Hello,
I'm currently using the base model Macbook Air M1 with 8GB ram and 256GB storage. I'm running the latest OS version of Tahoe. In the past few weeks I've started getting low storage warnings and couldn't figure out why because I don't store a lot of files on my computer. I discovered that my System Data is over 110GB according to the Storage section under general in System Settings and I'm not sure what that is or how it became so large. I did some research and it seems that OnyX is a good canddate to help get rid of some of those files in System Data. I already use C Cleaner but it doesn't seem to touch that area at all. Has anyone used OnyX and could point me towards some good tutorials or instructions on how to use it? I'm by no means a tech guru but I can follow directions very well. If anyone has any other recommendations I'm open to suggestions on how to get space back on my hard drive.
Thanks for any help you can give me, I really appreciate it.
Shannon
Comments
apps
Do you have any apps on your Mac that store alot of data?
You could try deleting those apps, than reinstalling them. I have the same computer as you. I love it.
It is not possible
You can boot to recovery and remove stock apps but they are protected, so each update will restore them if you remove them, so there is not much point. Maybe try running the Onyx MacOS tweak utility. It has some cleaning options in it maybe that will get you some breathing room.
https://www.titanium-software.fr/en/onyx.html
Backup and Reset
If tools like Onyx don't help, your only option is to backup your Mac with something like Time Machine, factory reset, and restore from backup. The same procedure needs to be used on an iPhone or iPad. This shouldn't be necessary, but I think there's a bug in all Apple systems that doesn't clear the cached data used by that other category, so it keeps growing until your storage is full. Maybe Apple will fix it one of these days, though who knows given their current culture and their unwillingness to prioritize bug fixes over constant innovation through buggy software because they keep rushing absolutely everything.
Agree with Chris
This is pretty much how it's done on all Apple devices. Backup, reset, restore from backup. Things like system cache will be reset to default, of course it will slowly build overtime, as is the way of the Apple. 🫤
Onyx may also be helpful here, as it does a lot to clean your system without having to reset.
HTH.
Edited for typos