Ever tried getting frustrated about having insufficient free space on your MacBook laptop? Have you ever experienced not downloading important files and data because you are dangerously close to filling out all the space on your startup disk? Even when you’re not going through it now, you will soon be confronted with the reality that all electronic devices like laptops and other gadgets will have their memory space get full.
One of the most obvious ways to free up some disk space on your MacBook is to delete files and programs you’re not using, but sometimes it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start. There are many things you can do to purge your disk space free from unnecessary files. With a little bit of effort and preventative measures, there are ways you can free up some space on your MacBook.
Empty the Trash
The Trash on Mac is similar to the Windows’ Recycle Bin and it functions as a repository of all the unwanted files. It works just like taking waste to the garbage bin inside the house. No one is ever truly free from what they threw in the bin unless the trash has been taken outside. Similarly, this is what happens inside the computer; the memory space is not “free” unless the virtual Trash has been emptied completely.
Clear the Downloads Folder
Can’t find where your computer memory has all gone? Try checking the Downloads Folder. Everything you download – files, apps, and programs all go here and they remain there, wasting valuable storage space unless the contents are moved elsewhere to be put to better use and or purged. The best way to be on top of the folder is to go through it once in a while to check what files have been parked there; keep the ones you need and permanently delete the others.
Clear All Temporary Files
The biggest repository for temporary files is in the cache. There are different kinds of cache: system, user, app, and browser. The most familiar cache is the one on internet browsers like Chrome and Firefox. Browser cache is used to store temporary files so users can go to frequently visited websites more quickly. The files on all cache can build up pretty quickly and in some cases may cause the browsers, system, and apps to slow down or even stop working. That is why it is always a good idea to delete accumulated cache to not only free up storage space, but to help clear temporary files.
Transfer & Preserve Important Files
We all have files that are too important to delete and too information-sensitive to be uploaded to cloud storage. In this case, it is best to use an external SSD for extra storage. It is one of the easiest ways to transfer your files in order to back up or safe keep them from being deleted or corrupted. Most people nowadays are finding SSD external hard drives more convenient to use than the old-fashioned HDD because they are much faster, tougher, and less sensitive to bumps, and comes in bigger storage options for people who have a lot of files.
Look into iCloud Photo Library
The iCloud Photo Library can help free some storage space by uploading photos and videos to the cloud instead of the MacBook’s hard drive. Before doing this, make sure to do a complete backup of all your important memories because it takes a little bit of getting used to. There have been complaints from others that they ended up with duplicates and have entire albums go missing.
With all the tips mentioned above, it is recommended to figure out a way to try not to store so much unneeded files on the MacBook hard drive. Apart from that, other unused applications, programs, and widgets should be uninstalled as they take valuable storage space. Do you have any other tips on how to free space on MacBook? Sound off in the comments below.
