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Free up space on disk that is not available?

Hi,

I want to clean up my disk space on my MacBook Air and when I go to view what storage is available, it says that I have 2.95GB of 120.47GB available. When I click to manage that, it shows that 11.35GB are documents, but they are not available to review and delete? There is literally nothing on my MacBook Air... any guidance would be gratefully received.


Thanks in advance.


Matt


MacBook Air 13″, 10.15

Posted on Sep 28, 2020 1:34 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 5, 2020 8:12 AM

Greetings, Matt.


It appears that you're having a problem freeing up disk space on your MacBook Air. When you review the storage available on your Mac, you find that it's reporting 11.35 GB of documents. The problem is, you can't review the files, and we're glad to help with this.


How to free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support -- When you click on "Manage" to the right, you should be taken to a Finder windows showing Recommendations. You should be able to view the files when "Documents" has been selected.


How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support -- If you're not being provided the Recommendations screen, please restart your Mac in safe mode and see if you're able. Then, depending on whether or not your able to review them, see the steps under the following sections in this article:


"If the issue continues in safe mode


If the issue continues while in safe mode, or your Mac restarts several times and then shuts down while starting up in safe mode, you should reinstall macOS and make sure that your Apple software and third-party apps are up to date.


If the issue doesn't continue in safe mode


If the issue doesn't continue while in safe mode, leave safe mode by restarting your Mac normally. Then test for the issue again. The issue might be resolved.


If the issue returns after leaving safe mode, startup items are probably at fault. Apps can install such items in numerous places, and they aren't always easy to find or recognize. For that reason, you should first make sure that you've installed any available updates for your Apple software and third-party apps.


If updating your software doesn't help, try any of these solutions:

  • Test your login items.
  • To learn whether software in your user account is causing the issue, set up a new user account, then log in to it and try to reproduce the issue in that account.
  • Unplug all accessories from your Mac, including printers, drives, USB hubs, and other nonessential devices. You could have an issue with one or more of those devices or their cables.
  • Reinstall macOS.


If you still need help, please contact Apple Support."


Take care.

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 5, 2020 8:12 AM in response to matthewkhirst

Greetings, Matt.


It appears that you're having a problem freeing up disk space on your MacBook Air. When you review the storage available on your Mac, you find that it's reporting 11.35 GB of documents. The problem is, you can't review the files, and we're glad to help with this.


How to free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support -- When you click on "Manage" to the right, you should be taken to a Finder windows showing Recommendations. You should be able to view the files when "Documents" has been selected.


How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support -- If you're not being provided the Recommendations screen, please restart your Mac in safe mode and see if you're able. Then, depending on whether or not your able to review them, see the steps under the following sections in this article:


"If the issue continues in safe mode


If the issue continues while in safe mode, or your Mac restarts several times and then shuts down while starting up in safe mode, you should reinstall macOS and make sure that your Apple software and third-party apps are up to date.


If the issue doesn't continue in safe mode


If the issue doesn't continue while in safe mode, leave safe mode by restarting your Mac normally. Then test for the issue again. The issue might be resolved.


If the issue returns after leaving safe mode, startup items are probably at fault. Apps can install such items in numerous places, and they aren't always easy to find or recognize. For that reason, you should first make sure that you've installed any available updates for your Apple software and third-party apps.


If updating your software doesn't help, try any of these solutions:

  • Test your login items.
  • To learn whether software in your user account is causing the issue, set up a new user account, then log in to it and try to reproduce the issue in that account.
  • Unplug all accessories from your Mac, including printers, drives, USB hubs, and other nonessential devices. You could have an issue with one or more of those devices or their cables.
  • Reinstall macOS.


If you still need help, please contact Apple Support."


Take care.

Free up space on disk that is not available?

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