If you happen to be running low on storage space, then one of the first things you need to do is check your storage availability. However, there are quite a few times when you may notice that your system is taking up most of your storage space. But this raises the question, what exactly is in this “System”, that is consuming most of my storage?
Well, we are going to dive into this mystery and help you figure out how you can quickly clear some of your storage without posing a risk to your Mac. On the other hand, if your storage is filled up with documents, movies, or photos, you should remove or delete those files from your Mac immediately. You can accomplish this by using an sd card hub. These devices will allow you to transfer files and data to any external storage device, eg. SD Cards, flash drives, external hard drives, etc. Moreover, they also ensure that your files will not accidentally end up corrupted in the process. If you do not own one, we suggest checking out the wide varieties that the Lention brand offers on their website. Most of them also come with extended functionalities such as 4K HDMI connectivity, Gigabit Ethernet, High-speed USB 3.0 data transfer, Integrated charging, SD/Micro Card Readers, etc.
Now, let’s dive into your “System” problem, shall we?!
What is My Mac’s “System”?
The “System” section in any Mac will comprise your macOS system. It also tends to be where your temporary files and backups are stored. To be more precise, this may include; old Time Machine backups, iOS backups, file and application caches, temporary files, unused disk images, etc.
For instance, if you are a music producer, you will probably download numerous applications and audio files. In such cases, even if you remove them, some of these programs will leave behind temporary files that can start to clog up your Mac. In such cases, if you are trying to do some work and aren’t in a position to fix this storage issue immediately, you can always use an external monitor and external keyboard to temporarily fix the problem. This will allow you to alleviate the system load on your Mac’s processor and temporarily solve the issue. In this regard, you can connect to a 5k usb c monitor, by using Lention’s (D92) Docking Station.
It is a fully loaded, all-in-one usb hub that features an extensive amount of connectivity ports that will allow you to extend your laptop’s functionalities to the max, without overloading it. It is also universally compatible with most Windows PCs and Macs, so you don’t have to worry about it working well on your device. In terms of features, it offers up 6 USB 3.0 ports, 1 Gigabit Ethernet port that supports up to 1000Mbps internet connectivity, and a dual 4K displays output that supports dual HDMI and DisplayPort displays with both mirror and extend mode. Moreover, this hub features both a microphone input and audio output, which is useful if you are making music or recording audio!
However, if you are in a position to get down to fixing the problem now, then read on.
How To Manage Your “System” Space on Mac
If we were to take my Mac as an example, right now my “System” is consuming about 11GB worth of space. In most cases, that is an acceptable and fair amount. But, what if you were to check and discover that it’s consuming almost 15-20 GB worth of memory? Well, don’t panic. There are several reasons why that is happening and ways to fix it. However, this is where things start to get a little tricky.
This is because when you check your current storage allocation, the built-in storage optimization tool won’t allow you to investigate your “System” further. Out of all the other sections such as Applications, Documents, Photos, Messages, etc. The “System” and “Other” sections are the only ones that will not allow you to open and examine the files within. Luckily, there are workarounds.
Since Apple won’t allow you to see what exactly is consuming so much of your storage, your next best option is to download a third-party application like CleanMyMacX. This utility app will provide you with a virtual map of your storage space, and you can pinpoint what is taking up so much “System” space. The app also provides a seamless, easy-to-use interface that will give you a good picture of what files are the largest space consumers. After which, the only thing left to do is to figure out how to remove those files from your Mac.
1. Delete the files manually
This can be quite a tedious method, as you will have to go through your system folders one by one and delete any unnecessary files. Moreover, if you accidentally delete the wrong file that could affect your Mac’s system negatively. However, if you are willing to give it a shot or are qualified to recognize which files to delete, then simply head to Finder > Go > Go To Folder and type this: ~/Library/Caches. This should open the system library and from there, make sure to carefully pick out which files you are confident are not necessary, then delete them.
Alternatively, if you are not confident that certain files aren’t necessary, you can always move them to an external drive or computer for safekeeping. You can use a usb c hubs to accomplish this. We recommend the (CB-C35H-1M) USB-C hub from Lention. It is universally compatible with most computers. Plus, it comes with 4 USB 3.0 ports. This means you can connect to external devices such as keyboards, mobile devices, or storage drives. Moreover, it offers a high data transfer rate of up to 5Gbps, with 60W power pass-through to charge any external devices. Additionally, it offers a 3.3ft extra cable extension that allows you to be more adaptable in your workspace for extra convenience.
2. Use A Third-Party App
As mentioned before, you can not only use CleanMy MacX to examine your Mac’s storage space. But, it can also help you delete and clear your Mac of any unnecessary cache files, temporary files, etc. This helps guarantee that you won’t end up deleting something important and compromise your Mac’s functionality in the process.
