When Mac storage gets tight, guessing wastes time. macOS can show which files and categories are using space so you can remove old installers, videos, archives, backups, and attachments with more confidence.
This guide applies to Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, and recent Apple Silicon or Intel Macs.
Does This Affect You?
Use this before deleting random folders. The biggest storage gains usually come from obvious large files once you sort them properly.
Use Storage Management
- Open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac.
- Open Storage, then choose Manage if that button appears.
- Review categories such as Documents, Applications, Photos, Mail, Messages, and System Data.
- Select Documents and sort by file size.
- Review the largest files before deleting anything.
- Delete only files you recognize and no longer need, or move them to an external drive first.
Storage Management is a good starting point because it understands local and iCloud-related storage better than a manual folder search.
Search for Large Files in Finder
- Open Finder and choose a starting place such as This Mac, Downloads, or an external drive.
- Click the search field and start a search.
- Click the + button below the search bar to add a filter.
- Set the filter to File Size is greater than and enter a value such as 500 MB or 1 GB.
- Switch to List view and sort by Size.
- Open or preview files before deleting them.
Places Worth Checking
Downloads
Old DMG installers, PKG files, ZIP archives, screen recordings, and videos often sit in Downloads long after they are useful. Sort the folder by Size.
Old Backups
iPhone backups, photo-library copies, and Time Machine-related files can be large and may live in locations you do not normally browse. Storage Management is usually safer for finding these.
Trash
Moving files to Trash does not immediately free storage. Empty Trash after you are sure you do not need the deleted files.
Mail and Messages Attachments
Large photos and videos from conversations or email can accumulate quietly. Storage Management breaks these into categories so you can review them more easily.
Sources
- Apple Support: Free up storage space on your Mac
- Apple Support: Find files and folders with Finder on Mac
- Apple Support: Check storage on your Mac