How to get more disk space on Mac: 5 best methods

Want to know how to get more disk space on a Mac? Then you’ve probably run into the your disk is almost full warning.

When updates fail, apps start freezing, and Time Machine refuses to run, you might wonder why, but this is most likely a gradual buildup, slowing everything down over time. The good news is this rarely means you need a new MacBook.

Diagnose before deleting

Apple’s built-in Storage view gives you a handy color-coded breakdown of your Apps, Documents, System Data, and your macOS. Checking this first is important because cleanup isn’t a one-size-fits-all.

• Large System Data means cache and temporary files are likely the issue.

• Lots of Documents indicate that old files or backups are hiding.

• Tons of apps mean that uninstalling unused software will have the biggest impact.

When free space is limited, you’ll notice a performance dip. I always aim to keep around 20% free. But many users make the mistake of deleting random files instead of targeting the biggest category first. I’ll show you how to get more disk space on a Mac efficiently.

How to get more space on disk on Mac

Quick wins

These kinds of quick wins can free 2 to 10 GB.

1. Empty your Trash

I’ve recovered 5GB instantly just from doing just this.

2. Download folder

Check for any old installers, duplicate PDFs, and forgotten images. If you haven’t touched something in six months, remove it.

3. Documents folder

Check here for projects older than two years. Archive stuff you no longer need.

4. Email attachments

Mail stores attachments locally unless optimized, it’s worth checking for large forgotten attachments.

5. External backup drives

If you use an external drive for Time Machine, make sure you disable local snapshots.

Extra steps

1. Uninstall unused applications

Applications are your next area of focus. Anything you don’t regularly use isn’t worth keeping. Creative suites, development tools, games. One unused app can take 20 GB. I review applications quarterly and remove what I haven’t used in months.

Dragging an app to Trash works, but it leaves behind support files, cache, and preferences. Over time, that adds up to hundreds of megabytes per app. Use a proper uninstaller like CleanMyMac to make sure all leftovers are fully removed. This can reclaim 50-300 MB per app that would otherwise stay on your Mac. Here’s how:

1. Open the app — get your free trial here (free for seven days).

2. Open and press click > Scan.

3. Click Manage My Applications.

4. Select apps and hit Uninstall.

2. Remove system junk & cache files

Another way how to get more space on disk Mac is to manage your system cache.

Your macOS creates temporary files for speed and background tasks, but it does not aggressively clean older ones. These sit in hidden Library folders. Here’s what you can do to stay on top.

1. Open Finder and press Shift - Command - G, and navigate to these locations:
   

   ~/Library/Caches

   ~/Library/Logs

2. Delete cache and logs for any apps you no longer use.

Manually removing system cache and temporary files can be tricky because they accumulate across dozens of hidden locations.

You can use the Cleanup feature from CleanMyMac to do this instantly. It scans your device, safely removes 3-10 GB of junk files, and identifies which caches are safe to delete without breaking app functionality. One scan typically frees more space than manual cleanup would find.

3. Delete old device backups

iPhone and iPad backups stored locally can be 10 to 20 GB each. If you have owned multiple devices, you might have several backups sitting untouched.

1. In System Settings > General > Storage.

2. Select iOS files, and see that backups are here. You can delete old backups you don’t need.

3. You can also check in Finder and press Shift - Command - G

• ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup

Finding and managing device backups manually does require some digging around. A quicker way to do it would be with the CleanMyMac Cleanup feature, it shows all device backups in one view, displays their size, and lets you safely delete old ones with one click.

4. Remove your old large, and duplicate files

Many users accumulate massive video projects, screen recordings, or duplicated folders without even realizing it. You can use Finder search and sort by file size to identify files over 1 GB. It takes time, but the results can be dramatic. The problem here is spotting duplicates, manually; that's a challenge.

Duplicates are harder to spot manually. But checking here can help to save anywhere from 5 to 30 GB, depending on habits.

How to get more disk space on a Mac: Long-term strategies

Cleaning once is simply not enough; you’ll need to embed these habits into your daily Mac workflow.

1. Always keep 15-20% of free disk space; this helps prevent performance degradation.

2. Use the Optimized Storage recommendations in System Settings > General > Storage.

3. Review your installed apps every quarter.

4. Always store large media in cloud storage or on an external drive.

Prevent space issues by proactively maintaining your Mac. Smart Care from CleanMyMac can clear cache, identify large files, and remove app junk, so your Mac stays optimized without manual intervention. This prevents storage from creeping up and maintains consistent free space and performance.

Now you know how to get more space on disk mac.