Running out of drive space on a computer will spell trouble for its performance. It is recommended to have at least 10 or 15 percent of total disk storage free.
Macbooks have multiple advantages, but they are not the best when it comes to their drive space. Moreover, the recent trend to replace hard drives with solid-state drives for the sake of performance is not helping with the drive space either.
Thankfully, this disadvantage is not enough to make Macbooks less popular. If other people have figured out how to deal with drive space, so should you. The methods below should help you with the problem.
Method #1 – Delete Unnecessary Files Permanently
To remove files from the Macbook permanently, use the Command + Option + Delete keyboard shortcut after selecting a file. Confirm the pop-up box, and the file will disappear from the computer.
As an alternative, you can also use the Trash Bin. However, if you drag files in it, remember to empty the Bin every time you put data in it. Enabling the feature that deletes Trash Bin files automatically after 30 days is also an option.
Method #2 – Manage Other Storage
Data like the macOS system and temporary files, caches, app plugins, and extensions, as well as disk images and archives are known as other Mac storage. Knowing what is other storage on Mac should not be your priority. You need to focus on deleting data that is irrelevant.
You can define other Mac storage as temporary junk data. You should aim to remove these files from the computer regularly because they accumulate quite fast. Reducing the number will also leave the system fewer files to process, and that helps with the overall Macbook performance.
As a rule of thumb, you should get a cleanup utility tool to manage other Mac storage. After all, deleting these junk files manually takes too long, and the work is monotonous.
Method #3 – Keep Tabs on Installed App List
Pay attention to applications you install. It is not always the apps themselves that take a lot of drive space.
For instance, some apps may come with support for foreign languages. You do not really need translation files for multiple languages when an English version is enough, right?
Of course, it also helps if you remove redundant apps from the Macbook, even if they do not come with extra files. After all, you can download and reinstall an app again if you need to use it.
Method #4 – Check Downloads
You may forget about files you download from the internet. Be it email attachments, app installers, pictures, or documents – if you do not pay attention, the downloads folder will accumulate files fast and take up more Macbook drive space than you would like.
In case you tend to forget about these things, change the default location of downloads and save them on the Macbook’s desktop. Doing so will let you notice files right away, and you can remove the ones that are of no use to you.
Method #5 – Scan Mac for Potential Malware
Given the variety of malware, it should not surprise you to encounter cybersecurity threats that eat away at the computer’s drive space. And unless you have reliable antivirus software, locating such malware or virus would be quite difficult.
If there is less free storage each time you look at the Macbook’s disk, and you have not installed or downloaded anything, make sure to scan the system using reliable antivirus software.
Any corrupted files that the scan locates should be removed from the computer. To avoid malware problems in the future, make sure that the antivirus software is present all the time while the laptop is turned on.
Method #6 – Take Advantage of External Storage
External storage is a good alternative to deleting Macbook files permanently. The computer data management strategy can revolve around cloud services and external hard drives or memory sticks.
Services like Dropbox and iCloud provide a few gigabytes of free storage, and you can increase the space by paying a monthly fee.
As for external hard drives and memory sticks, these devices should not cost that much, particularly if you wait for a sale.
Method #7 – Stick to Streaming Platforms
Streaming platforms are another excellent method to deal with the lack of drive storage. Some people like to hoard media files on their computer. And the funny thing is that they do not rush watching movies or TV shows.
A media backlog that grows over time should not be a thing nowadays. Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Spotify, and other streaming services provide you with an opportunity to consume media on the go without downloading files on the computer.
Sure, you will need to pay money to subscribe to streaming platforms, but this should help with the drive space problem. Not to mention that you will benefit from consuming media in a more convenient way.