Clean up your hard drive

Whether you're rapidly running out of space or simply want to put your files and apps in better order, the answer lies with a clear out of your Mac's storage

- NICK PEERS 

However much storage you have on your Mac, you'll always find a way to fill it. You might vow every time you buy a new model to keep it running swift and smooth, but over time your best intentions get overwhelmed, whether that's down to a lack of time or falling into bad habits.

Even if your Mac's storage is still relatively empty, you'll have noticed it start to fill up. Perhaps you've taken a brief tour of your personal user folders and realised there's junk on there that needs clearing out. Or maybe you're just desperate to find a new home for files you no longer need on a daily basis but might want to access to later.

Whatever your motivations for clearing out your Mac's storage drive, we're here to show you everything you need to know, from easily identifying those files that you no longer need, to ensuring no longer-needed apps get thoroughly removed when you're done with them. Over the next four pages you'll discover the best tools to comb through your system, and learn how to move your largest files without disturbing your current setup.

So without any further ado, let's get your virtual dustpan and brush out and start cleaning up!

Clear out junk quickly

Let's begin by identifying - and removing - those files you no longer need

Before you can start to clear the rubbish off your Mac, you need an overview. Open System Settings and navigate to General > About, then click Storage Settings. At the top, you'll see a color-coded chart representing your internal storage and how the space on it has been used up. There are five categories: 

Documents (basically all personal files, including media), Apps, macOS itself, System Data and a miscellaneous 'Bin and Others' category.