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    1 min read 5 stepsFebruary 8, 2026Verified February 2026

    How to Clean Up Disk Space on Mac

    Free up storage on your Mac by removing unnecessary files and optimizing space.

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Check what's using space
    2. 2.Empty the Trash
    3. 3.Clear browser cache
    4. 4.Delete large files
    5. 5.Optimize with iCloud
    1

    Check what's using space

    ~15s
    Apple menuSystem SettingsGeneralStorage. Review the colored bar breakdown.
    2

    Empty the Trash

    ~15s
    Right-click the Trash icon in the DockEmpty Trash. Files in Trash still use disk space.

    Quick Tip

    Files in the Trash still take up space on your Mac. Empty it regularly to actually free up storage.

    3

    Clear browser cache

    ~15s
    In Safari: Safari menuSettingsPrivacyManage Website DataRemove All.
    4

    Delete large files

    ~15s
    In Finder, press ⌘+F → change "Kind" to "Other" → select "File Size" → set "is greater than" 100MB.

    Warning

    Before deleting large files, make sure you have a backup. Check your Time Machine backup is current.

    5

    Optimize with iCloud

    ~15s
    System SettingsApple ID → iCloudOptimize Mac Storage to move old files to iCloud.

    You Did It!

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    Official Resources

    Apple SupportHow-To Geek — MacApple Support YouTube

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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    How to Clean Up Disk Space on Mac — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure