Why Is Documents Taking Up So Much Space On My Mac?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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It’s likely that much of it is accounted for by cache files for apps like Photos and Safari. MacOS caches as much data as it can to avoid having to re-download it, which boosts performance. ... System storage can occupy tens of gigabytes of space on your Mac for Time Machine backups and cache files.

How do I manage document storage on Mac?

Choose Apple menu  > About This Mac, then click Storage. Each segment of the bar is an estimate of the storage space used by a category of files. Move your pointer over each segment for more detail. Click the Manage button to open the Storage Management window, pictured below.

How do you clear memory on a Mac?

  1. Restart your Mac. Restarting your computer is the simplest way to free up RAM. ...
  2. Update macOS. ...
  3. Check Activity Monitor. ...
  4. Close suspect applications. ...
  5. Check CPU usage. ...
  6. Check the printer. ...
  7. Purge RAM in Terminal.

How do I delete unnecessary files from my Mac?

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Press Command+Shift+G.
  3. Enter the following command into the field and select Go: ~/Library/Caches .
  4. In the window that appears, you will see all your cache files.
  5. Press Command+A to select all files and delete them.

How do I turn off iCloud drive without losing files on my Mac?

On a Mac: Open the System Preferences and click Apple ID. Select iCloud from the sidebar and uncheck the iCloud Drive option .

How do I free up space on my Mac without manage the button?

If you cannot (or do not want to) update your Mac’s operating system, you can manually free up space by deleting unneeded files, old mail attachments and other clutter . You can also find programs to automatically sweep your computer and collect unnecessary files.

Can I delete caches on Mac?

Type in ~/Library/Caches / and then click Go. Your system, or library, caches will appear. You can now choose what to delete. Here you can open up each folder and delete unneeded cache files by dragging them to the Trash and then emptying it.

How do I delete other storage on Mac 2020?

  1. Click Command+F on the desktop.
  2. Search for ‘Other’ folder in ‘This Mac’.
  3. Choose ‘Other’ in the drop-down menu.
  4. From the ‘Search Attributes’ window, tick the ‘File Size’ and ‘File Extensions’.
  5. Now you can enter different file types (. ...
  6. Delete Files you no longer need.

What is the difference between memory and storage on a Mac?

What’s the difference between RAM and storage? RAM represents your computer’s short-term memory (i.e., tasks and files that you are working on right now), while storage represents your computer’s long-term memory (i.e., all of the files and applications stored on your computer).

How do I reduce storage on my Mac 2020?

macOS comes with a feature to optimize your storage: turn to “About this Mac” > choose Storage > click Manage button , then you will see Store in iCloud, Optimize Storage, Empty Trash Automatically, and Reduce Clutter. You can make use of these options to reduce the system storage on your Mac first.

Does Apple recommend clean my Mac?

“Never install any product that claims to “clean up”, “speed up”, “optimize”, “boost” or “accelerate” your Mac; to “wash” it, “tune” it, or to make it “shiny”. Those claims are absurd. Such products are very aggressively marketed. They are all scams.

Does my Mac automatically backup to iCloud?

When you create an iCloud backup, you can select what you want included, and it will happen automatically . You can access your iCloud Drive by going to www.icloud.com. You can also save files to this iCloud folder manually as you please.

What happens if I turn off iCloud Drive on my Mac?

By turning off iCloud Drive, all documents that are stored in iCloud will be removed from the Mac , though you’ll have an option to keep a local copy when turning iCloud Drive off.

Where are my iCloud files on my Mac?

iCloud files are stored in the folder ~/Library/Mobile Documents . (The tilde symbol is a shortcut for your user folder.) Go to this folder (Finder > Go > Go to Folder), and you’ll see a number of sub-folders, one for each app. Some of these are OS X or iOS apps.

Why does my Mac say there is not enough disk space?

If you are running out of available disk space, it’s time to delete some files or install a new hard drive . ... Because these files are easy to remove or move to another location. Any external drive or cloud storage will do the trick and your Mac’s going to thank you for leaving it space to breathe.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.