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 cleanup 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 realized 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 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 redundant apps get thoroughly removed when you're done with them. Over the next few 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 out our virtual dustpan and brush 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 clutter 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; this will be represented in categories such as Documents, Apps, and System Data.