Cleaning up your Mac and getting some storage space back is always a very good idea. And the best part is that you can do such a cleanup often, without any issues. However, there are certain challenges that come from finding the best ways to clean up your device. Here’s what you need to take into consideration.
Uninstall apps
One of the top methods you can use to clean up your Mac is to uninstall apps. That’s actually very handy, because apps tend to accumulate a lot of space. And realistically, most of the time you might not be using a lot of them. Enter the Applications folder and start uninstalling apps. Some might have their own installer, so use that before deleting the app. Also, go to the Library folder and remove any mentions of the app, too.
Use a cleanup tool
A good idea is to check the clean up Mac guide and start using a cleanup tool right now. These tools will help remove duplicates, temporary files and other stuff that your Mac doesn’t need anymore. In doing so, you will be saving quite a bit of space, and that matters more than expected.
Clear the System Data storage
You can find it by going to System Settings/General/Storage and here you want to check how much space you had on your computer. The system data storage usually contains app leftovers, temporary files, cache and disk images, backups and browser extensions. Press Command+Shift+G and then you can enter subfolders and delete files that are not necessary, nor in use.
Delete any old DMGs
Old DMGs are things you will not be using often, if at all. Deleting those is a great idea, mainly because you can clean up quite a bit of space. And the advantage is that you can use your free space for something else. That’s why it always makes a lot of sense to delete the old DMGs.
Remove any old backups
An old backup might be handy, but if you have too many of those, it’s just a waste of space. What you want to do is to assess the existing backups and only keep a few, or just one. Let’s face it, you don’t need dozens of backups, those are just going to eat up a lot of precious storage space.
Delete unnecessary downloads
You can go to the Downloads folder and in there you want to delete stuff that you know will not get any use. A good rule of thumb with these things is to always try and delete unnecessary stuff fast. The more you delete, the more space you will have. So yes, it’s actually a very good idea to try and remove unnecessary downloads, because it will always be well-worth your time, especially if you are looking for more storage space.
Delete old files
The same thing is valid when it comes to old files. Most of us don’t really need those old files, they will only waste space. The most important thing is to delete the unwanted, old or very large files, because it will be worth it. Not only will it save you a huge amount of effort and time, but the best part is that you can save a lot of space. And in most cases, those old or very large files are not something that you really need. That’s why it can be worth giving those a shot.
Empty the trash
Sometimes, we just fail to remember doing even the simplest tasks. That means emptying the trash. Even if that seems tedious, it does allow you to free up a lot of space on your device. And that’s only going to matter more than expected. The most important thing is to do this often. Thankfully, a cleanup tool might be able to do that for you.
Do some physical cleanup
Of course, you don’t just need to do the regular cleanup software-wise. It also makes sense to clean up your device, too. That means cleaning the screen, wiping the keyboard and so on. If you can also remove the dust from inside the computer and its outside, do that as well.
Conclusion
It’s always a bit difficult to clean up your Mac and reclaim space. But it’s not impossible, and with the right approach, you can make it worth the effort. Yes, there will be a few challenges along the way, but if you handle them appropriately, the result can be second to none. The most important thing when cleaning up a Mac is to continually remove any stuff that you don’t need, in order to have as much free space as possible. It’s not simple, but if you spend some time with these tasks, it will be worth the effort!