System data is stuck on calculating on my MacBook Pro

I have the same problem, I've been on the phone with apple multiple times and did two disk erases and fresh installs as directed by them plus disk utility repair, it worked for a few days but as soon as i delete or save any files it triggers it, I've even had it working fine then put it in sleep mode overnight with wifi bluetooth turned off and that also trigged it. They ran full diagnostics and got back to me saying the techs know about it and it will hopefully get fixed with an update in the future. You can also create a test user account then boot in and out of safe mode then delete the test account and that fixes it temporarily.

Many have reported this. I fixed mine by booting into recovery, erasing the drive and then migrated data over again then it worked fine. It also reduced my system data storage number which is good.

Boot into recovery

Open disk utilities and erase your drive

Then you exit utilities and reinstall the OS

When the drive reboots you then have the option to use Time machine or other backup and migrate all your info to the internal drive.

Once that is done you are good to go.

Most users do not want to go through this process. I have done it many times so I'm comfortable doing that.

Ive just done this suggestion from a MacRumors post.

I was able to fix System Data calculation after enabling Apple Intelligence. Disabling Apple Intelligence reverts to endless calculating. So basically turn on Apple Intelligence wait for it to download then restart your Mac and it worked instantly. I hope this works for you and stays this way hopefully :)

Hi,

I do not have apple intelligence on, since it is not yet available on Mac with Italian language. Anyway, since a couple of weeks, for no apparent reason (I didn't do anything new) System Data ends calculating and it gives me a reasonable number. I can't figure out the reason for that. MACOS mysteries....

Thanks

Maurizio

I have the same issue.

See:

Endless computing Systema Data size - Apple Community

Could you tell us how did you do that, in practice?

Thanks

Maurizio

Thanks for this suggestion. I have a feeling of "only the brave"... But I'll keep this option open.

Maurizio

Always have backup. Without one time will catch up with you and it will be a disaster.

Hey, does your macbook have any problems after turning Apple Intelligence on and the System Data calculate correctly?

macOS 15.4, AI off. It takes awhile (10 min?) but it does finish calculating System Data- 237GB for me(!). Do not know if the value is correct nor what it is actually (no way to purge/manage?).

Thank you, Yellow_45's enabling Apple intelligence and restarting suggestion worked