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Mac OS uses >100GB of Storage

Hey,

I'm running out of storage on my MacBook Air and when I get a message to delete some files there are several categories and one of them, 'system' is not accessible and takes over 100GB storage. How can I clear it up?

Posted on Apr 21, 2018 2:33 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Apr 21, 2018 2:36 PM

The Storage tab does not always report correctly. 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.

About Time Machine local snapshots - Apple Support


After you've freed up some space download Omni DiskSweeper:

https://www.omnigroup.com/more

DiskSweeper 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. 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. 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

3 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Apr 21, 2018 2:36 PM in response to TONITACKER123

The Storage tab does not always report correctly. 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.

About Time Machine local snapshots - Apple Support


After you've freed up some space download Omni DiskSweeper:

https://www.omnigroup.com/more

DiskSweeper 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. 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. 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

Mac OS uses >100GB of Storage

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