How to find and delete hidden files on my Imac computer to increase storage space

It's hard to believe that "hidden log files" are consuming 400GB of disk space. Even caches ...

Use one of the suggested disk utilities to figure out exactly what is using all that space ...

Daisy Disk

Grand Perspective

Omni Disk Sweeper

All are available from the developers. Daisy Disk & Grand Perspective are also available in the App Store.

Most files essential to the system and/or applications are intentionally hidden. It is not a good idea to go poking around about them, much less removing them. You could corrupt applications and even the system.

Even if you unhide hidden files you would still be faced with finding where they are all located and determining the risks associated with removing any of them.

What specific concern do you have about hidden files?

Use the Grand Perspective app or the Omni Disk Sweeper app, and see where the storage is actually going.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GrandPerspective
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OmniDiskSweeper

Follow these instructions to free up storage space on your Mac:

Free up storage space on Mac - Apple Support

Florida1000 wrote:

I am running out of storage space. In the past when this happened, I ran a free program which showed some log files which I erased and got 400 g of space right away.

Highly doubtful " Right Away "

May over several days but not right away

From another contributor @etresoft regarding Free Space and Available Space 

Free vs available disk space huge differe… - Apple Community

Quote >>  “ The "available" storage is the amount of used storage that the operating system could automatically delete if it felt that it was really necessary. The "free" storage is the amount that you can actually use for something.

There are system processes that run in the background and automatically delete some of the "available" storage and convert it to "free". If you completely run out of storage, then those system processes will try a little harder. When you "delete" files you are just hinting to the operating system that you don't need those files anymore. The operating system will eventually remove them, but on its own schedule.

Certain tools will allow you to force the issue and manually clean up some of this storage and manually delete local snapshots. But that is only temporary. "  << End Quote 

Purgeable Space is controlled by the Operating System and not the user 

Get detailed information about a disk in Disk Utility on Mac

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 

400 GB of log files is a huge amount. I had something similar about 7 years ago and it was a buggy script I was running. You may wish to check what is producing all of those and see if there is a software update for that application. If not, you may wish to reconsider using the application.

Cache files also serve a purpose and again should be self-managing. If you have one taking up a huge amount of space then ask the developer about it (How to contact an app developer - Apple Support), or post again here and we can help you investigate it.

Log files should be okay to remove, though I would tend to just let them be unless they really are something indicating some software issue. Most hidden files are hidden for a reason and to keep casual users from removing something critical.

Pick ones' poison in regards to regaining 400 GB of Space

Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS,  is an invitation for disaster. 

Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a percentage on each sale. 

What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase

Any of the below should be removed as per Developers Instructions 

Disk Cleaner 

CleanMyMac , aka “ BrickMyMac “

New macOS Malware "Cthulhu Stealer" Targets Apple Users' Data

MacKeeper,

Dr Cleaner Pro Plus

Open Cleaner one Pro

Macmechanic

Clean my Mac x.

MacBooster

Macscan

MacCleanse 

CCleaner 

MacCleaner 3 Pro

More often that not, it is used for effect rather factual

??

In-light of recent developments

Arrive at you own conclusions