{"id":5057,"date":"2026-04-04T04:14:53","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T02:14:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/?p=5057"},"modified":"2026-04-05T12:38:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T10:38:27","slug":"free-up-mac-storage-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/gagner-place-mac-astuces\/","title":{"rendered":"Disk space: saving space on the Mac"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"article-blog\">\n\n<h1>Save space on your Mac: 15 effective ways to free up disk space<\/h1>\n\n<div class=\"article-meta\">Reading : 13 min | Tips and Tricks<\/div>\n\n<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gagner-place-mac-astuces.webp\" alt=\"Save space on your Mac: methods for freeing up disk space\" title=\"15 ways to save space on your Mac\" width=\"1200\" height=\"568\" loading=\"eager\">\n\n<div class=\"answer-box\">\nTo sum up: to save space on your Mac, start by emptying the recycle bin and deleting unused applications. Activate iCloud Storage Optimisation to automatically unload little-used files. Delete forgotten large files (old downloads, application caches, local Time Machine copies). On a Mac with limited storage, a fast external SSD is the ideal complement for large files.\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"toc-box\">\n<strong>Contents<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#diagnostiquer\">Diagnose disk space usage<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#nettoyage-rapide\">Rapid cleaning: immediate benefits<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#icloud\">Optimising storage with iCloud<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#applications\">Delete applications correctly<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#caches\">Caches, logs and temporary files<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#fichiers-volumineux\">Tracking down forgotten large files<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#stockage-externe\">Expand your storage with an external drive<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"diagnostiquer\">Diagnose disk space usage<\/h2>\n\n<p>Before deleting anything, you need to understand what's occupying the space. macOS offers a built-in diagnostic tool: Apple menu \u2192 About this Mac \u2192 Storage (or System Settings \u2192 General \u2192 Storage on recent versions). A coloured bar shows the breakdown by category: Applications, Documents, Photos, System, Other.<\/p>\n\n<p>The \u00abSystem data\u00bb category (formerly \u00abOther\u00bb) is often the most mysterious and the largest. It includes application caches, temporary files, system logs, fonts, plug-ins and various support files. This is generally where the biggest gains are made.<\/p>\n\n<p>For a more detailed view, open a Finder window and use Cmd + Shift + G to navigate to specific folders, or use Terminal with the command <code>du -sh ~\/Library\/Caches\/*<\/code> to measure cache size. Our complete guide <a href=\"\/en\/clean-up-mac-free-up-space\/\">cleaning your Mac<\/a> details advanced diagnostic tools and methods.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"nettoyage-rapide\">Rapid cleaning: immediate benefits<\/h2>\n\n<p>These actions take less than five minutes and often free up several gigabytes.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Empty the bin<\/h3>\n\n<p>It sounds obvious, but the recycle bin in macOS can contain tens of gigabytes of deleted files. Right-click on the Recycle Bin icon in the Dock \u2192 Empty Recycle Bin. For automatic cleaning, enable \u00abAutomatically delete items from the recycle bin after 30 days\u00bb in Finder \u2192 Settings \u2192 Advanced.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Clean up the Downloads folder<\/h3>\n\n<p>The Downloads folder is a trap for forgotten files: .dmg installers, .zip archives already extracted, PDFs read only once, images downloaded months ago. Open ~\/Downloads, sort by size (Overview \u2192 Sort by \u2192 Size) and delete anything that's no longer useful. The .dmg installers in particular are of no use once the application has been installed.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Delete accumulated screenshots<\/h3>\n\n<p>If you regularly use Cmd + Shift + 3 or 4 to capture your screen, the desktop (or the destination folder you've set up) can accumulate hundreds of captures. Sort through them, archive the useful ones and delete the rest. To master the capture options, see our <a href=\"\/en\/mac-screenshot-guide\/\">Mac screen capture guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nettoyage-rapide-mac-espace-disque.webp\" alt=\"Quick Mac clean-up: Recycle bin, downloads and captures\" title=\"Quick actions to free up space on the Mac\" width=\"1200\" height=\"568\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\n<h2 id=\"icloud\">Optimising storage with iCloud<\/h2>\n\n<p>iCloud storage optimization is the most elegant solution for Macs with a small-capacity SSD. The principle: macOS keeps recently used files locally and automatically offloads older files to iCloud, keeping only a light version (thumbnail for photos, empty file for documents). When you open a downloaded file, macOS automatically re-downloads it.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Activate optimisation<\/h3>\n\n<ol>\n<li>Go to <strong>System Settings \u2192 Apple ID \u2192 iCloud<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Activate <strong>iCloud Drive<\/strong> and tick <strong>\u00abOptimising Mac storage\u00bb<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>For photos: in the Photos application \u2192 Settings \u2192 iCloud \u2192 tick \u00abOptimise Mac storage\u00bb.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<table class=\"tg-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>iCloud package<\/th>\n<th>Storage<\/th>\n<th>Price\/month<\/th>\n<th>Ideal for<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">Free<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">5 GB<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">0 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Basic backup only<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">iCloud+ 50 GB<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">50 GB<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">0,99 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Modest photo library, a few documents<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">iCloud+ 200 GB<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">200 GB<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">2,99 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Full personal use, family sharing<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">iCloud+ 2 TB<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">2 To<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">9,99 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Large photo libraries for professional use<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">iCloud+ 6 TB<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">6 To<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">29,99 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Video production, large archives<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">iCloud+ 12 TB<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">12 To<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">59,99 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Extreme professional needs<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<div class=\"info-box tip\">\n<strong>Advice :<\/strong> The 200GB package at \u20ac2.99\/month is the best value for money for most users. It includes iCloud+ (Private Relay, email aliases, HomeKit secure video) and can be shared with up to 5 members of your family. It's a tiny investment compared with the extra cost of a Mac with more storage when you buy it.\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"applications\">Delete applications correctly<\/h2>\n\n<p>Dragging an application to the recycle bin does not delete all its associated files. MacOS applications leave behind preference files, caches, support files and logs scattered around the ~\/Library folder. Over the years, this residue can amount to several gigabytes.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Native method<\/h3>\n\n<p>For applications installed from the App Store: Launchpad \u2192 hold click on the icon \u2192 click on the \u00abX\u00bb that appears. For others, drag the application from \/Applications to the recycle bin. Some apps (such as Adobe Creative Cloud) have their own uninstaller - use that rather than the manual method.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Cleaning residues<\/h3>\n\n<p>After deleting an application, check the following locations and delete any folders named after the application:<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><code>~\/Library\/Application Support\/<\/code><\/li>\n<li><code>~\/Library\/Caches\/<\/code><\/li>\n<li><code>~\/Library\/Preferences\/<\/code><\/li>\n<li><code>~\/Library\/Saved Application State\/<\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>To access the Library folder (hidden by default), open the Finder and press Cmd + Shift + G, then type <code>~\/Library<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"caches\">Caches, logs and temporary files<\/h2>\n\n<p>Caches are temporary files created by macOS and applications to speed up their operation. They are supposed to manage themselves automatically, but in practice they swell over time - especially the caches of web browsers and authoring software.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Priority for cleaning<\/h3>\n\n<table class=\"tg-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Cache<\/th>\n<th>Location<\/th>\n<th>Typical size<\/th>\n<th>Impact of deletion<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">Browser caches<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">~\/Library\/Caches\/com.apple.Safari\/ or Google\/Chrome\/<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">500 MB to 5 GB<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Slightly slower loading of sites temporarily<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">Application caches<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">~\/Library\/Caches\/<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">1 to 10 GB<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Slower first launch, rebuilds automatically<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">System covers<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">\/Library\/Caches\/<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">500 MB to 2 GB<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Rebuilds automatically<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">System logs<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">~\/Library\/Logs\/ and \/var\/log\/<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">200 MB to 2 GB<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">No functional impact<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">Local Time Machine copies<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Managed by macOS<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Several Go options<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">macOS automatically deletes them when space runs out<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<div class=\"info-box warning\">\n<strong>Please note:<\/strong> never delete files in \/System or ~\/Library without knowing exactly what you are doing. Deleting system files can make macOS unstable or prevent it from booting. If in doubt, our team can carry out a secure professional clean-up via our\u2019<a href=\"\/en\/preventive-mac-maintenance\/\">preventive maintenance<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"fichiers-volumineux\">Tracking down forgotten large files<\/h2>\n\n<p>The biggest files on a Mac are often the ones you've forgotten existed: an old video editing project, a local iPhone backup, a Windows virtual machine, .ipa files from old iOS backups.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Using the macOS storage management tool<\/h3>\n\n<p>In System Settings \u2192 General \u2192 Storage, click on each category to explore its contents. The \u00abDocuments\u00bb tab is particularly useful - it displays files sorted by size, with the date they were last accessed. Large files that you haven't opened for months are the first candidates for deletion or archiving.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Advanced search in the Finder<\/h3>\n\n<p>Open the Finder, launch a search (Cmd + F), change the criterion from \u00abName\u00bb to \u00abFile size\u00bb \u2192 \u00abis greater than\u00bb \u2192 500 MB. You'll probably discover some large files forgotten in unexpected folders. For other advanced search techniques, see our <a href=\"\/en\/mac-finder-tips\/\">Finder Mac tips<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fichiers-volumineux-stockage-mac-gestion.webp\" alt=\"Identifying and deleting large files on the Mac\" title=\"Tracking down forgotten large files on macOS\" width=\"1200\" height=\"568\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\n<h2 id=\"stockage-externe\">Expand your storage with an external drive<\/h2>\n\n<p>When cleaning isn't enough - or if your Mac has a small-capacity SSD that can't be upgraded (all Apple Silicon Macs) - an external drive is the most pragmatic solution. A 1TB USB-C external SSD costs less than \u20ac100 and offers sufficient speed for most uses.<\/p>\n\n<h3>What to move to the external drive<\/h3>\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Photo library :<\/strong> if your photos take up a lot of space and you're not using iCloud optimisation, move the photo library to an external drive. Hold down Option when you launch Photos to choose the library.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Video editing projects :<\/strong> rushes and Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve projects should ideally be on a fast external SSD. See our guide <a href=\"\/en\/optimize-mac-for-video-editing\/\">optimising Mac for video editing<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Archives and past projects :<\/strong> files that you rarely consult but want to keep.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Time Machine backups :<\/strong> Time Machine requires a dedicated external disk. Full guide : <a href=\"\/en\/time-machine-mac-backup\/\">configure Time Machine<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>To choose the right external SSD, consult our <a href=\"\/en\/best-mac-ssd-2026-test\/\">test of the best SSDs for Mac<\/a>. And to compress large files before archiving them, our guide <a href=\"\/en\/compress-files-on-mac\/\">compress files on the Mac<\/a> provides details of the best methods and formats. Apple also offers its own <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/fr-be\/102624\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">recommendations for freeing up storage space<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"faq-section\">\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>What is \u00abSystem data\u00bb in Mac storage?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>\u00abSystem data\u00bb (formerly \u00abOther\u00bb) includes application caches, temporary files, system logs, fonts, plug-ins, application support files and local Time Machine copies. This category can take up 10 to 50 GB or more. Most of these files can be safely cleaned - the caches rebuild automatically.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>Is it safe to delete cache files on the Mac?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>Yes, in most cases. Caches in ~\/Library\/Caches\/ can be safely deleted - applications will automatically recreate them as required. The only drawback is that some applications will take slightly longer to load the first time. Avoid deleting system caches in \/System\/Library\/ as this can cause instabilities.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>How do I know which files to delete first?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>Start with the biggest gains: empty the recycle bin, clean up downloads, delete unused apps. Then use System Settings \u2192 General \u2192 Storage to identify the largest categories. Finder searches by size (over 500 MB) often reveal overlooked files.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>Will iCloud Storage Optimisation delete my files?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>No. Your files remain in iCloud and can be accessed at any time. macOS simply replaces local files with \u00abstubs\u00bb (reference files) that weigh just a few bytes. When you open an unloaded file, macOS automatically re-downloads it. You need an Internet connection to access the downloaded files.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>How can I free up the space taken up by old iOS backups?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>Local iPhone and iPad backups can take up dozens of gigabytes. Go to Finder (on macOS Catalina and later), connect your iPhone, click on \u00abManage backups\u00bb and delete any old, unnecessary backups. If you use iCloud backup for your iPhone, local backups are superfluous.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>Should I use third-party cleaning software on my Mac?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>This is rarely necessary. The tools built into macOS and the manual methods described in this guide cover the vast majority of needs. If you opt for a third-party tool, choose reputable applications such as OnyX (free) or CleanMyMac. Avoid \u00abcleaning\u00bb software that promises miraculous performance - it's often scareware or adware.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>How can I prevent my Mac from refilling?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>Enable iCloud storage optimisation, set the recycle bin to empty automatically after 30 days, get into the habit of cleaning out the Downloads folder every week, and archive completed projects on an external drive. Just 10 minutes' maintenance a month is all it takes to keep your Mac clean.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>How much free space should I keep on a Mac?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>The general rule is to maintain at least 10 to 20 % of free disk space. macOS uses free space for swap (virtual memory), temporary files, updates and caches. Below 10 %, performance degrades significantly and certain operations (macOS updates, video exports) may fail.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>Can storage be added to an Apple Silicon Mac?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>The internal SSD in Apple Silicon Macs is soldered and non-replaceable. The only option is to use an external drive - a USB-C or Thunderbolt SSD offers excellent performance. For older Macs with replaceable SSDs, see our <a href=\"\/en\/choose-install-mac-ssd-guide\/\">SSD upgrade guide<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>Can MAC Repair clean and optimise my Mac?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>Yes, with over 15 years' experience since 2010, our team carries out a complete clean-up: deleting unnecessary files, optimising the system, checking the state of the disk and SSD upgrades if the model allows. 180-day guarantee. Take <a href=\"\/en\/book-appointment\/#form\">appointment<\/a> or request a <a href=\"\/en\/free-mac-diagnostic\/\">free diagnosis<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"related-links\">\n<strong>Related articles<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/clean-up-mac-free-up-space\/\">Cleaning your Mac: freeing up space<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/best-mac-ssd-2026-test\/\">Best SSDs for Mac: test and comparison<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/compress-files-on-mac\/\">Compressing files on the Mac<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/mac-finder-tips\/\">Finder Mac tips<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gagner de la place sur Mac : 15 m\u00e9thodes efficaces pour lib\u00e9rer de l&rsquo;espace disque Lecture : 13 min | Conseils et Astuces En r\u00e9sum\u00e9 : pour gagner de la place sur Mac, commencez par vider la corbeille et supprimer les applications inutilis\u00e9es. Activez l&rsquo;optimisation de stockage iCloud pour d\u00e9charger automatiquement les fichiers peu utilis\u00e9s. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5060,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_breakdance_hide_in_design_set":false,"_breakdance_tags":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[348,349,344,343,346,65,79,347,265,345],"class_list":["post-5057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conseils-astuces","tag-cache","tag-corbeille-mac","tag-donnees-systeme","tag-espace-disque","tag-fichiers-volumineux","tag-icloud","tag-nettoyage","tag-optimisation","tag-ssd-externe","tag-stockage-mac"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5057","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5057"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5057\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}