MacBooks, for all the good that they offer, are somewhat lackluster in a few aspects. One example could be the available storage and customers always need to find ways to clear Mac Storage.
Many Mac owners find themselves with only a few gigabytes of free disk space on the device. The lack of free storage leads to performance issues.
As a rule of thumb, a computer’s drive should have 15 or 20 percent of its total available space unoccupied, and even that is not necessarily enough.
In case you own a MacBook and want to solve storage issues on your computer, this useful article should come in handy.
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Different Ways to Clear Mac Storage
Reinstall macOS
Let’s start with a reinstallation of macOS. Sometimes, the best course of action is to wipe the computer and give it a clean slate. Reinstalling the operating system does more than just free up the storage. It also rids the computer from the clutter that has been slowing it down.
Now, for some, the idea of reinstalling the OS just to solve storage issues might seem like a drastic measure, but it is still worth entertaining such an approach, especially if you have been struggling with the storage despite your best efforts.
Check for Old Applications
There are bound to be some old applications on the MacBook. And if so, it makes sense to delete old data and make space on the device.
In case you need an app in the future, you can just download and install it again, so there is no need to worry about that. For now, focus on files that you can remove to free up the MacBook’s storage.
Take Care of Temporary System Clutter
Temporary system clutter is another example of a problematic source. You cannot access cache, app plugins, extensions, and other system junk manually without tinkering with the computer’s settings.
There is also a possibility of making a mistake and deleting an important file accidentally. So, the question is, how to take care of temporary system clutter?
Getting a cleanup utility tool is a sound option because such an app lets you plan what temporary files you want to remove from the computer and let the tool do the work for you.
Locate Media Files and Use Streaming Services
These days, it does not really make a lot of sense to keep media files on a computer. Thanks to streaming services, you can access movies, TV shows, and music on platforms like Netflix and Spotify.
Paying money to consume media on streaming platforms should not be treated just as a means to deal with the storage issues. The convenience of watching or listening to stuff on streaming sites is another significant advantage and well worth your money.
Of course, it is not just the traditional media files that can take a lot of space. Photos or the screenshots you take on a MacBook or download online could also accumulate over time, and failing to remove them regularly could also be one of the reasons why some Mac owners are struggling with the storage on their devices.
Delete Localization Data
Localization data might not seem like that big of a deal, but it is still worth attention. Some applications you install come with packs of various languages. It hardly makes sense to keep files that translate an app into languages you are not going to use, right?
More often than not, having the English language is enough. And when a localization pack can take up to 1GB of space (in some cases, even more), it should be a given that these redundant files need to be removed. It is one of the easiest Ways to Clear Mac Storage.
Transfer Files to iCloud
Similar to how you can transfer files to external storage accessories, you can also transfer them to clouds.
As a Mac user, you are likely to go with iCloud because it is a tailor-made cloud service for Apple products. At the same time, do not discard the idea of other services, such as Google Drive or Dropbox.
Consider External Hard Drive or a USB Flash Stick
For some, the approach of permanently removing every file they can does not necessarily translate to a solid strategy.
If so, you can consider a different plan, one that revolves around external storage accessories.
An external hard drive or a USB flash stick does not cost that much. If anything, these accessories are considered cheap for the value they provide.
You can copy and paste files from your MacBook to an external storage device and keep them there.
On a side note, an external hard drive can also be combined with Time Machine and used as a data backup.
Scan for Malware
The last bit of advice is to create a cybersecurity strategy on your MacBook to avoid malware eating the disk space.
You need to scan for viruses on mac using reliable antivirus software and do it regularly. Ideally, an anti-malware tool should be running in the background all the time to increase the odds of detecting and eliminating a threat before it manifests.
