There are quite a few reasons why your MacBook may be struggling with the overall available drive space. The issue may not seem that problematic at first. However, eventually, you will notice that the laptop becomes quite slow.
Thankfully, there are multiple ways to create a solid Mac cleanup strategy and improve the computer’s performance. If the lack of MacBook drive storage has become too much of a problem for you, take advantage of the tips below and create a computer data management strategy.
Temporary files
Temporary files like caches, app extensions, and plugins accumulate over time in the MacBook’s system. Individually, these files do not take that much drive space, but when you take them all together, the amount can be quite significant.
Besides, the system creates temporary data constantly, meaning that you need to delete these files on a regular basis.
There are two methods to do the work. The first is to delete temporary storage manually. The second is to get a cleanup utility tool.
The first option is not efficient because you are likely to spend more time on the task than you wish. Besides, the work is quite monotonous.
On the other hand, investing in cleanup software would simplify the process since you can select which files to delete in the software’s UI and have it do the work.
In addition to freeing up the drive space, clearing temporary junk will also leave fewer files for the macOS to process, leading to an improved overall Mac performance.
Old applications
Too many applications that you have installed over time could also be one of the primary reasons why your MacBook’s drive has less than enough free storage.
Look at the list of installed apps and figure out which of these you can remove from the computer. Even if it is one or two apps, deleting those could still make a significant difference.
It is worth remembering that some apps also come with language pack data. Most of the time, you only need the English version, right? It makes little sense to keep files for other languages on the computer. This means that deleting some applications may free up more disk space than you expect.
Cloud storage
Sometimes, you do not need to remove files permanently to free up the computer’s drive space. There is also an option to use cloud storage.
Services like iCloud and Dropbox come in handy when you are looking for an alternative type of storage to the MacBook’s drive. As a macOS user, you should probably go with iCloud.
One can create a mini-ecosystem out of their Apple devices and access iCloud contents on not just a Mac but also an iPhone and iPad.
The default iCloud plan offers 5 gigabytes of storage for free. The amount is unlikely to be sufficient, but Apple is well-aware of that. The company offers iCloud storage plans depending on your needs.
50 gigabytes per month cost 1 dollar, 200 gigabytes – 2 dollars, and 2 terabytes of extra iCloud storage cost 10 dollars.
External devices
Similar to cloud storage, external devices could also prove to be a neat addition. In fact, you may be leaning towards getting an external hard drive or a few USB flash drives since purchasing these means no monthly fees, unlike what you would have to pay for iCloud storage.
You could also use an external HDD to create data backups by combining the device with the Time Machine tool. It is difficult to predict when something might happen to the MacBook’s hardware. If the data inside the computer gets wiped, you may not be able to restore it. Meanwhile, having a backup in an HDD would give some peace of mind.
Trash bin
Deleting MacBook files is as simple as dragging them in the Trash Bin. However, you should remember that putting a file in the Bin is not enough to get rid of it permanently. For that, you will also need to empty the Trash Bin manually or enable the feature to delete Bin files automatically after 30 days.
If you want, you could also use a keyboard shortcut. Select a file, hit Option + Command + Delete, and confirm the pop-up to remove the file permanently.
Large media files
Those who like to hoard large media files on their computer should reconsider this habit and look for a better alternative, which is streaming services.
Platforms like Netflix are great for movies and TV shows. Spotify and YouTube have pretty much all the music you need. And the best thing about these services is that you do not need to download media to your computer. Instead, you just need to log in to your account and select what you want to watch or listen to.
