Brian Brown-Cashdollar

Q: Sierra's storage management doesn't seem to work.

Sierra_Storage.jpeg

Sierra's storage management tells me I have 157 GB free (with 129 Purgeable), but I can't copy over a 49 GB parallels VM. I've done all the optimization. It looks like I only have 27 GB free. How can I actually purge the purgeable space?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Oct 6, 2016 8:44 PM

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Q: Sierra's storage management doesn't seem to work.

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  • by trevoz,

    trevoz trevoz Oct 6, 2016 9:04 PM in response to Brian Brown-Cashdollar
    Level 4 (1,409 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 6, 2016 9:04 PM in response to Brian Brown-Cashdollar

    In macOS Sierra, “Purgeable” content appears when you've turned on Optimize Mac Storage. It's storage space that your Mac can automatically make available when storage space is needed. Files marked as purgeable can always be downloaded again on demand.

  • by Brian Brown-Cashdollar,

    Brian Brown-Cashdollar Brian Brown-Cashdollar Oct 6, 2016 9:51 PM in response to trevoz
    Level 1 (38 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 6, 2016 9:51 PM in response to trevoz

    The problem is the purgeable files aren't apparently being moved to iCloud, when I try to copy over the VM I mentioned in original post it says I need an add'l 25 GB, which shouldn't be the case for a 49 GB file when I'm being told I have 157 GB free.

  • by trevoz,Apple recommended

    trevoz trevoz Oct 6, 2016 10:02 PM in response to Brian Brown-Cashdollar
    Level 4 (1,409 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 6, 2016 10:02 PM in response to Brian Brown-Cashdollar

    See Free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

     

    Of course, you can always delete large files manually to make space.

  • by Brian Brown-Cashdollar,

    Brian Brown-Cashdollar Brian Brown-Cashdollar Oct 7, 2016 3:09 AM in response to trevoz
    Level 1 (38 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 7, 2016 3:09 AM in response to trevoz

    Optimized Storage.jpeg

    Optimize Storage-Reduce Clutter.jpeg

    Thanks for your prompt replies. I forgot to to be complete in my original post. I did follow the instructions below and that's why it's showing 62% of the disk is free. The problem is 51% of that space is labeled "purgeable" and it's preventing me from copying over a 49 GB virtual machine. The purgeable space doesn't seem to work quite "automatically" as listed in the feature. Is there something I'm missing. Other than than a HD with enough capacity  to hold all of my data ; ). Thanks

  • by Brian Brown-Cashdollar,

    Brian Brown-Cashdollar Brian Brown-Cashdollar Oct 14, 2016 4:49 AM in response to Brian Brown-Cashdollar
    Level 1 (38 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 14, 2016 4:49 AM in response to Brian Brown-Cashdollar

    Oddly enough the system seemed to create enough space on it's own. Perhaps it just took time to upload some of the resources and creating room. Apple needs to document this feature better and it a little more transparent.

  • by woodmeister50,

    woodmeister50 woodmeister50 Oct 15, 2016 8:29 AM in response to Brian Brown-Cashdollar
    Level 5 (5,626 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 15, 2016 8:29 AM in response to Brian Brown-Cashdollar

    FWIW, make sure you do not place the VM in the documents folder

    (where most VM software default to) otherwise it will also be attempted

    to be uploaded to iCloud and become part of "purgeable" which could

    be disaster plus use up iCloud space.

  • by Brian Brown-Cashdollar,

    Brian Brown-Cashdollar Brian Brown-Cashdollar Oct 15, 2016 11:40 AM in response to woodmeister50
    Level 1 (38 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 15, 2016 11:40 AM in response to woodmeister50

    Good point. I copied it over the the top level of the home directory. I imagine that the R/W would be awful from iCloud. And that's not even considering all the other problems it would likely cause with Sierra's storage management system.

  • by ScotMij,

    ScotMij ScotMij Oct 15, 2016 12:00 PM in response to Brian Brown-Cashdollar
    Level 7 (21,526 points)
    Oct 15, 2016 12:00 PM in response to Brian Brown-Cashdollar

    I find the present Storage info on two iMacs here, totally messed up. I tried re-indexing and that did nothing useful. All I see is Documents (far too big as it includes other photo libraries), Photos (one Library) and a minuscule Other. This is on of the iMacs. The other iMac is even more ridiculous.

     

    Edit: I should have said that I do not have storage space problems. Both iMacs have 3TB Fusion Drives. I sometimes wonder if it is a Fusion Drive issue.

     

    Edit 2: There is no System info - it never completes.