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Macintosh HD nearly full - numbers don't add up!

Hey there,


I just checked the available storage on my main drive and was surprised about how little space I have left. So I investigated where this was coming from. But the numbers don't add up. This is what Disk Utility says:



Capacity: 2 TB

Used: 1,69 TB

Free: 310,67 GB


In Finder my Macintosh HD drive contains 4 main folders:



Applications: 9,36 GB

Library: 15,68 GB

System: 10,11 GB

User: 1,15 TB

-------------------------

Total: 1,18 TB


But the numbers don't add up. So where are the missing 510 GB? I used a tool to show me the hidden files and folders on my drive. But there is no trace of files worth 510 GB:



So what is going on here? How do I get my 510 GB back?

Posted on May 31, 2020 12:40 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 1, 2020 6:32 AM

Enec0 wrote:

Why do I not have all the numbers? I used three different tools (Transmit / DiskWave / OmniDiskSweeper) to view and calculate all the files on the drive, including the hidden ones. And these numbers don't add up to the used space.

I have been using Macs for 7 years now and never had an issue like that. Never has there been such a mismatch between file sizes and used disk space.



See used and available storage space on your Mac

https://support.apple.com/guide/system-information/see-available-storage-space-syspf9b375b9/10.14/mac/10.15


How to free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206996


User tip: "Other and What Can I Do About It ?"

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-5142



Try something like OmniDiskSweeper for a GUI to get a good look at itemized file size and location:

OmniDiskSweeper http://www.omnigroup.com/more

Similar questions

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 1, 2020 6:32 AM in response to Enec0

Enec0 wrote:

Why do I not have all the numbers? I used three different tools (Transmit / DiskWave / OmniDiskSweeper) to view and calculate all the files on the drive, including the hidden ones. And these numbers don't add up to the used space.

I have been using Macs for 7 years now and never had an issue like that. Never has there been such a mismatch between file sizes and used disk space.



See used and available storage space on your Mac

https://support.apple.com/guide/system-information/see-available-storage-space-syspf9b375b9/10.14/mac/10.15


How to free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206996


User tip: "Other and What Can I Do About It ?"

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-5142



Try something like OmniDiskSweeper for a GUI to get a good look at itemized file size and location:

OmniDiskSweeper http://www.omnigroup.com/more

May 31, 2020 1:45 PM in response to Enec0

They don't add up because you don't have all the numbers. What matters is what you see in Get Info for the drive.


Get Correct Storage Information


Do not use the information from the Storage section of the About This Mac dialog. Ignore the Storage information as it is typically wrong. To find out the correct information for any disk: Select a Desktop disk icon. Press Command-I to open the Get Info window and look at the topmost panel displayed. You will find the disk information displayed for Capacity, Available, and Used. If you have more than one disk/partition then repeat for each one on your Desktop.


The categories found in the Storage section of About This Mac is simply an arbitrary way of displaying files on your drive. There are no such categories actually on the drive.


You have 310GBs of storage left which is quite a bit as opposed to nearly full. Nearly full is when you have 1GB of space left.


Jun 1, 2020 2:01 AM in response to Kappy

Why do I not have all the numbers? I used three different tools (Transmit / DiskWave / OmniDiskSweeper) to view and calculate all the files on the drive, including the hidden ones. And these numbers don't add up to the used space.


I have been using Macs for 7 years now and never had an issue like that. Never has there been such a mismatch between file sizes and used disk space.

Macintosh HD nearly full - numbers don't add up!

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