Learn how to delete music, movies, and TV shows from your device.
Music, movies, and other media can use a lot of storage space.
Clears caches, logs, and other unnecessary data when storage space is neededĮven without using the Optimized Storage features of Sierra or later, you can take other steps to make more storage space available:.
Removes old fonts, languages, and dictionaries that aren’t being used.
Reminds you to delete used app installers.
#How to free up space on mac and system download
Detects duplicate downloads in Safari, keeping only the most recent version of the download.
Empty Trash Automatically selects “Remove items from the Trash after 30 days.” In the Account Information section on the right, Optimize Storage sets the Download Attachments menu to either Recent or None.Įmpty Trash Automatically: From the Finder, choose Finder > Preferences, then click Advanced.
In Mail, choose Mail > Preferences from the menu bar, then click Accounts.
Optimize Storage selects “Automatically delete watched movies and TV shows.”In macOS Mojave or earlier, open iTunes, choose iTunes > Preferences from the menu bar, then click Advanced. Optimize Storage selects “Automatically delete watched movies and TV shows.”
If you’re using macOS Catalina, open the Apple TV app, choose TV > Preferences from the menu bar, then click Files.
Store in iCloud selects Enable Messages in iCloud.
In Messages, choose Messages > Preferences, then click iMessage.
Store in iCloud selects iCloud Photos and Optimize Mac Storage.
In Photos, choose Photos > Preferences, then click iCloud.
Store in iCloud turns on the Desktop & Documents Folders and Optimize Mac Storage settings. To turn off iCloud Drive entirely, deselect iCloud Drive. In macOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click iCloud, then click Options next to iCloud Drive. Then click Options next to iCloud Drive: Store in iCloud turns on the Desktop & Documents Folders setting.
If you’re using macOS Catalina, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Apple ID, then select iCloud in the sidebar: Store in iCloud turns on the Optimize Mac Storage setting on the right.
You can also control those settings directly within each app. The button for each recommendation in the Storage Management window affects one or more settings in other apps. Where to find the settings for each feature iCloud storage starts at 50GB for $0.99 (USD) a month, and you can purchase additional storage directly from your Apple device. If you reach or exceed your iCloud storage limit, you can either buy more iCloud storage or make more iCloud storage available. Storing files in iCloud uses the storage space in your iCloud storage plan. When storage space is needed, only the messages and attachments you recently opened are kept on your Mac.
Messages. Store all messages and attachments in iCloud.
To download the original photo or video, just open it. When storage space is needed, only space-saving (optimized) versions of photos are kept on your Mac.
Photos. Store all original, full-resolution photos and videos in iCloud Photos.
Files stored only in iCloud show a download icon, which you can double-click to download the original file. When storage space is needed, only the files you recently opened are kept on your Mac, so that you can easily work offline.
Desktop and Documents. Store all files from these two locations in iCloud Drive.
Click the Store in iCloud button, then choose from these options: