Managing your MacBook Storage Yourself: 7 Helpful Tips
MacBook users are often concerned about the limited storage that they get on buying the base models. Yes, most MacBooks come with 128 GB SSD, which restricts users from storing high-volume apps along with multiple large-sized files. Moreover, these compact devices are non-upgradable, which makes limited storage even more bothersome.
Below are some handy techniques that will help you to free up space on your MacBook. By adopting these simple methods, you will be able to optimize storage and improve overall performance. You do not have to purchase an external storage media as these methods will guide you to manage storage by deleting existing contents stored on the drive.
1. Empty Trash
When you delete a file from any location, such as the Desktop, Downloads folder, Documents folder, or any particular drive, the item remains intact on the storage media. All deleted items move to the Trash and stay there for 30 days so that you can restore them easily if required.
These items consume their share of space on storage media when stored in the Trash. So, when you delete a file, make sure to remove it from the Trash folder so that you can claim space on storage media.
2. Delete Apps
Take a thorough tour of your MacBook to check if you are storing any unnecessary apps. Believe it, there must be more than a dozen apps that you won’t use, but they are occupying a considerable space on the SSD. More often than not, the apps we download often serve a particular purpose.
When we use these apps to complete a project or a specific task, we almost forget to delete them from the computer. Such apps not only consume space but make the computer slow when not updated regularly. Delete these apps manually or browse the list of third-party professional uninstaller apps and download one to automate the process.
3. Remove Duplicates
Duplicate files can take up a huge amount of space on your device. You better find them and delete them from your laptop before it reaches the stipulated storage limit. These files are usually the applications and attachments that you have downloaded repeatedly. One of the most common examples of duplicate files is the photos that we save on the computer.
Delete the duplicate files to free up gigabytes of space. Removing them will enable you to gain storage space instantly. Although it is easy to remove duplicates manually, you can use a professional app.
4. Clear Browser History
Regardless of whether or not you are browsing the web excessively, your computer is storing a lot of cache files already. Cache files aim at speeding up the browsing experience for users when they visit the same file every subsequent time. At the same time, the cache files also take up a lot of storage space when not removed frequently.
To make some extra space on the SSD, you must clear your system cache frequently to remove the browser cache, app cache, and other junk files. Cleaning the cache from the MacBook will not impact your browsing experience greatly.
5. Declutter Desktop
When you keep hoarding your reports, old screenshots, duplicate images, and other unwanted files on your desktop, it adds huge gigabytes to your storage. Although storing files on a desktop is common, and we all do it for convenience, it slows down your computer remarkably. So, decluttering the desktop at regular intervals is the only solution.
Cleaning your desktop will not only clear space on storage media but will organize your files and folders. Removing the clutter regularly ensures that your device is healthy and will perform better in the long run.
6. Delete Old Backups
Backing up your MacBook is important to ensure that you can restore data when required. Data loss can occur to anyone, anytime. Having a backup means you can gain access to the lost data and restore it in the original format. macOS provides access to a native backup utility called Time Machine, which can create daily, weekly, and monthly backups.
Since backup files are large in volume, they consume a lot of storage, resulting in insufficient space for other important data. Delete old backups to make gigabytes of storage space on the MacBook.
7. Clean Downloads Folder
When you download a new app or file on your computer, it gets stored inside the Downloads folder by default. The folder starts to grow uncontrollably, adding to the storage space. Most of the data we download from the web is never used either once. But it stays on the storage media for longer, if not forever.
Go through your Download folder, identify the data that is of no use and delete it from the device. Removing data from the Downloads folder is the sure-shot way to increase your MacBook space.
