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startup disk almost full - and growing

Been getting the "startup disk is almost full" warning every single time I use my computer. "About This Mac" shows that the "Other" category is by far and away the biggest storage hog (larger than all my video files, even - 45 GB and counting at last check).


I downloaded several disk-cleaning tools from the App Store, and the most space they can find to clear is about 1 GB. And despite multiple anti-viral scans showing no malware on my system, the "Other" category keeps growing. No matter how many large files I delete, my startup disk is depleted again after a few hours' normal use.


Any suggestions?

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Dec 16, 2017 11:00 AM

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3 replies

Dec 16, 2017 11:11 AM in response to qthewetsprocket

How to Free Up Space on The Hard Drive


  1. You can remove data from your Home folder except for the /Home/Library/ folder.
  2. Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on freeing up space on your hard drive.
  3. Also, see Freeing space on your Mac OS X startup disk.
  4. Free up storage space on your Mac.
  5. See Where did my Disk Space go?.
  6. Be sure to Empty the Trash to recover the space.
  7. Replace the drive with a larger one. Check out OWC for drives, tutorials, and toolkits.
  8. Use OmniDiskSweeper or GrandPerspective to search your drive for large files and where they are located.

Dec 16, 2017 11:06 AM in response to qthewetsprocket

Be careful with those called "cleaning" tools. They can hose your system. No cleaning or anti-virus apps are necessary or recommended for Mac OS. They can interfere with your Mac's own built-in security. I suggest uninstalling those apps following the developer's instructions.


The Storage tab does not always report correctly. Look in About this Mac > System Report > Storage. Also check by choosing your Mac HD and "Get Info" (command-i). It may be different. Try rebuilding Spotlight index.

How to rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support


Some of the space may also be from Time Machine Snapshots if you are using a laptop.

About Time Machine local snapshots - Apple Support


After you've freed up some space download Omni DiskSweeper. It can give you a more accurate read of disk space than Finder or Storage Tab of About this Mac. Itcan also show you the precise size and location of all your files..It can also give you a more accurate read of disk space than Finder or Storage Tab of About this Mac. Itcan show you the precise size and location of all your files. It will inventory your disk starting from the files that take up the most space. It can also give you a more accurate read of disk space than Finder or Storage Tab of About this Mac. If you want you can even delete files from OmniDisk Sweeper. But be careful some of the items may be important to your system.

For information about the Other category in the Storage display, please see Apple Support Topic

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202867


Also, empty the Trash if you haven't already done so. If you use iPhoto, empty its internal Trash first:

iPhoto Empty Trash

In Photos: File Show Recently Deleted Delete All

Jan 22, 2018 3:50 PM in response to qthewetsprocket

I am having the same problem, but it is my System File that has bloated - my MAcbook Air's SSD HD is 500 GB and my system is up to 368.63 GB!?! Don't know what to do -- I have tried to rebuild spotlight, erased superfluous files, tried reinstalling system software and was able to do it once and it did nothing, I cannot now do it again because it says I don't have enough space. I have run a few programs I could find off the APP store and so far no virus and no help really. Any other ideas anyone?

startup disk almost full - and growing

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