How to See What’s Taking Up Space on Mac

This guide shows you how to find out what’s using the most storage on your Mac, whether it’s apps, photos, videos, or system files. You’ll learn built-in methods and a few practical tricks to reclaim space quickly, no extra software required.

What You’ll Need

• A Mac running macOS Ventura (13) or later for the most accurate steps; older versions work similarly.
• About 5–10 minutes of time.
• Administrator access if you want to delete system files or other users’ files.

Step-by-Step

1. Open About This Mac. Click the Apple menu (top-left corner) and select About This Mac.
2. Go to Storage settings. In the window that appears, click the Storage tab. You’ll see a bar showing how much space is used and a breakdown by category (Apps, Photos, Documents, System, etc.).
3. Click Manage. This opens the Storage Management window, which gives you recommendations like emptying trash, optimizing storage, and reviewing large files.
4. Check the Recommendations tab. Here you’ll find quick actions: Empty Trash, Optimize Storage (removes watched iTunes movies and TV shows), Reduce Clutter (opens a file browser), and Erase iMessage Attachments. Click any to take action.
5. Use the sidebar to see specific categories. In Storage Management, the sidebar lists: Applications, Documents, iOS Files, Photos, Mail, Trash, and more. Click each to see files and their sizes. For example, under Applications, you’ll see a list sorted by size; you can delete apps directly from here.
6. Check large files and downloads. In the Documents category, click the File Browser button in the top-right corner. You’ll see a list of files, and you can sort by Size (click the Size column header). This is the fastest way to find huge files like videos or disk images.
7. Use Finder for a more detailed view. Open a new Finder window, press Command + F to search. Click the + button, then choose File Size from the dropdown. Set the condition to is greater than and enter a number like 100 MB. Press Return to see all files larger than that. You can sort by size and delete directly.
8. Check System Data. If the System category is huge (often several hundred GB), it includes caches, logs, and temporary files. You can’t easily delete these manually, but restarting your Mac often clears some. For a deeper look, use a third-party app (like DaisyDisk or OmniDiskSweeper) that shows a visual map of your disk.
9. Empty your Trash. Right-click the Trash icon in the Dock and select Empty Trash. This is often the simplest way to free up space.

Common Mistakes

• Deleting files you still need. Always double-check a file’s name and location before deleting. Use Quick Look (press Space) to preview.
• Forgetting to empty the Trash. Deleted files stay in the Trash until you empty it, so you may not see space freed immediately.
• Confusing “System” with “System Data.” The System category in About This Mac includes the macOS operating system itself, which you cannot delete without reinstalling. System Data (in newer macOS versions) is separate and includes caches and logs.
• Deleting app support files manually. If you delete an app by dragging it to the Trash, it may leave behind support files in ~/Library. Use the Storage Management app list to uninstall properly.

Tips

• Use the built-in Optimize Storage. It automatically removes watched movies and TV shows from Apple TV, and can store older documents in iCloud if you enable it.
• Sort by size in Finder. The search method above is the most reliable way to find large files anywhere on your Mac.
• Check your Downloads folder. It’s a common hiding spot for large files you forgot about.
• Use the “Reduce Clutter” button. It opens a file browser sorted by size, making it easy to spot big files.
• Restart your Mac occasionally. This clears temporary caches and can reduce System Data.

Troubleshooting

If the Storage tab doesn’t show a breakdown: This can happen on older macOS versions. Click the Apple menu, then About This Mac → Storage. If you don’t see a Manage button, your macOS is too old; use Finder search instead.

If you can’t delete a file because it says “in use”: Close the app that’s using it, or restart your Mac and try again. If it’s a system file, don’t force-delete it; it may be essential.

If the System Data is still huge after restarting: Try logging out and back in, or use a third-party disk space analyzer to identify specific caches. Be careful not to delete anything you don’t recognize.

If you’re running low on space and can’t find the culprit: Use the Finder search method with a lower threshold (e.g., 1 GB) to catch large files. Also check your Photos library—it can be massive if you have many videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I see what’s taking up space on my Mac without third-party apps?
A: Use About This Mac → Storage → Manage, and the Finder search method described above. Both are built-in and give you a good overview.

Q: Why is “System Data” so large?
A: System Data includes caches, logs, temporary files, and sometimes Time Machine local snapshots. It can grow large, but restarting your Mac often helps. If it’s still huge, consider using a disk space analyzer to find specific files.

Q: Can I delete files from the “System” category?
A: No. The System category is the macOS operating system itself. You cannot delete it without reinstalling macOS. However, you can free space by removing other files.

Q: How do I see the size of a folder in Finder?
A: In Finder, select the folder and press Command + I (Get Info). The size is shown under the General section. For multiple folders, use the search method to see sizes of all files.

Q: What’s the best way to find large files on an external drive?
A: Connect the drive, then use the Finder search method, but select the external drive as the search location instead of “This Mac.”

Q: Will deleting caches speed up my Mac?
A: Deleting caches can free up space, but it may slow down apps temporarily as they rebuild them. It’s not a performance fix; it’s a space fix.

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