Q: I tried to free up storage, but it just changed the labeling of the space. Help!

Hi,

I'm on an IMac using OS X. I needed to free up space and so moved all my photos to an external drive. I then deleted my iPhoto library and emptied the trash, but now when I check my storage the amount of used space is the same it just changed it the labeling of it from 'Photos' to 'Other.' I then went and emptied the trash in the iPhoto library, but that hasn't made a difference. I have even turned off time machine even though I am using a separate backup drive for that, but nothing. And of course I have restarted the computer. How do I actually free up this space?

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013), OS X El Capitan (10.11.2), null

Posted on Apr 7, 2016 3:17 PM

I have this question too

Duane

Level 10 (124,018 points)

I suggest that you use OmniDiskSweeper, WhatSize, or DaisyDisk to determine the files or folders using a lot of space and could be moved to another disk or deleted.

Posted on Apr 8, 2016 12:41 PM

Q: I tried to free up storage, but it just changed the labeling of the space. Help!

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by Duane,

Duane Apr 7, 2016 3:17 PM in response to Clove13
Level 10 (124,018 points)

Apr 7, 2016 3:17 PM in response to Clove13

Personally I think that Apple should shred that display since it is frequently wrong. You can reset Spotlight so it reindexes your drive and hopefully that display will show the correct information.

I like the old tried and true way to determine how much free space you have on your hard drive. Right-click on the hard drive icon and select "Get Info".
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by theratter,

theratter Apr 7, 2016 3:26 PM in response to Clove13
Level 4 (3,917 points)

Desktops

Apr 7, 2016 3:26 PM in response to Clove13

It would seem Duane forgot to tell you how to re-index your drive: Spotlight- How to re-index folders or volumes - Apple Support.
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by Duane,

Duane Apr 7, 2016 3:32 PM in response to theratter
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Apr 7, 2016 3:32 PM in response to theratter

I had to leave some mystery. Thanks theratter!
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by Clove13,

Clove13 Apr 7, 2016 9:00 PM in response to theratter
Level 1 (8 points)

Desktops

Apr 7, 2016 9:00 PM in response to theratter

Ah yes, good old google got me to directions, but even after I followed the directions nothing has changed. I also ran utility disk, but still nothing. And the numbers that I was seeing about the storage in "About this Mac" are the same numbers that show up when I right click the HD and "Get info." I'm not sure what else I can try...
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by Duane,

Duane Apr 7, 2016 9:18 PM in response to Clove13
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Apr 7, 2016 9:18 PM in response to Clove13

How much space was the photos that you moved consuming?
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by theratter,

theratter Apr 7, 2016 9:18 PM in response to Clove13
Level 4 (3,917 points)

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Apr 7, 2016 9:18 PM in response to Clove13

They cannot really be the same. Get Info only displays three things - Capacity, Used, and Available memory - and no graphs. That is the only information I would rely on unless you have just re-indexed the drive. You are making a mystery out of nothing.
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by Clove13,

Clove13 Apr 8, 2016 12:33 PM in response to Duane
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Desktops

Apr 8, 2016 12:33 PM in response to Duane

The file that was moved was 444GB, my drive is a 1TB, and its still showing 926 GB used. There is clearly something going on that needs addressing
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by Duane,Apple recommended

Duane Apr 8, 2016 12:41 PM in response to Clove13
Level 10 (124,018 points)

Apr 8, 2016 12:41 PM in response to Clove13

I suggest that you use OmniDiskSweeper, WhatSize, or DaisyDisk to determine the files or folders using a lot of space and could be moved to another disk or deleted.
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by Old Toad,

Old Toad Apr 8, 2016 1:35 PM in response to Clove13
Level 10 (141,679 points)

Photos for Mac

Apr 8, 2016 1:35 PM in response to Clove13

Do you also have a Photos library on your drive.
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by Clove13,

Clove13 Apr 9, 2016 3:21 PM in response to Duane
Level 1 (8 points)

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Apr 9, 2016 3:21 PM in response to Duane

I had deleted iPhoto library, but didn't realize that two files were sharing the same information. So using OmniDiskSweeper (thanks Duane) I found the other library (thanks Old Toad) and that freed up the space. Problem solved.
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Q: I tried to free up storage, but it just changed the labeling of the space. Help!

All replies Helpful answers

by Duane,

by theratter,

by Duane,

by Clove13,

by Duane,

by theratter,

by Clove13,

by Duane,Apple recommended

by Old Toad,

by Clove13,

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