How to Free Up Storage in Your Mac PC

Not having enough drive space on a computer will lead to random crashes, freezes, FPS drops in video games and other performance issues. Of course, some people might not run into storage problems on their computers if they have HDDs or SSDs that provide enough storage.

On the other hand, some computers have pretty lackluster drive storage and make it quite difficult to manage the space. MacBooks are a great example of this. While Macs are quite reliable, they do not have the best hardware, especially if you purchase a cheaper model. A few hundred gigabytes of storage does not cut it.

Fortunately, there are multiple ways to free up the drive space on a MacBook. If you are interested in finding out how to do it, read the suggestions below.

Delete Files Permanently

The first piece of advice is about deleting files permanently. Some Mac owners believe that selecting a file and dragging it in the Trash Bin is enough to delete it from the system permanently. No, at the very least, you need to enable the feature that deletes Bin files automatically. Or, as an alternative, you need to empty the Bin manually each time you put a file there.

There is also another way. Instead of bothering with the Trash Bin, you can use the Option + Command + Delete keyboard shortcut. Select a file or group of files you want to delete, hit the sequence, and confirm the pop-up.

Get Rid of Temporary Storage

Temporary storage is also something you need to take care of regularly. According to the update guide about dealing with low storage when installing macOS Big Sur, using CleanMyMac X is one of the most effective ways to free up extra storage on the MacBook’s drive.

You can use CleanMyMac X to delete app caches, extensions, plugins, old system backups, and other temporary junk. Temporary files accumulate regularly, and removing them manually would be quite monotonous and time-consuming. Instead, it is more efficient to use cleanup software.

Think Which Apps You Can Remove

If you visit the Mac App store frequently to download and install various applications, check the App list on your MacBook to determine which apps you no longer need. Removing old applications is bound to free up a decent chunk of the MacBook’s drive space. 

Also, keep in mind that in some cases, it is not the app itself that consumes the most drive space but files that come with it. For instance, temporary data or language pack files. 

Deal With Downloads

Some people forget about files they download from the internet. Email attachments, photos, music tracks, and other files you download remain in the downloads folder. Unless you remember to remove the folder’s contents regularly, the number of files will continue to grow and consume more drive space. 

In case you do not wish to check the download folder regularly, change the default download location. For instance, if you switch the default location to the MacBook’s desktop, you will notice the downloaded files right away and can remove them since you do not wish to clutter the desktop.

Use Clouds and External HDD

External storage is a great solution for those who have many files they do not wish to delete permanently. You can transfer data to an external hard drive or cloud storage instead.

An external HDD should not cost more than 50 dollars. Besides, you can use the device for more than just freeing up the MacBook’s storage. Combining an external hard drive with Time Machine will let you create data backups.

As for cloud storage, iCloud is the go-to service for Mac users. iCloud offers 5GB of free space with the option to extend it by paying a monthly fee.

Check for Potential Malware Infection

Malware and viruses might not be as common in macOS as they are in other operating systems, but it is still worth scanning the computer to confirm that it was not infected.

Even minor cybersecurity threats can snowball and cause significant problems. One of those problems could be drive space consumption. Unless you have reliable antivirus software to detect and eliminate malware or viruses, you are unlikely to solve the issue. 

At the end of the day, it is better to be safe than sorry. Scan the MacBook and get rid of corrupted files if the antivirus finds any.

Watch Movies and TV Shows on Streaming Sites

The last suggestion in this article is about an alternative to hoarding large media files. You may prefer to download movies and TV shows on your computer and watch them later, but this habit is not great for the MacBook’s drive space.

Instead, you should stick to streaming services and consume media on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Spotify, and other streaming platforms. Not having to download large media files on the computer will mean more free storage.

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