Check your total storage in System Settings

The fastest way to see how much storage your Mac has and how much is left is through System Settings. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then select System Settings. On the left sidebar, click General, then click Storage.

You will see a bar showing your total storage capacity at the top, with a colored breakdown below it. Each color represents a different category: System (the operating system itself), Apps, Photos and Videos, Audio, Documents, and Other. The number next to each category shows how much space it uses. If your storage is nearly full, the bar will show mostly red or orange.

This view gives you the big picture but does not show you individual files or which apps are using the most space. For that level of detail, you need to dig deeper into specific categories or use a different tool.

Key Takeaways

  • System Settings shows your total storage and breaks it down by category, but does not list individual files or apps.
  • The Storage section in System Settings lets you click each category to see what is inside and remove items directly.
  • About This Mac shows your storage in a different format and is useful if System Settings is not responding.
  • Third-party tools like Disk Diag or CleanMyMac X can show you which individual apps and files are using the most space.
  • Deleting large video files, old app caches, and duplicate photos is usually the fastest way to free up space.

Explore what is using space in each category

Once you are in the Storage view in System Settings, you can click on each colored category to see what files and apps are inside. Click Photos and Videos to see your photo library size and oldest photos. Click Documents to see your largest files. Click Apps to see which applications are taking up the most room.

When you click into a category, you often get options to remove items right there. For example, in the Photos section, you can see your oldest photos and delete them. In the Apps section, you can click an app and select Delete to uninstall it. This is faster than hunting through folders manually.

The Other category is usually the hardest to understand. It includes system caches, temporary files, language packs you are not using, and miscellaneous data. You cannot delete most of this directly from System Settings, but you can sometimes reduce it by clearing browser caches or emptying the Trash.

Use About This Mac for a quick storage snapshot

If System Settings is slow or not responding, you can check storage from About This Mac instead. Click the Apple menu, then select About This Mac. Click the Storage tab at the top of the window.

This view shows the same colored bar and categories as System Settings, but in a slightly different layout. It is useful as a backup method if the main Settings app is frozen or if you want a second opinion on your storage numbers. The information is the same, just accessed from a different place.

About This Mac also shows your Mac model, processor, memory (RAM), and serial number on other tabs, so it is a good place to check your overall system information at a glance.

Find your largest files with Finder

If you want to see individual files and folders ranked by size, you can use Finder to search and sort. Open Finder and click All My Files in the sidebar. Then click the File menu at the top and select New Smart Folder. This opens a search window where you can set criteria.

In the Smart Folder window, click the + button and set the first dropdown to File Size. Set the second dropdown to is greater than and enter a size like 500 MB or 1 GB. Click Save and give the folder a name. Finder will now show you all files larger than the size you specified, ranked by how recently they were modified.

This method takes a few more steps than System Settings but gives you a clear list of your biggest space-takers. You can then decide which files to delete or move to external storage. Video files, old backups, and large project files are usually the culprits.

Try a third-party storage analyzer for detailed breakdowns

If you want a visual, detailed breakdown of what is using your storage, third-party tools can show you more than System Settings does. Apps like Disk Diag (free) and CleanMyMac X (paid) scan your entire drive and show you a map of folders and files by size. You can click on any folder to drill down and see what is inside.

These tools are especially useful if you have a lot of duplicate files, old caches, or language packs taking up space. Many of them can also remove these items automatically, though you should always review what they plan to delete before confirming. Some apps offer a free trial so you can see if they work for you before paying.

Be cautious with any tool that promises to "clean" your Mac automatically. Always check what it is deleting, and avoid tools that ask for your password or system access unless they are from a trusted developer. System Settings and Finder are usually enough for most people, but a third-party tool can be worth it if you are trying to free up a lot of space quickly.

Empty your Trash and clear browser caches

When you delete files on your Mac, they go to the Trash but still take up storage space until you empty it. Right-click the Trash icon in your Dock and select Empty Trash. This permanently removes the files and frees up the space they were using. If you delete a large file and do not see your storage number drop, check that you emptied the Trash.

Browser caches also take up surprising amounts of space over time. In Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, then Settings, then the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data and then Remove All. In Chrome, click the menu (three dots), go to Settings, click Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. Set the time range to All time and check Cached images and files, then click Clear data.

These two steps alone often free up several gigabytes, especially if you have not cleared your browser cache in months. Repeat them every few months to keep your storage from filling up again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Mac say I have used more storage than my apps and files add up to?

The difference is usually the System category, which includes the operating system, system files, and caches. It also includes things like language packs for languages you do not use, old backups, and temporary files. Emptying your Trash and clearing browser caches can reduce this number. If it is still very large, a third-party storage analyzer can show you what is hidden inside.

Is it safe to delete files from the Other category?

Most files in the Other category are safe to delete, but you cannot delete them directly from System Settings. Browser caches, old downloads, and temporary files are safe to remove. Avoid deleting anything in the System folder itself unless you know exactly what it is. When in doubt, use a third-party tool that shows you what each file is before you delete it.

How much free storage should I keep on my Mac?

Apple recommends keeping at least 10 to 15 percent of your total storage free for the system to run smoothly. On a 256 GB Mac, that means keeping at least 25 to 40 GB free. If your storage is consistently above 90 percent full, your Mac will slow down and you may see warnings. Aim to keep your storage below 80 percent full for best performance.

Can I move files to an external drive to free up space?

Yes. Plug in an external drive, open Finder, and drag large files or folders to the external drive. Once the transfer is complete and you have verified the files are there, delete them from your Mac. This frees up space without losing the files. External drives are especially useful for storing old photos, videos, and project files you do not access often.

What if my Mac storage is full and I cannot delete anything?

If you are at 100 percent storage, your Mac may not let you delete files normally. Try restarting your Mac first, then try deleting files again. If that does not work, restart in Safe Mode by holding Shift while your Mac boots up. In Safe Mode, you may be able to delete files that were locked. If you still cannot free up space, you may need to back up your data and reinstall macOS.