Find out how to recover storage when your Mac warns about low disk space, or when there isn't enough room to save, install, or transfer files.

Step 1: Launch Terminal

Hold Command (⌘) + Space → enter Terminal and press Return

Step 2: Check What's Using Your Storage

Copy the command below into the Terminal window and hit Return

What this command does:

Shows how much space is used and how much is still available on your startup disk

Reports the total size of your user caches, so you can see how much space they take up

Reads information only - nothing is modified, deleted, or downloaded

Why your Mac runs low on storage

Over time, macOS accumulates a significant amount of temporary data — browser caches, system logs, partially downloaded updates, and leftover files from uninstalled applications. These files are not visible in Finder by default, yet they can occupy tens of gigabytes of disk space. When the startup disk reaches critical capacity, your Mac may slow down, refuse to install updates, or display the "Your disk is almost full" warning.

What typically takes up the space

System caches — temporary files created by macOS services while your Mac runs

Application caches — stored data from browsers, media players, and other apps that builds up over time

Old log files — diagnostic logs and crash reports that accumulate over time

Inactive language packs — localization files for languages you don't use, which take up unnecessary space

Leftover update files — downloaded software updates that have already been installed and are no longer required

Is it safe?

Yes. The command is completely read-only: it only displays information about disk usage and the size of your caches. It does not delete anything, change any settings, download files, or require administrator privileges. Your personal files, photos, documents, and application settings remain completely untouched.

How do I actually free up the space?

This command shows you where your storage goes — it does not delete anything by itself. To reclaim space, use the tools macOS already provides: open System Settings → General → Storage to review recommendations and large files, empty the Trash, remove applications you no longer use, and enable Optimize Mac Storage to offload older files to iCloud. Clearing caches manually is rarely necessary — apps rebuild the data they need automatically.

Tips to keep your Mac storage healthy

Re-run the check command from time to time to see how quickly caches grow on your Mac

Enable Optimize Mac Storage in System Settings → Apple ID → iCloud to automatically offload older files to the cloud

Regularly empty the Trash — deleted files still consume disk space until the Trash is cleared

Review large files using System Settings → General → Storage to identify what takes up the most room

Remove applications you no longer use by dragging them to the Trash from the Applications folder

Published Date: August 27, 2026