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Can't find folders taking up space on MacBook Pro

"Users" takes up majority of the space on my computer. Within that, the Guest and Shared only take up 1gb.


In my personal user, which it calculates 352gb, these folders take up the most space:

Movies - 64.83gb

Pictures - 59.12gb

Downloads - 30.86

Music - 17.84


The remaining folders are only megabytes. Where are the other 179gb in my user folder? Why does this seem like a glitch? Does anyone know how to fix this?



MacBook, macOS 10.15

Posted on Mar 6, 2023 7:53 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 7, 2023 5:48 PM

Hi Patreil,

welcome to the Apple (user-to-user) Community!


Re: "Where are the other 179gb in my user folder?"


Wondering if the apps that use those folders also have "temporary" files stored elsewhere (eg temporary files used by those apps may be stored on the system)

and

Seems files stored on the desktop may take up more memory /storage space than the same files put into a "Desktop" folder.

________________________________


Re: Why does this seem like a glitch? Does anyone know how to fix this?


The most accurate place to check storage on Mac is always:

Click (black apple in menu bar) Apple Menu > About this Mac > Storage.

In the coloured bar:

Move the pointer over a colour to see the amount of space each category uses. 


How iOS and macOS report storage capacity – Apple Support

____________________________________________________________________


Re: Can't find folders taking up space on MacBook Pro


Seems best to always back-up everything, before deleting anything.


Apple support's online articles may help:

See used and available storage space on your Mac – Apple Support


How to: Delete files and folders on Mac – Apple Support


How to: Free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support


How to: Optimise storage space on your Mac – Apple Support


You might want to put old (or new) photos, videos, or large files on an external storage hard drive and access them that way.

If needed: How to: Connect and use other storage devices with Mac - Apple Support 


If you delete items:

You may need to empty the bin, and restart Mac, to see the changed storage amount.


All the best :-)

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 7, 2023 5:48 PM in response to Patreil

Hi Patreil,

welcome to the Apple (user-to-user) Community!


Re: "Where are the other 179gb in my user folder?"


Wondering if the apps that use those folders also have "temporary" files stored elsewhere (eg temporary files used by those apps may be stored on the system)

and

Seems files stored on the desktop may take up more memory /storage space than the same files put into a "Desktop" folder.

________________________________


Re: Why does this seem like a glitch? Does anyone know how to fix this?


The most accurate place to check storage on Mac is always:

Click (black apple in menu bar) Apple Menu > About this Mac > Storage.

In the coloured bar:

Move the pointer over a colour to see the amount of space each category uses. 


How iOS and macOS report storage capacity – Apple Support

____________________________________________________________________


Re: Can't find folders taking up space on MacBook Pro


Seems best to always back-up everything, before deleting anything.


Apple support's online articles may help:

See used and available storage space on your Mac – Apple Support


How to: Delete files and folders on Mac – Apple Support


How to: Free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support


How to: Optimise storage space on your Mac – Apple Support


You might want to put old (or new) photos, videos, or large files on an external storage hard drive and access them that way.

If needed: How to: Connect and use other storage devices with Mac - Apple Support 


If you delete items:

You may need to empty the bin, and restart Mac, to see the changed storage amount.


All the best :-)

Can't find folders taking up space on MacBook Pro

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