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To find what is using space on a Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage. Review the categories, then use the large-file and Downloads views in Documents to inspect candidates before deciding whether to delete, move, or optimize them. Emptying Trash—not merely moving files into it—is what releases their space.
1. See how your Mac’s storage is being used
Choose Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage. Review the storage graphic and category list; allow the view to update as you work. On older macOS releases, look under Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage instead. Apple gives the newer path for macOS Ventura 13 and later in its guide to freeing storage space.
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The categories help narrow the search, but they do not all represent files you should remove. The contents shown can vary depending on the apps and files on your Mac. Select a category or its More Info option, when available, to see what it contains.
2. Find large files and check what they are
Use Documents to find large items
In Storage, open Documents and check its large-file and Downloads views. Sort by Size to bring the biggest items to the top. Select a candidate and choose Show in Finder so you can check its name and location before taking action. Apple’s instructions for finding and deleting files note that Documents can include home-folder items not assigned to another category, such as PDFs and some media.
#1 Best Overall
- MADE FOR THE MAKERS: Create; Explore; Store; The T7 Portable SSD delivers fast speeds and durable features to back up any endeavor; Build your video editing empire, file your photographs or back up your blogs all in an instant
- SHARE IDEAS IN A FLASH: Don’t waste a second waiting and spend more time doing; The T7 is embedded with PCIe NVMe technology that brings fast read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s¹, making it almost twice as fast as the T5
- ALWAYS MAKE THE SAVE: Compact design with massive capacity; With capacities up to 4TB, save exactly what you need to your drive – from large working files to game data and everything in between
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether using a PC or mobile phone, count on the T7 for extensive compatibility²; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
- HI RESOLUTION VIDEO RECORDING: Record Ultra High Resolution (4K 60fs) videos directly onto the T7 Portable SSD with your favorite camera or mobile devices; Supports iPhone 15 Pro Res 4K at 60fps video and more³
Review Downloads and other likely candidates
Open the Downloads folder in Finder as well. It may contain old installers, archives, and documents you no longer need. Also review large media you can stream or download again, unused apps, old iPhone or iPad backups, Mail junk and deleted items, and files in other user accounts you are authorized to manage. Check each item in its app or Finder before removing it; a familiar file name alone does not prove that the file is safe to delete.
3. Choose whether to delete, move, or optimize
| Option | Best when | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| Delete and empty Trash | You recognize the item and no longer need it. | Review Trash before emptying it; back up files that might matter. |
| Remove re-downloadable media | The content is available to stream or download again. | Make sure it is not the only copy of personal photos, videos, or other unique files. |
| Use iCloud storage optimization | You want files available through iCloud and have an appropriate plan. | It uses iCloud storage, and some files may be available on demand rather than stored locally. |
| Move files to external storage | You want to keep large files but reduce internal storage use. | Confirm the drive has enough capacity and works with your Mac. |
| Start in Safe Mode | A one-off task, such as installing an update, needs temporary space. | This can clear certain system caches, which macOS may recreate; it is not lasting cleanup. |
Delete only after checking
Move an unwanted item to Trash, then open Trash and verify its contents before emptying it. Until Trash is emptied, the items still occupy storage. Apple recommends considering a backup before deleting files that could be important in its instructions for deleting files and folders.
Rank #2
- Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
- Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
- Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
- Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C
Keep files without keeping them on the internal drive
If you want to retain large files, move them to another storage device, such as an external drive. After copying, verify that the files open from the new location before removing the originals from the Mac. Apple also lists compression as an option when you need to keep files but want them to take less space.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteUnderstand what optimization changes
Storage recommendations may include Store in iCloud, Optimize Storage, and Empty Trash automatically. iCloud options use your iCloud storage plan and can make some files available on demand. Optimize Storage can remove watched Apple TV content and keep only recent email attachments on the Mac when space is needed. Empty Trash automatically removes items that have been in Trash for more than 30 days when enabled. These are management choices with consequences, not guarantees that every file remains fully stored on the Mac. See Apple’s Storage settings guide for descriptions of these options.
Rank #3
- MADE FOR THE MAKERS: Create; Explore; Store; The T7 Portable SSD delivers fast speeds and durable features to back up any endeavor; Build your video editing empire, file your photographs or back up your blogs all in an instant
- SHARE IDEAS IN A FLASH: Don’t waste a second waiting and spend more time doing; The T7 is embedded with PCIe NVMe technology that brings fast read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s¹, making it almost twice as fast as the T5
- ALWAYS MAKE THE SAVE: Compact design with massive capacity; With capacities up to 4TB, save exactly what you need to your drive – from large working files to game data and everything in between
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether using a PC or mobile phone, count on the T7 for extensive compatibility²; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
- HI RESOLUTION VIDEO RECORDING: Record Ultra High Resolution (4K 60fs) videos directly onto the T7 Portable SSD with your favorite camera or mobile devices; Supports iPhone 15 Pro Res 4K at 60fps video and more³
4. Leave System Data alone unless you know what you are managing
System Data, called Other in some macOS versions, groups items that do not fit other categories. Apple lists examples such as logs, caches, virtual-memory files, temporary files, fonts, app-support files, and plug-ins. Its contents are managed by macOS and the category changes in size with the current state of the Mac.
Do not try to shrink it by deleting arbitrary files from system folders. For your own documents or files created by an app, use Finder or the app that created them to identify and manage them. If a temporary task such as an update needs extra room, Apple says starting in Safe Mode can clear certain system caches; macOS recreates caches as needed. Treat this as temporary relief, not routine System Data maintenance.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Note: Magsafe is not available in this version
- High-speed Data Transfer: Lexar external SSD ES3 supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write to transfer files fast for more efficient work. (Performance may be lower if not supporting USB 3.2 Gen 2 on Mac and other systems)
- Wide Compatibility: Lexar Portable SSD ES3 compatibility with iPhone 17 series (Not supported on iPhone 14 and older models), Android mobile devices, laptops, cameras, Xbox X|S, PS4, PS5, gaming console, and more
- On The Go: Lexar external solid state drive ES3's thin, stylish, and durable design, weighs 42g and is only 10.5mm thick, making it smaller than a card and easily fits in your pocket. It comes with a Type-C cable for plug-and-play convenience
- Data Safety First: Lexar SSD ES3 includes Lexar DataShieldTM 256-bit AES encryption software to protect files
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