Macbooks are not the best when it comes to available storage space. Some people find it hard to keep all of their data on a Mac. Moreover, if you have only a few gigabytes of free space, it will be a significant hindrance to the overall performance of the computer.
Thankfully, there are ways you can manage the drive and keep it in a healthy condition. Here are some great suggestions on how you can free up hard drive space on a Macbook.
Suggestion #1 – Uninstall Unnecessary Applications
Start with uninstalling apps you no longer need. Even if they do not take that much space, your goal is to free up the disk. Also, there is no need to worry about removing applications because you have the option to download and reinstall them.
Look at your app list and see which of the applications no longer have a place on the Macbook.
Suggestion #2 – Get Rid of Temporary System Junk
Temporary system junk like backups and app extensions might not be the biggest problem, but you should still get in the habit of removing them regularly. Just the sheer volume of files is enough to put a toll on the overall computer performance.
Getting rid of junk data is a drag if you do it manually. Get a cleanup tool instead and have it delete unwanted files automatically.
Suggestion #3 – Empty Trash Can
You have the option to delete files permanently using the keyboard shortcut of Option + Command + Delete. However, not everyone does that. Instead, Macbook users drag files to the Trash and think that is enough.
You need to empty the Trash Bin. Otherwise, the files will stay in the Bin and continue taking up the storage space.
Suggestion #4 – Delete iTunes Library Artwork
Ask yourself whether there is any reason to keep iTunes library artwork around. If you have many different songs on iTunes, the artwork can take as much as a few hundred megabytes of space.
It might be nice to look at some neat pictures, but iTunes is ultimately about listening to music. Think of it as visual effects that are useless and do nothing other than consuming battery life and other computer resources.
Suggestion #5 – Subscribe to Streaming Services
The popularity of streaming services made it possible to access media with just a few clicks. Music, TV shows, and movies are available online, and you do not have to insert a DVD or download files to your computer.
Media files are large, and your Macbook’s drive would benefit a lot if you stuck to streaming services more often.
Suggestion #6 – Check for Potential Malware
There are various kinds of malware, and it might be that your computer has one that eats the disk space. Run a system scan using reliable antivirus. Remove infected files if the scan finds any.
The fact that you had malware problems means that your computer’s security is not up to par. In addition to having reliable antivirus, you should also use a virtual private network while surfing the web. Enabling the Macbook’s firewall and avoiding questionable URLs will help as well.
Suggestion #7 – Use External Storage Devices
You do not have to delete all the files to free up disk space on a Macbook. Transferring data elsewhere is always an option, especially if you have external storage devices lying around the home.
Memory sticks, external hard drives, and even DVDs can work so long as they are in good condition and will not break down when you need to access the data again.
Suggestion #8 – Transfer Data to Dropbox and iCloud
If you do not trust external storage devices that much, then why not use cloud services? Dropbox and iCloud offer free storage with an option to upgrade your plan. You can move files between the Mac and cloud back and forth so long as there is an internet connection.
Moreover, if you sync your account, you can also access cloud storage on other devices, such as iPhones or iPads.
Suggestion #9 – Look for Language Pack Files
Some applications come with redundant language packs. In most cases, people need only the English version. There might be instances when someone might use another language that they are fluent in, but what about 50 or even more languages?
The files can be quite large, up to 1 gigabyte, or even more. Look at the files of applications you installed on the Macbook and remove language pack files you do not need.
Suggestion #10 – Clear Download and Email Attachment Folders
Download and email attachment folders may grow as well. Each email attachment you double-click on is saved on the computer by default. Some people also forget about downloads. Keep tabs on both download and email attachment folders to delete files you no longer need.
