Mac Mini 100GB System Data after music software

System data is generally a catch all for anything that does not neatly fall into the predefined categories. That can be a lot of items that can end up in your hidden user Library folder where some apps can store a lot data. I have a photo app that takes up 100+ GB of in the ApplicationSupport folder in my user Library folder. They can also store a lot in application cache files also located in the user Library folder.

One other thing, If you use Time Machine, there are local snapshots made on your internal drive for the past 24 hours. If you have made large amounts of changes, i.e. installs or deletes, that local snapshot could take up a significant amount of space until it is finally purged after a day.

If you want to take a deep dive into what is actually taking up space on the internal drive you can use a free app called Omni DiskSweeper. It will generate a list of all the storage used on any drive you select. Focus on the user folder. If you prefer a graphical representation a paid app called Daisy Disk does the same but in a graphical format. I occasionally use Omni DiskSweeper when I feel it may be time to do some spring cleaning. Note: neither app will remove any files unless you manually chose to do so.

“Managed to sort it! I used the Arturia Software Centre to move all the resources to my external SSD so now my System Data is down to 47GB of storage used! So happy right now!”

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Your welcome. As for ridding all of this other 47GB, they my User Tip. As emphasized, be certain you create a Time Machine Backup prior to performing any troubleshooting(on any applicable device). That way, you can have something to restore it from, should anything so wrong elapftwards.

"Mac Mini 100GB System Data after music software: Should I be worried or will that 100 gb system data just go eventually? I’m concerned because previously when I got a lot of data like that I actually fully reset and it’s happened a few times and I don’t like resetting because it gives me a lot of anxiety in case something goes wrong. Any input and opinions are welcome."

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Clearing System Data:

If any concern, it's that its taken up lots of space --about 1.5 the size of your internal storage. System Data is caches, which are create so that apps open quicker, and more sufficiently. So, to clear them, there is a bit to perform. Use my User Tip: How to Use Finder to Clear “System Data" on a Mac - User Tip

“47GB of "system data" does not seem all that unreasonable these days. Personally, my "system data" is 42GB and I don't think I have seen it below 35GB.”

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Put Ratio to Perspective:

I’d say that depends on the ratio. For a 128GB iPhone that’d be more than quarter of the storage.

47GB of "system data" does not seem all that unreasonable these days. Personally, my "system data" is 42GB and I don't think I have seen it below 35GB.