![]() ![]() For example, Steam Games can be removed, and Apple Messages cache can be controlled via the Apple Messages app by clearing out data over a month old.Ī short but incomplete list of common data hogs in ~/Library Generally, (but not always) items that land in ~/Library can be managed elsewhere. For example, deleting a Steam game via the Finder is safe from ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps, but deleting the entire Steam Directory will cause issues. The most common place to reclaim storage is from the ~/Library.ĭeleting items from ~/Library is tricky as there are important files that could break applications and a few valuable system files. Sorting folders by size makes it easy to spot where the largest folders reside. Calculating folder sizes will take time, depending on how many files are inside a folder. This is done by using view options "Show View Options" under View or using the keyboard shortcut, Command J. You can also make the Library permanently visible either using "Get Info" from the finder (on the user directory) and checking "Show Library" or using the terminal and running the following command:įor whatever reason, still to this day, one of the advantages of macOS is the ability to calculate folder sizes from the list view. Another method is to navigate to it from the Finder, select under Go, "Go To Folder." and type in ~/Library. The easiest route is to go to the user directory and hit "Command Shift. There are still multiple vectors to viewing the contents of the ~/Library. It obfuscates where storage is going on behind the scenes. It's suitable for the basic user who probably shouldn't be manipulating it but bad for anyone with an intermediate level of familiarity with the underpinnings of their Mac. In modern macOSes, this is hidden, which is both good and bad. In the OS X days, the ~/Library (the Library folder found in /Users/your-user-name/) was a visible folder that you could easily poke around in. Displaying the Library folder in the User directory Unfortunately, this requires intervention on the user, which we will cover. In some cases, the official uninstallers from reputatable companies purposely do not uninstall entirely, like from Adobe. Official uninstallers do a much better job, as do applications like App cleaner attempt to remove files that are associated with an Application, but this is not 100% effective. Deleting the Application via the Finder will not automatically remove them. An old install after many years can eat up a fair amount based on the types of applications and how frequently applications are installed. A fresh install of macOS will have very little "System Data". Generally, over time, when installing various Applications and utilities, they will also install items into the Libraries and accumulate. ![]() /usr - This is where CLI utilities installed by Homebrew and other applications end up. ![]()
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