How to clear System Data on Mac
If you've ever asked anyone how to clear storage on Mac, they've probably sent you to check the Storage tab in System Settings. One thing you'll see there is a colored graph with a breakdown of what takes up space on Mac. While all categories are self-explanatory, there is a mysterious System Data tab.
In this article, you will find safe and easy ways to clear System Data — from built-in storage optimizer to Terminal — and learn what to do when it won't reduce. If you need to know what System Data is and how much of it is normal, check out our explainer guide.
And if you want to skip manual steps, you can jump straight into the list of best apps to clear System Data on Mac to completely automate the cleaning process.
What you are clearing: System Data in short
Here's how to check System Data storage on Mac:
- Go to the Apple menu.
- Click About This Mac > More Info > Storage Settings.
Once loaded, you'll get a nice visual overview of how much free space is available on your Mac, as well as a breakdown of storage usage.
System Data contains various system application files like:
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System junk (cache files, unneeded language files, temporary files, document versions, etc.)
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App data
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Browser plugins and extensions
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Time Machine local snapshots
Note that you cannot click System Data here. Why? Because macOS is designed in a way to prevent you from removing anything vital for its proper functioning. Some System Data files are exactly in this category.
If you're wondering how to free up storage on Mac and clean this System Data, we've got easy-to-follow top tips to get you started. But first, how do you know when it's time to clean up your Mac storage?
Did you know? System Data, as a category in Storage, was introduced in macOS Monterey. In older macOS versions, it was Other storage. Whatever the name, it still includes the same types of files.
Why you may need to clear up your MacBook storage
As software and apps get bigger, they generate and store more files on our Macs. But there are also other reasons why System Data takes so much disk space on Mac — we outline them in our explainer guide on why System Data is large. Whatever your reason, if your Mac is becoming slow or sluggish, or you're struggling to download new apps or install new updates, it's time to clean up your Mac storage. Otherwise, you won't be able to keep your macOS and apps up-to-date, and your Mac can even start crashing or stop booting.
How much System Data is normal on Mac?
Not sure if the size of System Data on your Mac is even a problem? Our explainer guide explains what a typical number looks like and when to take action to reduce it.
Immediate solution: use a Mac cleaner app
If you're not comfortable rummaging around in your Library files, there is an easier and safer way with CleanMyMac.
This Mac cleaning software has a dedicated Cleanup feature, which clears unnecessary system junk in just a few clicks. It will find and safely remove all kinds of junk: caches, temporary files, document versions (document revisions autosaved by Microsoft or Adobe apps), and the like. This app is notarized by Apple, so you can rest assured it's trusted and safe to use.
How to clear your system junk the easy way:
- Open the application — get your free trial here.
- Select Cleanup from the sidebar, then click Scan.
- Once complete, click Clean. Done!
If you're more into detective work, check the tips below one by one.
‼️ Important: Back up your Mac before removing anything manually so that you can restore files should the cleanup go wrong.
Ways to free up System Data storage on Mac
Before you start: Check Apple's storage recommendations
Many users overlook the built-in storage manager tool from Apple. Although it won't, of course, solve all of your storage problems, it's worth taking the time to enable its recommendations; every little helps when it comes to storage on a Mac.
Just follow these steps:
- Once again, go to System Settings > General > Storage.
- Check Recommendations under the colored graph.
You should see such options as Store in iCloud, Optimize Storage, and Empty Trash Automatically, as shown in the screenshot above. This is a good starting place when it comes to keeping your Mac's storage optimized, although they free up general storage rather than System Data.
1. Remove your system junk
Cleaning up your system junk, like caches, broken files, temporary files, and user log files, is where deleting System Data really starts. You can save GBs of storage space by taking the time to clear these unnecessary items.
Here's how to clean your system junk manually:
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Open a new Finder window and select the Go menu from the top.
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Now select Go To Folder and type the following:
~/Library/Caches/
You can also check this location to remove log files — /Library/Logs/
These folders contain lots of temporary system junk; take some time to go through these files and delete only what you can identify. If you're not sure what a specific file is for, leave it — it may be a vital system file. Don't forget to empty your Trash afterward.
Tip: You can use the Shift + Command + Period shortcut to reveal hidden files, but remember that they are hidden for a reason, so be extra cautious when deleting any of them.
2. Remove browser extensions
Another easy way to free up storage on your Mac is to remove any unneeded browser extensions. App extensions won't take up a large amount of space, but they can occupy storage capacity under the System Data tab.
How to remove Chrome extensions:
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Open Chrome, and from the main Chrome menu, click Settings.
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Select Extensions from the left sidebar.
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Click Remove under any that you no longer need.
How to remove Safari plugins:
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Open Safari, select the main Safari menu bar, and click Settings.
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Select Extensions from the top.
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Select an extension you no longer need and click Uninstall.
3. Remove Time Machine backups
Another simple way to clean up Mac storage is to remove local Time Machine backups. Unbeknownst to many, your macOS keeps a local copy of your backups, just in case your external drive isn't available when restoring files. You can reduce your System Data storage by removing these backups; here's how:
- Open Terminal via a Spotlight search by pressing Command-Space.
- Type in Terminal to open the application.
- Enter the following command, then press Return.
tmutil listlocalsnapshotdates
- Your local Time Machine backups are listed here. Now type the following command, replacing the x's with the name (time and date stamp) of your backups listed.
tmutil deletelocalsnapshots xxxxxxx
- Press Return and repeat as many times as needed.
Tip: If you want to remove backups from an external drive, connect it to your Mac. Now, open it from the Finder's sidebar or the Desktop and find the Backups.backupdb folder. Send old backups to the Trash.
4. Delete old iOS backups
If you use the Finder to back up your iPhone and other iOS devices, you may have several iOS backups. It is generally a good practice to get rid of unnecessary backups. To do it, follow these steps:
- Once again, open the Finder and click Go > Go to Folder.
- Type the following and press Return:
~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup - In the window that opens, you can remove all but the last backup.
Alternatively, you can go to Storage settings and look at the category named iOS Files. Just click i next to it and see what can be removed safely.
Important: Make sure that you have at least one backup. It is even better to run a full backup before deleting the old ones so that you can always restore your data should you need it.
One more way to delete backups is to use the Finder for newer macOS versions or iTunes if you still run an older macOS version. Follow the steps below.
The Finder (macOS Catalina or later):
- Connect your iOS device to your Mac.
- Open the Finder and click your iOS device from the sidebar.
- Click Manage Backups.
- Find the unneeded backup, select it, and click Delete Backup.
- Repeat for all old backups.
iTunes (macOS Mojave or earlier):
- Open iTunes.
- Click iTunes in the menu bar and choose Preferences.
- In the window that opens, go to the Devices tab.
- Select the backup you no longer need and click Delete Backup.
- Repeat the process for all old backups.
5. Remove application logs and support files
We all know that apps generate lots of temporary support logs and files, but what's surprising is that they don't always disappear when you delete an app. These unnecessary files get left behind, taking up precious storage space.
Thankfully, it's pretty easy to remove them. Here's how:
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Open a Finder window.
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Select Go from the top menu bar, then Go To Folder.
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Type in the following:
~/Library/Application Support
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Look for any folders clearly related to the apps you've removed and send them to the Trash. Leave anything you cannot confidently identify untouched — removing the wrong folder can break the app you still use.
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Repeat this process this time, searching in the following locations:
~/Library/Containers
~/Library/Logs
That should have freed up some extra storage.
If System Data still does not decrease after deleting applications and logs/support files, you have to remove other app-related files to ensure complete app uninstallation. Either use CleanMyMac's Applications feature or check out this article for manual cleaning tips.
Tip: System Settings is a great app that allows you to customize your Mac. Here's more on how to use System Settings.
6. Delete downloaded screen savers
Dynamic screen savers are downloaded as video files. When you do download them, they are added to System Data. So, you may also want to delete some of these screen savers to reduce System Data. Here's how:
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In the Finder, click Go > Go to Folder.
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This time, use the following path and press Return: /Library/Application Support/com.apple.idleassetsd/Customer
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Check if there are any large files in there and send them to Trash.
What to do when System Data won't shrink
If System Data is still large after you've cleaned logs, caches, app files, and backups, it may be because of local Time Machine snapshots. macOS should delete them automatically as they age or when space is needed. They are usually kept for 24 hours. You can check for them yourself:
- Open Disk Utility (from Applications > Utilities or via the Spotlight search).
- Choose Macintosh HD from the sidebar.
- Click View > Show APFS snapshots in the menu bar.
- Select the snapshots you no longer need and click the "–" button.
If you think you might need any snapshot, do not delete it.
If nothing changes, restart your Mac and check Storage again after a day — snapshots normally clear on their own.
Best apps to clear System Data on Mac
The easiest way to delete System Data on Mac is to use a dedicated Mac cleaner app that can hunt down system junk for you and let you remove it automatically. Here are top apps to help you:
- CleanMyMac — an all-in-one Mac care app that comes with a smart Cleanup tool that quickly detects system junk and allows you to remove it with a click. It also has the My Clutter feature that can identify large and old files, similar files, and duplicates, thus freeing up even more space.
- Avast Cleanup Premium — a junk cleaner that can find all sorts of unneeded files and safely remove them.
- CCleaner — a robust Mac cleaner that performs deep system scans and uncovers junk files.
- DaisyDisk — a disk space analyzer and visualizer, great for finding the largest space eaters.
- MacCleaner Pro — a full-featured cleaner. Great for those looking for an all-round cleaner, but be ready that it installs 6 separate apps.
All of the apps listed above can find and remove different types of junk files, making the cleaning process not only faster but also more thorough. They come with similar functionality, so choose one based on your liking. Note, though, that CleanMyMac also has the Protection feature that can detect and delete malware and offers real-time virus scanning, which is not available in Avast Cleanup Premium and CCleaner.
Well, that didn't take us long to get to the end of this article. Now you know just about everything there is to know when it comes to clearing storage on your Mac.
Hopefully, these handy and easy-to-implement tips will help you better manage the storage on your Mac. Until next time!
Frequently asked questions about clearing System Data on Mac
Why is System Data huge on Mac?
It happens because caches, logs, Time Machine snapshots, and app-related files accumulate over time. For the explanation of what a normal size of System Data is and what is included in it, check out our explainer guide on why System Data gets so large.
Is it safe to remove files included in the System Data category?
Not the category as a whole, since numerous different files are included in it. macOS manages some of them, while others (app leftovers) should be deleted manually. The safe approach is to double-check everything you send to Trash, especially from the Library and System folders, and delete only what you can confidently identify. Otherwise, you could lose some vital files. Also, back up your Mac before cleaning up these files, so you can restore anything you accidentally deleted.
Can I clear System Data without a third-party app?
Yes. The methods described above help you do just that. You will mostly have to use the Finder, plus your browser settings and, in one case, Terminal — so you can work through them by hand. A cleaner app helps save the time needed to locate these files and keeps you out of the Library folder so that the risk of removing wrong files is minimal.
Does macOS automatically clean up System Data?
Partly. macOS does manage some purgeable space when space is needed: it clears caches and logs, local Time Machine snapshots, interrupted downloads, Safari website data, and temporary database files. But you may need to remove other files, like app support files, and the methods above cover those.