Effective Methods to Increase MacBook Storage Capacity

Effective Ways to Expand MacBook Storage Capacity

Eradicate Attachments Effortlessly

Select a message and click Message > Remove Attachments. Opting for this choice will not only remove attachments from the Mail app but also wipe them off the Mail Server.

To bulk delete attachments, create a Smart Folder to filter emails that exclusively contain attachments. Sort and categorize messages by size to eliminate the largest attachments.

If you wish, you can also delete attachments directly from the folder. The files will still exist on the Mail server, but this action helps declutter attachments from your Mac to save drive space.

To accomplish this, navigate to the following directory:

-/Library/Mail/V6

(For macOS High Sierra and above, this directory is V5)

Click into this directory to inspect all your email accounts. Choose an email account, then open the folder named with different random characters. Inside that folder is the Attachment folder. Refer to the screenshot below for more details.

Browsing and manually deleting these files can be time-consuming. To expedite, type Attachment in the Finder search bar and sort results by Kind to display Attachment folders. Copy these folders to an external drive if you want to back them up, then delete the files.

Prevent Attachment Downloads

You can save more space by instructing Mail not to automatically download attachments.

To do this, select Mail> Preferences > Accounts. Choose any of your email accounts from the left pane and click Account Information on the right pane.

Under Menu, choose Download Attachments, then click No. By selecting this option, Mail will refrain from downloading any multimedia attachments, including images, PDFs, and audio or video files.

With the Recent option, Mail will download attachments received in the last 15 months.

2. Backing Up Old iTunes

Backups of iOS created with iTunes can consume a substantial amount of disk space on your Mac. They encompass all files on your phone, along with less visible and harder-to-reinitiate details like email settings, call history, text messages, favorite contacts, and other personal preferences.

To delete outdated backups, click on iTunes> Preferences and then choose the Devices tab. Select the oldest backup file and click on Delete Backup.

If you don't see older backups listed here, you can manually delete the backup folder. Press Shift + Cmd + G to open Go to Folder. Then type:

-/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup

Exit iTunes and delete the old backups. If you're unsure which ones to delete, press Space and check the Last modified date in the QuickLook window.

Meanwhile, if your Mac's hard drive space is valuable to you, consider transitioning iOS backups to iCloud. The iOS backup guide will assist you in this.

3. Your old iPhoto library

Although Apple officially declares iPhoto as a 'dead' app, replacing it with Photos, the migration from iPhoto to Photos still happens slowly.

However, the conversion process will systematically proceed with the perfect procedure.

On your first click of Photos, this folder will guide you to locate the iPhoto library by navigating through the - / Pictures directory.

Once the transfer process is complete, you'll notice two separate libraries on your Mac: an iPhoto Library and a new Photo Library.

Open Photos and check if there's any missing information or images. Then, copy the iPhoto Library to an external drive if you want to back it up and remove it from the main drive.

If you have a large photo library, this could allow you to reclaim a significant amount of disk space.

4. Remaining Components of Uninstalled Applications

When you delete Mac apps into the Trash, some files will still linger on the machine, including content stored in the cache, preference files, plugins, and more. If you've stopped using a specific app, you can safely delete these files. But you know these apps actually reside in the Library folder.

Most preference files back up in:
- -/Library/Preferences OR /Library/Preferences
- -/Library/Application Support/[App or Developer name] OR /Library/Application Support/[App or Developer name]
- -/Library/Containers/[App name]/Data/Library/Preferences

Files related to cache memory are backed up in:
- -/Library/Caches OR /Library/Caches
- -/Library/Containers/[App Name]/Data/Library/Caches/[App Name]
- -/Library/Saved Application State

Files in these locations adhere to a standard naming convention. It includes the company name, app identifier, and ultimately displays the file extension listing attributes (.plist).

Sometimes, a developer uses exclusive naming conventions, but if you focus on the app names, you'll easily find them.

If you don't want to manually browse these files, try a dedicated uninstaller utility to remove these files.

AppCleaner

AppCleaner is a free utility to uninstall any Mac app without leaving behind data. It can erase content stored in the cache, preference files, and every file related to the installed support alongside the app.

Enter the app name and press Enter to load results, then click Remove. However, note that this app doesn't 'clean up' leftover data from previously deleted apps.

AppCleaner and Uninstaller

App Cleaner is an uninstaller app to completely remove apps from your system. The free version allows you to delete unwanted apps, remove remnants from previously deleted apps, view the app's total size, and reset the app to default state.

Opting for the premium version allows you to remove system extensions, disable LaunchAgents, and erase the remaining system files.

5.Unneeded Printer and Scanner Drivers (Excess Printer and Scanner Drivers)

Modern printers and scanners are compatible with Mac without needing drivers for basic functions. If you have an old printer without this support, your Mac will automatically install the necessary drivers to use that device.

To remove a printer, execute the command System Preferences > Printers and Scanners. Choose the printer from the list and press 'Remove'. Typically, printer manufacturers provide you with an uninstaller utility to remove the associated app. Go to the following directory:

Macintosh HD/Library/Printers

Here, delete any remaining printer or scanner files. You can also use apps like those mentioned above for assistance.

6. Cache and Log Files

Cache and Log Files are commonly utilized by macOS to utilize drive memory for everyday operations.

Your browser downloads fresh data, content creation apps store data in the cache for optimal performance, and log information is recorded to help troubleshoot issues.

When you desperately need drive space, you can delete app and system-related cache without causing any problems.

However, clearing cache and log files weekly isn't part of regular maintenance habits. It slows down your Mac and you may miss tracking and analyzing potential risks.

Log Files

Log Files are backed up in the following directories:
- /private/var/log
- -/Libarary/Logs AND /Library/Logs

Your Mac runs periodic maintenance commands to compress or swap out older log files with newer ones.

To check when the maintenance commands last ran, open Terminal and type:

ls -al /var/log/*out

Utilize a Third-party disk analyzer app to check the size of log files. If they grow beyond control, inspect and delete them.

b. Caches

'Corruption' related to cache memory is a common issue in macOS and is responsible for various app-related problems. Due to the hidden nature of cache files, issues arising from corrupted caches are challenging to identify.

You can safely delete cache files to address this issue. Use Onyx or CleanMyMac to delete cache files and logs.

macOS Folders You Shouldn't 'Mess With'

When drive space gets too tight, you scrutinize the capacity of each macOS folder. When you need memory, you can safely delete used data, just make sure to have a current backup in case of mishaps.

Sometimes, you'll encounter 'anonymous' folders occupying a significant portion of storage, but it's advised not to modify anything in the list of macOS folders you should never touch.

Interested in more tips for your Mac? Check out time-saving startup shortcuts and operations with Mac.

Here is information on effective ways to increase MacBook storage capacity. We hope this Mytour article has provided you with useful insights. Additionally, if you have any inquiries or questions like How to prevent Mac hard drive fragmentation, readers can leave their comments below the article for clarification.