Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

system folder size - 120 gb?

Ok, so I am perpetually running out of disk space now. When running the clean up utility it shows that my system folder is now 120+ gb, with no way of managing it. The "system" is now eating up half the HD. How do I get this back under control. I am running 10.12.1. What the heck is going on Apple?

Posted on Nov 10, 2017 8:56 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Nov 10, 2017 10:51 PM

Why are you still on 10.12.1, macOS Sierra is now at 10.12.6 you can download and them install this, Download macOS Sierra 10.12.6 Combo Update once you have done that then check the App Store for any other updates you may want to install.

This may help with your Storage report in About This Mac.


Have you ever tried to re-index Spotlight, this can often sort the problem of incorrect System storage count.

System Preferences> Spotlight> Privacy click the + button and add your Macintosh HD to the list.

Now highlight the Macintosh HD and click the - button to remove it.

This should force Spotlight to re-index, give it time depending on how much storage you have on your disk or other disks attached to your mac.

to check whether Spotlight is re-indexing type something into the Spotlight field (the name of a file or folder you that exists) the Spotlight window should expand and you should see the text Indexing with a progress bar which will fill in blue as it progresses.

5 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Nov 10, 2017 10:51 PM in response to rmaustin

Why are you still on 10.12.1, macOS Sierra is now at 10.12.6 you can download and them install this, Download macOS Sierra 10.12.6 Combo Update once you have done that then check the App Store for any other updates you may want to install.

This may help with your Storage report in About This Mac.


Have you ever tried to re-index Spotlight, this can often sort the problem of incorrect System storage count.

System Preferences> Spotlight> Privacy click the + button and add your Macintosh HD to the list.

Now highlight the Macintosh HD and click the - button to remove it.

This should force Spotlight to re-index, give it time depending on how much storage you have on your disk or other disks attached to your mac.

to check whether Spotlight is re-indexing type something into the Spotlight field (the name of a file or folder you that exists) the Spotlight window should expand and you should see the text Indexing with a progress bar which will fill in blue as it progresses.

Nov 10, 2017 10:55 PM in response to rmaustin

Is it your System folder, or 'System' as defined by the 'clean up utility'.


What does Apple menu - About This Mac - Storage - Manage show ?. 'System' there isn't only the System folder either, but no matter : mine is 18.21 GB .


Omni Disk Sweeper can be useful too see exactly where space is used, but I'd be very cautious about deleting anything unless you're quite sure, or have asked here first.


If you're really running 10.12.1 : I suggest you update, since there have been several updates, addressing security & stability, since that was released just over a year ago.

Nov 11, 2017 12:18 PM in response to PN2

I don't usually do "upgrades" unless there is a compelling reason to do so. Upgrades often introduce problems to systems that are already stable... unless you know there has been good regression testing on all the apps you are running. But just to take that off the table as a possible source of issues, I did do the upgrade to 10.12.6 - and it did not change the problem. Doing what you asked I still show now with the upgrade files used 90.1 gig used is per "Apple menu - About This Mac - Storage - Manage". That number is 30 gig less after running the upgrade. But still way way too big.

system folder size - 120 gb?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.