How can you free up Macbook’s drive space?

Freeing up drive space on your Macbook should be a regular thing. If there are only a few free gigabytes of free storage, it will not take too long before you notice how much slower the computer has become.

As a rule of thumb, computer drives should have at least 10 percent of total storage free, but the more drive space there is, the better. 

In case you are struggling with the issue and would like to find out how to free up Mac’s storage, this helpful post should come in handy. Use the tips below to create a solid Macbook data management strategy. 

Tip #1 – Use cleanup software

Cleanup software comes in handy when you want to get rid of temporary system junk data. Files like app extensions, caches, plugins, and old system backups are unnecessary, and you should get in the habit of removing them from the Macbook regularly. 

One option is to delete this data manually, but that would take too long, not to mention how monotonous the work is. Meanwhile, a cleanup utility tool does the work for you.

Besides freeing up disk space, reducing the amount of temporary system junk data will also leave the Macbook with fewer files to process, and that also improves the overall computer performance. 

Tip #2 – Delete old apps

Check the list of Macbook apps you have installed over the years. There are bound to be some apps you have not used for a while. If so, perhaps you can remove them from the computer? 

In case you need to use an application in the future, you can download and reinstall it again. It may not seem like much since most apps do not require that much storage space, but every little bit helps.

Tip #3 – Keep tabs on language pack files

Be wary of language pack files that come with certain applications. These files are more or less useless because you should be fine with just the English version.

Files for other 50 languages may end up on your computer because you were not paying attention while installing an app and forgot to uncheck the box when asked whether you want to install files for other languages. 

Look through the list of applications you have on the Macbook and remove any foreign language support data if you find it.

Tip #4 – Scan for potential Mac viruses

Malware and viruses may be the primary cause behind less free Macbook storage. If you notice that there are fewer gigabytes of free space each time you look at the computer’s drive, scan the disk with reliable antivirus software.

If the software finds no corrupted files, you should be good to go. On the other hand, if any of your system files are suspicious, do not hesitate and get rid of them. 

Tip #5 – Remember to remove files permanently

Do not think that dragging files in the Trash Bin is the same as removing them from the computer permanently. No, for that, you will need to empty the Trash Bin or enable the feature to remove Bin files automatically after 30 days.

There is an alternative to the Trash Bin. You can delete files using the Option + Command + Delete keyboard shortcut. Select the files you want to remove and hit the sequence. Confirming the pop-up will delete these files from the Macbook permanently.

Tip #6 – Check the downloads folder

Keep tabs on the downloads folder. Files there might accumulate faster than you expect, particularly if you tend to forget about data you download online.

Changing the default download location could be a good way to deal with the issue. If you were to save your downloads on the Macbook’s desktop, it would be easier to notice the files and get rid of them once they become useless. 

Tip #7 – Take advantage of streaming platforms

Streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ are great for movies and TV shows. If you want music, Spotify and YouTube are the go-to platforms. 

These streaming platforms offer both free and paid entertainment. Once you start using them, you will not want to go back to keeping large media files on the Macbook. Not only are such services convenient, but they also help free up computer drive space.

Tip #8 – Use clouds and external storage devices

Your computer data management strategy does not have to revolve around ways to delete files from the system. While you should get rid of unnecessary junk, there is no need to do so with important files.

There are other ways to free up the Macbook’s drive space. Cloud services and external storage devices are some of the best examples.

You can transfer data to Dropbox and iCloud for free, and if you are happy with the cloud storage services, you can get additional storage space by paying a monthly fee.

As for external storage devices, memory sticks and hard drives are an excellent alternative for transferring files to another location or creating data backups.