System Storage Taking Up Way Too Much Space in macOS Sierra

Attention any photographers on this thread!

I have this issue quite often and a lot of the time my Lightroom catalogue will be listed under 'System'. To clear your catalogue or transfer it somewhere else, go to; About This Mac > Storage > Manage... > Documents > File Browser > Pictures > Lightroom.

I have the incorrectly reported system storage issue at least once a month and this usually fixes it for me. However, this time my Lightroom catalogue is only taking up 11GB and my Storage still reportedly takes up 142.99GB... I don't use iTunes and haven't backed up my phone to my Mac lately or anything like that so I'm super confused as what's going on this time.

I even went to the Genius Bar 5 days ago and had it checked out. Got diagnostics run which all came back positive. We checked and I had 130GB free and the system was only taking up around 40GB. I haven't really done anything since so I'm extremely curious how my System has tacked on another 100GB ;/

Obviously it's wrong. Ignore that method and use the Info pane for each folder you want to know the size of.

Or try reindexing the hard drive with Spotlight.

Keep in mind that time machine doesn’t necessarily clear all of the local snapshots unless disk space gets low.

THIS IS THE ANSWER! Thank you so much for posting. It really works. It's also termed "Safe Boot".

I've just had to delete my entire portfolio and asset folder from my mac and place in cloud storage to free enough space to use this, thanks to my system files. Why can I not view it to even confirm they are indeed system files?

I cannot find the comment on how to delete the hidden Adobe cache file. Will you please tell me where to find it?

My ios system uses 342.97 GB and is growing. I use adobe photoshop and premier video editing so I may have lots of adobe cache files hidden.

Thank you!

P.S. I'm in Oregon too 🙂

I just got off the phone with Apple Care with the same problem. I’ve Googled this problem and spent too much time on the phone with Apple trying to figure it out.

I don’t know if this is the solution yet...I’m still waiting for the Time Machine to finish it’s backup...but the Care rep I spoke to thinks the 9 days of local snapshots my computer was storing because my external drive was not attached was taking up all the extra space showing up under system.

Does this sound like it could be your problem?

I’ll update as I learn more. I sure hope the solution has finally been uncovered!

Right! That’s the problem. The Time Machine’s idea of “low” and mine are two different things. It just kept storing snapshots because I had a bit of storage left. It got to the point I couldn’t back up my phone because it took up so much space.

I can report once I did the Time Machine backup the hard drive stats went back to normal and I was able to backup my phone.

I’d say problem solved.

My systems folder would grow larger with everything I deleted of it. Time machine would not let me back up. So I ended up dragging anything I wanted to a external HD. Wiped the OS and reinstalled with the help of a Apple technician. It was the only way :) good luck guys !!

I have just formatted my drive and installed High Sierra and everything was fine. I re-downloaded 36GB of Music purchase on iTunes and and about 42GB of photos from iCloud Photo Library. My system storage showed 7.9GB

When I reset my Mac, photos is only 9.68GB and System shows 39.9GB.

It’s definitely displaying my Photos Library as System, wish this could be fixed.

I seem to recall that system files rise tremendously when there are pending updates that were automatically downloaded. One tome my son stem files were through the ruling and after updating they suddenly decreased to normal...

Please tell. Apple techs that you want to Escalade the tech support concern

Hi Don Kasun,
Sure. Try restarting your computer while holding down Command+R. This should bring up the option to reinstall OS. I hope that helps.
Best,
Krista

Would also add that it is termed, "Safe Boot". And it really works. Thanks again.

Open up files, go to file browser and go to library, most of that storage space would end up in the application support section.

You might want to have a look here: https://forums.developer.apple.com/thread/50073

Tried out the solution by HevvyD and it worked. Purgeable space is almost nothing and System Files take up only around 30GB.