How to Free Up System Data Storage on macOS
“System Data” (previously called Other Storage) on macOS can grow very large over time. It includes caches, logs, temporary files, local backups, and system support files. If your Mac storage is getting full, follow these steps to safely reduce System Data.
🛑 Step 1: Check Your Storage Breakdown
Before cleaning up files, see how much space System Data is using.
1. Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner.
2. Select About This Mac.
3. Click Storage.
4. Wait a few seconds for the storage categories to load.
➤ If System Data is taking a large portion of space, proceed with the steps below.
🧹 Step 2: Delete System Cache Files
Cache files help apps run faster but can accumulate and consume storage.
1. Open Finder.
2. Click Go in the menu bar.
3. Select Go to Folder.
4. Type:
~/Library/Caches
5. Press Return.
6. Delete unnecessary files inside cache folders (avoid deleting the folders themselves).
💡 Tip: Restarting your Mac will automatically rebuild necessary cache files.
🗑 Step 3: Remove Old Log Files
Log files record system activity but can become large over time.
1. In Finder, click Go → Go to Folder.
2. Enter:
~/Library/Logs
3. Delete old or unnecessary log files.
You can also check:
/Library/Logs
📦 Step 4: Delete iOS Device Backups
If you back up iPhones or iPads to your Mac, these backups may consume many gigabytes.
1. Open Finder.
2. Click Go → Go to Folder.
3. Enter:
~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup
4. Delete old backups you no longer need.
💻 Step 5: Clear Xcode Derived Data (Developers Only)
If you use developer tools, build files may consume huge storage.
1. Open Finder → Go to Folder.
2. Enter:
~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData
3. Delete the contents of the folder.
☁️ Step 6: Remove Local Time Machine Snapshots
Local snapshots are temporary backups created by Time Machine.
1. Open Terminal.
2. Run this command:
tmutil listlocalsnapshots /
3. Delete a snapshot using:
sudo tmutil deletelocalsnapshots YYYY-MM-DD-HHMMSS
➤ Replace the date with the snapshot listed in step 2.
📥 Step 7: Delete Large Downloads and Old DMG Files
Installation files often stay on the system after apps are installed.
1. Open Finder → Downloads.
2. Look for files like:
• .dmg
• .pkg
• old installers
3. Delete the ones you no longer need.
🔄 Step 8: Restart Your Mac
After cleaning system files:
1. Click Apple menu ().
2. Select Restart.
➤ This clears temporary files and recalculates storage usage.
✅ Pro Tip:
Use Finder → Search → File Size → Greater than 1 GB to quickly locate large files hidden on your system.
✔️ Result:
Following these steps can free several gigabytes of System Data storage and improve your Mac’s overall performance.