If you use your Mac extensively for work or various tasks, you may encounter storage issues over time, depending on its maximum capacity and the functions you use. Before considering a storage upgrade, why not explore the built-in features of macOS that can help optimize your existing storage? By following the system recommendations, you can potentially free up valuable space on your Mac.
With macOS, you can view and manage all the system files and applications installed on your computer in a detailed manner. You might be surprised to discover how much space these recommendations can recover.
In the steps below, you will learn how to access the details of your Mac’s internal storage and explore some best practices to optimize it according to your specific needs. By implementing these practices, you can make the most out of your current storage capacity and improve the overall performance of your Mac.
How to View and Manage Your Mac’s Internal Storage
1. Click the Apple icon at the top left of your Mac screen , then “About This Mac.”
2. In the window that will open on the screen, click on the “Storage” tab. Wait until the internal storage space is calculated and click “Manage.”
3. The window will open in the system recommendations section. Check if the suggestions for improvements to your Mac’s internal storage make sense, and if you agree, click “Optimize” to remove the system-recommended items. You must confirm the action in the window that will open on the screen.
4. One of the recommendations will possibly be to enable the automatic emptying of the Recycle Bin on your Mac after 30 days. You must confirm the action in the window that will open on the screen.
5. At the end of the recommendations, click to review the files on your computer.
6. The window will open in the Documents section in the “Large Files” tab. If you wish, review them and select them to delete by clicking in the window’s lower right corner. You must confirm the action in the window that will open on the screen.
7. In the “Music Creation” section, you can remove items from the GarageBand Sound Library if you have them downloaded on your Mac. You must confirm the action in the window that will open on your screen.
8. In the Applications section, you can check the programs installed on your machine listed in order of size, from largest to smallest. If you wish, review them and select them to delete by clicking in the window’s lower right corner. You must confirm the action in the window that will open on the screen.
9. In the iCloud Drive section, you can review and manage the files in your iCloud account’s Desktop and Documents folder.
10. In the Messages section, you can manage all files sent or received in your iMessage conversations. If you wish, review them and select them to delete by clicking in the window’s lower right corner. You must confirm the action in the window that will open on the screen.
11. Return to your Mac’s internal storage management window to compare the usage space difference between before and after system recommendations.
