Having a relatively small hard drive means that you are going to have a hard time figuring out where to put all your data. While Macbook is known for its reliability, hard drive space is one area where the device falls short.
Even people who have used Macbook for a long time still tend to struggle when it comes to finding ways to free up the disk space. If you are facing a similar issue, here are some suggestions that should help you.
How to Free up Macbook’s Drive Storage?
1. Analyze the Disk
If you are looking to get serious and come up with a regular maintenance routine, start with getting a better understanding of what is inside the drive. Some would say that there is a need to visualize your disk.
In other words, get a utility tool that will give you information about different types of files that are taking up space. You will have to clean the disk regularly for both performance improvements and having more storage available for your files.
2. Scan for Malware
Some people claim that Macbooks are not prone to cyber security threats. That is far from reality, especially nowadays, when you can read about all sorts of viruses and malware.
Antiviruses should be on every computer. They are the best when it comes to protecting your data from potential hacking attacks. And do not underestimate hackers even if you are using a personal Macbook.
Malware could be the cause behind shrinking disk space, even more so if you are not adding or downloading data yourself. Scan the Mac with antivirus software and remove corrupted files. And even if you do not find anything, it is still a good piece of advice to have antivirus running in the background and eliminating any potential threats.
3. Remove Junk Data
Junk files, such as caches, temporary backups, or app extensions, can accumulate and reach a point where it does a lot of harm to the system.
Getting rid of junk data will free up disk space and save resource usage for the computer. You can leave the work to a utility tool or do everything manually. Though the latter option will take more time given how you need to change the settings of the system to access the files and create backups for security purposes.
4. Purchase External Storage Devices
Even if you cannot afford to spend a lot of money, you should still be able to find a decent deal for an external storage device or two. Second-hand options will also suffice. The goal here is to find a way of freeing up disk space on a Macbook.
USB memory sticks, external drives, disks, or memory cards will work as a means to store some of your data. You might even find someone who could lend you one in case you are not that keen on spending your own money, or need a temporary solution and can return the device later.
5. Use Dropbox and iCloud
Cloud-based services, like iCloud or Dropbox, are free and will provide you with a few gigabytes of storage. There is also an option to upgrade a plan for extra storage. For instance, iCloud comes with five gigabytes for free, and you can purchase more in case you prefer it.
The data is in a safe place, and accessing it should not be a problem provided that you have an internet connection.
6. Delete Useless Files
There are a lot of files that are more or less useless, and you can remove them without any hesitations. Those would be:
- Old applications that you can re-download and install later when you need to use them.
- Duplicate files that accumulated without you noticing it.
- Email attachments and downloads. Both folders might hold more data than you expect. Especially the former if you are using emails a lot for both work and communication with friends as every attachment you double-click on is saved on the computer by default.
- Language packs. Some applications have files for multiple languages despite most users needing only the English version and maybe another language that they are fluent in.
7. Subscribe to Streaming Platforms
An abundance of streaming platforms gives you more than enough to choose from, especially if you prefer movies, TV shows, and music as your entertainment.
Subscribing to streaming platforms means that there is no need to bother with large media files anymore. Your favorite pieces of media will be available with just a few clicks.
8. Reinstall the OS
When you still feel like the disk space is shrinking despite your best efforts, you still have an option to reinstall the OS. The process is a bit tricky, and you will need some help if you have not done it before. However, that effort is not going to go to waste so long as you do everything properly. Giving the computer a fresh start will mean that there is no useless junk and other data left. In other words, the disk is going to be empty.
Now, that you are familiar with practical ways to free up some of your Macbook drive storage, do share your thoughts on the same. You have any other tech ideas, feel free to discuss.
