Guides
Guides to free up space on your Mac
What to do when a macOS update doesn't fit, what System Data is, and how to free up space without deleting anything important.
Not enough space to update macOS? How to make room safely
Your Mac says there isn't enough space for the macOS update, even though Finder shows free space. Why it happens and how to free 20–35 GB without deleting anything you need.
What is “System Data” on a Mac, and why is it so big?
System Data in your Mac's storage can take 50, 100 or 200 GB. What's really inside it (caches, snapshots, Docker, AI models…), what's safe to delete and what isn't.
How to free up space on your Mac without deleting anything important
A safe order to free up space on a Mac: first what recreates itself, then what needs a decision, and your own files last. With what macOS already offers and what to never delete.
How to find and delete duplicate photos on Mac
Find duplicate and nearly identical photos on your Mac, in the Photos library and in your folders, and free up space without losing the good shot.
Docker taking up too much space on Mac? How to shrink Docker.raw
Why Docker Desktop's Docker.raw grows to tens of gigabytes on your Mac, how to see what's inside and how to clean it without losing your databases.
Xcode taking up space? What you can delete (and what you can't)
DerivedData, iOS DeviceSupport, simulators and archives: what each Xcode folder is, how much it usually takes and which ones you can delete safely.
How to clear npm, pnpm, pip, uv and Homebrew caches on Mac
Package caches from npm, pnpm, yarn, pip, uv, Homebrew and Gradle can take tens of gigabytes. Where each one lives and the right command to clean it.
How to find large files on Mac (including hidden ones)
Four ways to find what's taking space on your Mac: Storage settings, Finder search, Finder sizes and Terminal, including the hidden Library folder.
What is purgeable space on Mac, and how to free it
Purgeable space is storage macOS can free by itself: local Time Machine snapshots, iCloud files and caches. Why it doesn't always free in time and how to force it.
DaisyDisk alternative: DiskSpace AI vs DaisyDisk
DaisyDisk shows where your space is. DiskSpace AI also tells you what each folder is and whether it's safe to delete. An honest comparison, and when to pick each one.
CleanMyMac alternative without a subscription
CleanMyMac is an all-in-one Mac maintenance suite, mostly sold as a subscription. If what you need is disk space, DiskSpace AI is focused, explains every folder and is a one-time payment.
The best disk space analyzers for Mac in 2026
macOS Storage, GrandPerspective, OmniDiskSweeper, DaisyDisk, CleanMyMac and DiskSpace AI compared: what each one shows, what it costs and which one fits you.
Folder guide
What each folder taking space on your Mac is, and whether you can delete it.