreCheck for free here in the forums. There are no magic "fix it" buttons, except on various scam apps. I think those cost something like $45/month. They just list non-existent problems and the "fix it" buttons delete the fake problems from the list.

Probably the most significant aspect from your latest EtreCheck report is the iCloud quota. That'a a feature that requires Full Disk Access, which I try to discourage people from recommending, but it was certainly useful here. It says you have 213 GB of iCloud space available. The only way to have that much iCloud space available is if you have at least the 2 GB iCloud option. And if you have the 2 GB iCloud option, that means you have 1.787 of data in iCloud. You're trying to sync that onto a 250 GB SSD. As you delete files, iCloud is just downloading new ones. And it's constantly re-indexing all those new files too.

I think you might have to just turn iCloud off on this computer. Then free up as much storage as you can. Then, very carefully, try to re-enable iCloud options (one by one) with maximum "optimize" settings.

Just to add to all the very good advise from one and all

Reducing System/Volume/Data is a common question. 

1 -  System data taking too much in MacOS Sono… - Apple Community

2 - Time Machine Local Snapshot won't delete - Apple Community

3 - Over 60% storage blocked by System Data - Apple Community

How to free up ‘System Data’ and other storage on your Mac from a fellow colleague  @ neuroanatomist

Use another application to see where space is being used  Storeograph  on the Apple Apps Store also from another colleague appearing in your question

View APFS snapshots in Disk Utility on Mac

Suggest getting an External SSD Drive and start moving your Pictures, Videos, Music and any other large files you have control over, OFF the Internal drive and Onto the External

Understanding iCloud Drive from a well written User Tip from @ Richard.Taylor

There are  two effective ways to remedy this issue:

1. Quick Fix Actions:

For Apple Silicon computers, use Disk Utility to erase a Mac.

Always make a Time Machine backup before proceeding.

Migrate only the user account, not the entire system.

 Reinstall only the necessary applications from the Apple App Store or directly from the developers.

2 - Generally

When the user discovers this issue, it’s likely because the computer’s internal drive capacity is small, such as 256 GB or 512 GB.

For example, the 13-inch MacBook Pro around 2017 offered a 128 GB storage option, and Apple sold these configurations into 2018. 

Unfortunately, the user’s storage needs may have increased since the computer was purchased.

To future-proof the computer, consider spending extra money upfront on a larger drive capacity and adding more unified RAM.

Note - On Apple Silicon and newer computers. The SSD Drive and the Unified RAM are Soldered to the Logicboard and can not be upgraded.

Google Chrome ?

Short and unpopular suggestion for some

 https://chromeisbad.com

May consider an alternative https://brave.com which is essentially Google Chrome without the Google baggage 

Refer to the Posting by Respected Contributor @ John Galt 

Application memory error on my MacBook Pro - Apple Community

Refer to the Posting by Respected Contributor @ Kurt Lang

etrecheck... Mac running slow - Apple Community

ralphfromupnorth wrote:

Okay, by using the info (circled i) on Storage I found 10 GB from an old Subaru map download I could get rid of immediately, and some old apps to delete. But that's the only low-hanging fruit I could find via the Storage display. Now 49 GB free. What is the best way to search for large garbage to remove? ... Do purchased third party programs help? If so which ones?

There are various ways of doing that, depending on the amount of time and effort you want to devote to looking for the less low-hanging fruit, but Mr etresoft's Storeograph may be of interest to you:

https://storeograph.ca/en/index.html

Your MacBook Air's modest 256 GB capacity constraint will remain a challenge, but perhaps you will be able to reclaim sufficient space to keep it in service for a while longer.

Those drive scores are dismal as others point out:

Write speed: 340 MB/s

Read speed: 1684 MB/s

To sense the scope of your issue, an M1 Macbook Pro 2020 I tested did 3200MB/sec for both scores in multiple tests over a period of about nine months.

ralphfromupnorth wrote:

Okay, by using the info (circled i) on Storage I found 10 GB from an old Subaru map download I could get rid of immediately, and some old apps to delete. But that's the only low-hanging fruit I could find via the Storage display.

The Storage display doesn't even qualify as "low-hanging fruit". It's worse than useless. How much time did you spend tracking down that 10 GB? I guarantee the operating system can fill up that space again in just a few microseconds.

What is the best way to search for large garbage to remove?

You need a tool that will analyze your hard drive usage. And even then you have to be careful. Some directories are hidden and should be avoided. But in many cases, those directories are where the problem lies. This is one of the primary reasons I strongly caution people against looking for 5 and 10 GB of data to remove. For one, that's a total waste of your time. The OS will gobble that right up again far faster than you could ever hope to delete it.

But more importantly, small files like that are much more likely to contain valuable and useful data. The trick is to find that one directory that should only have 36 KB in it, but instead has 139 GB.

I am bummed that it cannot just leave stuff in the cloud until needed. I have all settings set to optimize storage.

All of the "optimize storage" settings are only useful if you have no other storage problems of any kind. If you do have storage problems, the turning on those "optimize" settings is more likely to make it worse. That's when the operating system notices that you've just spent 4 hours making 49 GB free, so it immediately fills that up with photos from your 2018 trip to Tucson and Boney M.'s greatest hits collection.

I understand I was unwise to buy so small an internal disk last year.

Not to rub salt in into the wounds, but you also have to take that into consideration. With a hard drive that small, you're unlikely to find any 139 GB folders. You didn't have that much space to begin with. You actually do have to look for those 10 GB files, but you have to make sure and choose very, very wisely.

Do purchased third party programs help? If so which ones?

Alas, I can't help there. I've known about this problem for some time. I've long since gotten tired of typing this same stuff over and over and over again. So instead, I wrote my own app to fix it. But since wrote it, I can't post a link. Bummer for you. Don't get me wrong, I strongly approve of the no-advertising rule here in the forums. It would be just awful if the site were full scamware ads. But all that being said, I'm not going to recommend someone else's app when I just spent a year building my own.

Whatever app you find, just be careful with it. Before you delete any mystery file, make sure it's something that you don't need. You don't have to make any guesses. You can always post a question here in the forums with a list of the files (and their paths) and we'll tell you which ones are safe to delete and which you should leave alone.

ralphfromupnorth wrote:

according to Storage

Do not believe anything that Storage tells you. "System Data" is completely meaningless. "Available" storage is a fantasy.

You can use Disk Utility to see how much free storage you have on the disk. That's the only thing that matters.

Yes iCloud and Apple Music

I'm sorry, but that's a fundamental problem that you're going to have to resolve on your own somehow. If you have 100 units of data in any cloud service, but only 10 units of storage available locally, what happens? I don't know. It all depends on how that particular service manages this particular type of storage. Maybe it only downloads the 2 units of data that you need that day. Maybe it fills your hard drive completely. I didn't write the software so I don't know what it does. Maybe you can locates one specific unit of downloaded data and evict it from local storage. What happens to that one unit of storage? Is it free for use? Or will it be immediately taken by one of those other 90 units of remote data?

I have a 2 TB iCloud family plan with 372 GB used. My usage is 224 GB. I have a 1 TB hard drive with 142 GB free. It's simple math, but something's got to give.

ralphfromupnorth wrote:

1. Why does one analysis say I have 14 MB free while the disk app says 57MB?

Those are GB not MB.

2. Several years ago Apple moved my docs to the cloud, leaving little on the Mac.  This happened on a previous Mac.  Now most docs are both places.  I never moved them back, how did this happen?  Can I set something so they are all in the cloud?

iCloud is for sharing data between devices, not for freeing up larger amounts of space.

3. Why is system data 75 MB?  Is this normal?

Where are you seeing system data at 75MB, or is that GB...?

4. Why did this suddenly become a problem in updating to 26.2?  Can I revert?

No reverting back, requires an earlier Time Machine from before Upgrading to macOS 26.

Then a full erase, macOS install and a restore or migration from that earlier Time Machine backup.

Even when you’re not using the computer, if it’s powered on then it’s active. Sleep doesn’t mean what it used to. Or maybe it means that since macOS is geriatric in tech terms, it has to get up every hour to pee. Your Mac will wake up every hour or so. Mail and Messages will be checked. Time Machine backups will happen. Cloud services will sync. I’ve noticed that if I happened to leave Image Capture open, my scanner will refresh the overview every hour while the Mac ‘sleeps’.

Notably and relevant, Spotlight will index during ‘sleep’ meaning ‘System Data’ will change since that category is Spotlight saying ‘I have no idea what this is’.

If your used/free space is changing, that’s most likely due to cloud services moving data (or TM back-ups if active, but those tend to ‘buffer’ space because when you delete files they remain in the snapshots for some time…for me, at least two weeks).

ralphfromupnorth wrote:

I have a large number of chunk files, all from the same few minutes in 2022 (therefore from my old Mac) I'm guessing i can get rid of them. What are they?

Never heard of the "chunk" file. What's the path to one of those files? If they're from 2022, and you don't know what they are, then you probably don't need them.