Over time, your Mac probably accumulates a lot of raw vegetables. Old apps you no longer use, data you no longer need, a desktop full of icons (of which you only use four)… you know what I mean. With so many people working from home lately, the problem has only gotten worse.
Now is the best time to tidy up your Mac, freeing up storage space and likely CPU cycles and RAM in the process. Here are some tips for quickly “spring cleaning” your Mac.
Optimize storage
On versions of macOS prior to Ventura, the Storage Management app was the best place to manage all the mess on your SSD. Open it either using Spotlight (command space) or by clicking on the Apple logo at the top left of the menu bar, choosing About This Mac
In the Recommendations tab, you’ll see a number of useful options, such as Store in iCloud and Empty Trash automatically. The Optimize Storage solution will get rid of things like old TV shows you’ve already watched and old email attachments when you run out of storage space.
In macOS Ventura, this storage management app is gone, but you’ll find the Optimize Storage option in System Settings. Open System Parameterschoose GeneralSO Storage. The Optimize storage here option only affects movies and TV shows in the TV app, but you can click the information button (i) next to the different categories (Apps, Developer, Documents, etc.) .) to manage them.
Foundry
Take a look at your applications and documents
When you are in the Storage Management application, click on the Applications tab in the left column. You can see all your installed apps here and sort them by size, easily deleting apps you haven’t used in ages.
Next, click on Documents in the left tab. There are several sections here, like large files and unsupported apps, that are worth reading. Large library files (for applications like Lightroom or Final Cut Pro) are likely to appear here, and you may not want to disturb them. But you may have large old files and documents, or apps that no longer even work on your version of macOS, that you can safely remove.
In macOS Ventura or later, go to System Parameters > General > Storage and click the information button (i) next to apps, documents and other categories. You can sort by size and type and manage those items here.
Keep your office under control
If your desktop is littered with icons, you should probably tidy things up a bit. Right-click (press with two fingers on a trackpad) on any open space and choose To clean
Use a cleanup utility
Power users who really want to clean up their Mac’s storage might want to check out a third-party app like DaisyDisk ($9.99) or Onyx (free). These apps provide a simple and clear way to see everything on your Mac or any other attached storage device or drive. They can help you eliminate what you don’t need.
It might seem pointless to pay for an app that just helps you remove stuff from your Mac’s storage, but disk scanners have a lot of value. It can really be eye-opening to see exactly what’s filling up your Mac’s SSD. Check out our roundup of the best Mac cleaner apps.
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