Whether you want to get your Mac ready for reselling, or you simply want the device to be more efficient, storage management is what you should think about. Good storage utilization is important because it keeps your device running properly and prevents it from slowing down and thus starting to annoy you. Additionally, updating your software will be easier if you’re keeping your storage usage under control, as most of those new updates take up several gigabytes of data. Anywhere from 5% to 20% of your max storage size should be kept empty in order for your Mac to run smoothly.
What happens, though, if you haven’t worried too much about the storage, and you’re now having difficulties with the performance of your device? Does that mean that you will have to make peace with the fact that the machine is now slow and that there’s nothing you can do about it, or is there a way to free up space on a Mac and have it running smoothly once again? Fortunately for everyone, there are ways to free up the space, so you don’t have to give up on your device the moment you notice it slowing down given that the storage is full.
If you’re now in such a situation, and you want to free up the space either because you want to keep on using the device for yourself, or you want to get it prepared for being resold, you’ll need to learn how to do that. There are a lot of different methods to use to clear up and save space, and I’ll now get you familiar with some of those. If you’ve checked the storage already and found out that you don’t have much free space left, then it’s time to use some of those tips and thus improve the performance of your Mac.
- Clear Junk Files
Junk files, such as temporary Internet files, software leftovers, log files and similar, can take up quite a lot of space on your Mac. Naturally, after clearing those, you’ll automatically see an improvement in the performance of your device. Using a third-party cleaner for this is recommended, but make sure to find a trusted and reliable one that will do a great job and offer the memory release you’re after.
- And Remove Duplicate Ones
Reclaiming space can also be done, and should be done, by removing duplicate files. You may think that you don’t have too many of those on your Mac, but once you start hunting for them, you’ll be surprised with just how much of your memory they’re taking up. Finding duplicate files manually, though, is a tedious ordeal, which is why most users take the easy way out and use a tool that can easily find and delete those for them.
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- Uninstall Apps You’re Not Using
We’re all guilty of downloading certain apps and then not using them afterwards. At the time of downloading them, though, we’re convinced that we need them. If you have some apps that you’ve used but once, or never for that matter, you should know that they’re eating away at the actual space you’re trying to free up. So, regaining the necessary storage can be done through deleting those apps that you’re not using anymore. Once again, the manual process of doing this can be time consuming, which is why you may want to get a tool to do it on your behalf.
- Use Mac Storage Optimization Tools
The easiest way to free up storage is by using those Mac storage optimization tools Apple has in place. The “manage” button above your storage bar will take you to a panel where you can choose among different optimization solutions, including storing in iCloud, automatic trash emptying, clutter reduction and more. When you turn on the “optimize storage” function, for example, your Mac will automatically send the movies and shows you’ve watched to Trash, thus clearing up some space.
- Reduce Photo Library Size
Your photo library can contain a lot of files even if you’re not a photographer and you simply like taking pics of everything. Going through the library and deleting unwanted photos regularly can also help you free up the storage. If you’re very fond of some of the photos, you can transfer them to a hard drive, but don’t ever forget that the photo library can take up a lot of space. And, if you’re still not clear on how much free space you need, this will help you get it.
- Empty The Trash
Emptying the Trash bin on a regular basis is also a crucial step here. Overflowing Trash bins can eat away at your space. So, when you delete unwanted files, don’t forget to go ahead and empty the Trash as well.
