Why is my "System" file so large?

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Level 1

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Why is my "System" file so large?

I just purchased a new MacBook Pro, 128gb flash drive. I used Migration Assistant to transfer some data from my older MacBook Pro (2011 model I think?). I used a TimeMachine backup on an external drive. As far as I can tell, hardly anything has transferred over (can't find anything other than the photos I moved to the iCloud Drive). When I tried to move some things manually from the drive that weren't stored in a TimeMachine backup, I was told there wasn't room and when I checked storage, my System File is taking up almost 97gb of my 128 storage! I only have 6gb of free space left and there's next to nothing on the computer. Help!

I read that for a lot of people, TimeMachine snapshots were causing the massive system file, but looking in Terminal, I don't have any. I think it's related to the migration somehow but I don't know how to find anything. Thanks

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS High Sierra (10.13.2)

Posted on Mar 22, 2018 5:04 AM

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Answer 1

r.durai

Level 1

72 points

Mar 23, 2018 4:21 PM in response to matthewwv

If you are able to, try to avoid using Time Machine to restore to your new computer. I had a similar issue while I was using some old macbook Pros and what I did was just manually install the programs that I knew I would use as I needed to use them and then transferred over the actual system files if they weren't already transferrable by user accounts. Doing this, not only did I save the space that system took up, I also got rid of a bunch of useless clutter and apps that I didn't need. I highly recommend this but if not, try to analyze the storage pattern on your old machine which you are using to send the data and then see if you can delete relevant files or preferences and try again.

Cheers! :-)

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Why is my "System" file so large?

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