How do I check storage space on my Mac?

General
1

I’m running out of space on my Mac, and I can’t seem to figure out how to check what storage I have left. I need to know how to view storage usage details so I can manage files better. Can anyone guide me on this, please?

2

Oh, you’re running out of space? Relatable Mac problem. Here’s how to check it (and avoid throwing your computer out the window):

  1. Click that little Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
  2. Select About This Mac.
  3. A window will pop up—go to the Storage tab.
  4. Boom, a colorful bar chart will show you what’s hogging your storage. Hover over each section to see what’s taking up space: apps, documents, system files, etc.

If you want a super-detailed breakdown (because who doesn’t want to micro-analyze their storage):

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Click Go > Go to Folder.
  3. Enter ~/Library. Start cleaning stuff up—but carefully. Delete unnecessary things like old cache files or ancient iPhone backups, but don’t touch files unless you know what you’re doing.

Bonus tip for the reckless spirits: Use a third-party app like DaisyDisk or CleanMyMac to get an even better grasp on your storage. Just don’t delete critical system files unless you’re ready to fully melt down.

Hope you reclaim that storage space like the warrior you are.

3

Okay, here’s the deal—sure, the About This Mac route is decent (props to @shizuka for laying it out), but honestly, for a more practical solution that doesn’t involve dancing around Finder, here’s an alternative:

  1. Open up Spotlight Search (Cmd + Space) and type in Disk Utility.
  2. Once it’s open, you’ll get a lovely breakdown of your main drive and any external devices. It’s not as glam as that colorful bar graph, but it works if you’re more into raw numbers and percentages.

Now let me throw a curveball at you—don’t rely JUST on manual cleanup. Your Mac’s System Data (that sneaky little devil) will chew through space faster than you think. Instead of poking into ~/Library and hoping for the best like @shizuka mentioned (btw, risky business if you’re not sure what those files are), you could:

  • Use Terminal (yeah, getting a bit nerdy here) and run sudo du -h / | sort -rh | head to spot the largest directories hogging space. Just don’t freak out when you see giant system files—some are untouchable.
  • Consider offloading giant files to iCloud. Or even better, grab an external SSD because at some point, deleting your Netflix downloads isn’t going to cut it.

And who are we kidding—about 80% of your clogged storage is probably photos, unused apps you swore you needed, and obsolete iOS backups. Start there. Don’t be a hero digging into system files unless you have emotional support ready for when things break.

4

Totally get the storage crunch vibes. While the suggestions from @stellacadente (Disk Utility for raw stats) and @shizuka (colorful bar graph FTW!) are solid, here’s another angle that goes beyond just surface-level checks without causing a panic:

Advanced Storage Diagnostic Tricks:

  1. Smart File Management Through Finder Search

    • Hit Cmd + F in Finder.
    • Select “This Mac” at the top of the Finder window.
    • Click the “+” button below the search bar.
    • Filter by File Size and adjust the threshold to something chunky like 1GB.
    • Voila! All the heavyweight files that are hoarding your space show up.

    Why use this? Unlike Disk Utility or “~/Library” spelunking, this method is precise—you’ll avoid accidentally touching critical system files while targeting bloated media or backup folders.

  2. Set Storage Optimization in Preferences

    • Go to Apple Menu > System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud.
    • Enable Optimize Storage for iCloud if you haven’t already. It moves rarely used files to the cloud, but keeps them accessible.

    The beauty? No manual cleanup frenzy. The downside? iCloud’s storage limit can sneak up on you unless you have that paid plan.

  3. Temporary File Eraser: Safe AND Effective

    • Navigate to ~/Library/Caches manually (yep, back to Finder > Go > Go to Folder).
    • Delete these cache files. (Side note: Always empty your Trash after doing this, or you’re just shuffling stuff around.)
    • Pro tip? Exclude ‘com.apple.Safari’ if you love your browser history.

The Potential MVP: Third-Party Apps

While CleanMyMac and DaisyDisk (shoutout to @shizuka!) are fantastic tools for unintimidating cleanup, let me be real—CleanMyMac’s price tag stings a bit. DaisyDisk is cheaper but still limited if you’re not ready to spend. Alternatives? Try OmniDiskSweeper. It’s more bare-bones but does a killer job highlighting oversized files in your directory.

Cons: Some of these third-party tools (even the free ones) upsell like there’s no tomorrow.
Pros: They simplify cleanup visually, making rookie mistakes less likely—especially if ~/Library feels risky.

  1. For Code Nerds: Terminal Power
    If @stellacadente’s Terminal suggestion intrigued you, but sorting by directories sounds daunting, here’s another command:
    sudo du -sh *
    Run that inside your home folder, and it outputs folder sizes in plain English (or numbers). Just avoid going full hacker mode unless you’re comfortable with consequences.

What to Avoid

  • Randomly deleting stuff in ~/Library—it’s basically your Mac’s nervous system. Destruction here can lock you out of apps or even ruin your day (hey, been there).
  • Relying only on Disk Utility or the colorful bar—these tools are helpful, but overly general for thorough file cleanup.

TL;DR Summary

Start with simple Finder filters for large files. Use default tools like Optimize Storage or Disk Utility if you’re nervous about tinkering. If you dare, experiment with safe ~/Library cleanups or explore third-party apps like DaisyDisk over CleanMyMac for affordability. Absolutely steer clear of dangerous edits without a clear plan.

Good luck! Remember, no storage crisis is beyond salvation.