Even state-of-the-art technologies can only let us have limited space on devices. Although Mac is considered one of the fastest and most spacious personal computers, it also needs cleaning and storage checks. To manage its memory effectively and ensure the smooth operation of the devices, users must keep track of free space.
To realize how much you need to delete, just look into your downloads folders, temporary files, and cache files! You will be surprised by the amount of junk files you didn’t even know about!
Fortunately, monitoring storage details has become much easier with modern versions, such as macOS Ventura or later. However, if you’re working on older devices (macOS Sierra, macOS Big Sur, macOS Monterey), you will need to choose a different approach. In this article, we will share a brief guide on how to do that and give hints on saving more space on your Mac without deleting necessary files.
Checking How Much Space Left
As you have noticed, Mac version largely determines how users check their precious storage space. If you have macOS Ventura and later, choose general settings in System Preferences.
On the right-hand side, you will see the “storage” option. Once it opens, users get an idea of what is happening with their Mac. For example, one can see what categories of files occupy the most space. Also, users can quickly check how much space they have.
Open the About This Mac window if you have an older Mac version. You can find it in the Apple menu. Once there, users can view the total storage capacity and see what type of files are taking up space on their Mac.
It is worth noting that all changes made to increase free disk space will be updated automatically. Frequent system register updates will do it for users. Therefore, checking in on your Storage information should become part of a regular maintenance routine if you want to keep your Mac clean and spacious.
Optimizing Mac Storage
Compress videos
This advice is the best for people who regularly watch or work with videos. If you have ever experienced the need to transfer high-definition clips on the Mac, you know how surprisingly “heavy” these files are. They can easily take up a lot of space on the hard drive.
Another challenge is sharing videos on various social media platforms. Big file sizes can seriously affect uploading speed. Videos are essential files we usually want to keep for a long time. However, they may seriously slow down our devices.
Learn how to compress a video without losing quality on your Mac with Setapp. This large collection of apps available by subscription offers, among others, tools to shrink videos.
They will help you free up space for existing and future video files. Moreover, not losing quality means users won’t notice dramatic changes in the compressed versions. Many tools enable you to make the video less “spacious” on Mac. However, remember to check first if it preserves the high quality of the video.
Use iCloud for Your Files
The iCloud feature has become one of the most comfortable cloud storage services. It helps users save tons of necessary things without overloading Macs. If you don’t need a file, transfer it to the cloud and return it later. Another perk iCloud offers its users is security.
People know that their data won’t vanish into thin air or end up in the wrong hands. Thus, we strongly recommend Mac users optimize their storage by regularly transferring files to iCloud. Eventually, you can opt for other online storage, and it’s up to your requirements and preferences. What matters is the habit of getting rid of outdated files or leftover files you don’t need on your device at the moment.
To automatize the process and not waste time whenever you want to transfer something new, visit the iCloud settings page in System Preferences and choose ‘Store in iCloud.’ This option gives you a larger storage solution in the cloud.
Store in iCloud is the perfect choice for those running out of space on their Mac and don’t mind paying for additional storage.
Files stored in this cloud-based solution are automatically converted into minimal file sizes, taking up as little room as possible, allowing users to maximize their available space. As a bonus, data stored in iCloud is backed up securely, so your crucial documents will never be lost, even if something happens to your Mac.
Get Rid of Applications You Don’t Use
When freeing up space on your Mac, uninstalling unwanted, old, or suspicious applications is another viable solution to keep your device in excellent condition. Many people tend to hoard programs and applications that they’ve only used once or haven’t opened in months afterward.
Remember that quite soon, such programs can get outdated. Don’t waste your space on non-functional and rarely-used apps. They will slow the performance of your Mac.
Learn the most common ways to remove these dead-weight applications from your system. Start with a manual option, which involves locating the app in the Applications folder and dragging it into Trash.
It is a special form of meditation for some users. However, if such a time-consuming approach is not what you would like to choose, opt for automatic uninstallers. They will scan your Mac and remove all associated files of the program you wish to delete with just a click of a button!
Conclusion
As you see, there are enough methods to make Mac work fast and smoothly even after many years. To do that, you need to take care of its storage. Every day we download and upload various files. Soon afterward, users tend to forget about them while numerous applications, videos, photos, and audio files constantly clog our space. To clean it up, check how much place has already been taken.
Once you know which files take up the most space, optimize them. If you don’t plan to use all these documents, photos, or music, move them to iCloud or any other extra storage. They will be safe and at hand there. If you have lots of videos, try to compress them. You won’t lose any quality, and it will free up space on your Mac.
Check applications and decide which ones you use the most frequently. Users can either delete unnecessary or outdated apps manually or do it with automatic uninstallers.
Also, remember to clean your browser cache. This non-obvious yet crucial factor may also affect your Mac capability. No need to store unnecessary information on your device. Keep it neat and enjoy Mac high functionality.