Low Disk Space on My Computer (macOS)

💽 Free Up Disk Space on Your Mac (macOS)
Safe ways for macOS users to clear low-storage warnings, including emptying the Trash, using built-in storage tools, removing unused apps, and offloading files to the cloud.
✅ Before You Begin
Save and close any open documents so you do not lose unsaved work while cleaning up.
Make sure important files are backed up — for example to OneDrive or Time Machine — before deleting anything.
Only remove files and apps you recognize; if you are unsure whether something is safe to delete, contact the NEO IT Department first.

Step 1 — Check your available storage
🕐 ~2 min
  1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and choose About This Mac.
  2. Select More Info, then scroll down and click Storage Settings (on older versions, choose the Storage tab).
  3. Review the colored bar to see how much space is used and how much is available.
💡 Tip: Hover over each colored segment to see which categories — such as Applications, Documents, or System Data — are using the most space.

Step 2 — Empty the Trash
🕐 ~1 min
  1. Right-click (or Control-click) the Trash icon in the Dock.
  2. Choose Empty Trash.
  3. Confirm when prompted to permanently remove the files.
⚠ Warning: Emptying the Trash permanently deletes its contents. Double-check that nothing you still need is sitting in the Trash before confirming.

Step 3 — Use the storage recommendations
🕐 ~5 min
  1. In Storage Settings, review the Recommendations section.
  2. Turn on Empty Trash Automatically to remove items in the Trash after 30 days.
  3. Use Optimize Storage to remove watched movies and TV shows you can download again later.
  4. Click Review Files to find and delete large or old documents you no longer need.
💡 Tip: Sorting your files by size in the Finder makes it easy to spot the few large items that are taking up the most space.

Step 4 — Remove unused apps
🕐 ~3 min
  1. Open the Finder and click Applications in the sidebar.
  2. Locate an app you no longer use, then drag it to the Trash or right-click and choose Move to Trash.
  3. Empty the Trash to reclaim the space.
⚠ Warning: Do not remove apps that were installed by your department or that you do not recognize — they may be required for university work or device management.

Step 5 — Move large files to the cloud
🕐 ~5 min
  1. Open OneDrive and sign in with your NEO account if you are not already signed in.
  2. Move large files — such as videos, photos, and archives — into your OneDrive folder.
  3. Once the files finish uploading, delete the local copies and empty the Trash to free the space.
💡 Tip: Wait until uploads show as complete before deleting local copies, so you always have a safe copy in the cloud.
🙋 Still Need Help?
If your Mac is still low on space after these steps or you are unsure what is safe to remove, the NEO IT Department can help.

📞 Phone: (918) 540-6099
📧 Email: neosuport@neo.edu
🚶 Walk-in: IT Department, Library Administration, 2nd Floor, Room 216
🕐 Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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