Updating your Mac OS is always a very good idea, because it gives you access to the latest fixes and security upgrades. The truth is that having the latest update will improve performance, speed up the startup process, while also protecting you from security breaches, malware and so on. That means it’s a very good idea to perform those system upgrades as often as you can. And if you somehow don’t have enough space, all you have to do is to follow the guidelines below.
Delete unnecessary apps
Many of us are at fault here, because we install a lot of apps, even if there is no real need for them. And in the end, we have a ton of unnecessary apps that just eat up space on our device. The thing you want to do in this situation is to delete those unwanted apps. You go to the Applications folder, and then move the apps you want to delete to the Trash.
After that, enter the Library folder and see if there are any remaining files or folders related to the app. Check the folders Cache, Application Support, Preferences, Saved Application State, CrashReporter and so on. These can help quite a lot, since it means you are fully deleting the app, without leaving any remaining stuff behind it. And if you do that, it will only streamline things and free up space in the end.
Use a Mac cleanup tool
The best way to free disk space for macOS update is to use a Cleanup tool, as it has the potential to help you save quite a lot of space. A great rule of thumb is to run the cleanup tool often, as it will boost the performance and provide you with a very consistent result. Aside from that, it will also help you deal with any malware that ends up on your device. You can delete junk files and malware, so that alone makes it well-worth using.
Clear up the Desktop and Downloads folder
You want to remove stuff from your desktop that just eats up space and which is not in use. The same with your Downloads folder. You want to enter there, delete stuff that you have no use for, and leave space for the Mac OS updates. It comes down to efficiency and making sure that you get the best possible results and value. Once you start doing that, you will find things to work very well, since you are reclaiming lost space.
Remove old and large files
If you have old files that you are not using anymore, delete them. You will have way more use for free space instead of stuff that you don’t want to use anymore. A very good idea is to try and remove the large and old files often, instead of just leaving there to waste space. Make the most out of your space, instead of just keeping things you never use. If you have too much space then sure, but a lot of the time, space is limited, in which case you want to delete the larger stuff.
Use the dedicated storage optimizer
If you enter the System Settings/General/Storage you will have recommendations right under the colored graph. You can follow those, and it will help you reclaim some of the lost space. Even if it doesn’t seem like a lot at first, the truth is that adapting such a thing will only make the experience better. And in the end, it’s certainly something you want to think about, especially since Mac OS is offering some guidelines and tips to begin with.
Use external storage or the cloud
Yes, it’s possible to move stuff to the cloud, and thus not have it waste space on your device anymore. Usually, moving things to the cloud is pretty straightforward, and it will make the experience much easier to manage. With that in mind, you can also move things to external storage. If you have an external SSD or hard drive, that’s handy, and it will help you securely store files and folders without wasting any local space on your MacBook, which matters quite a lot.
Closing ideas
Realistically, there are various methods you can use to free up space for your Mac OS updates. The truth is that you can find all kinds of methods to reclaim space on your drive. You need to be very careful when you are removing files however, as you might end up needing them later. But if you pay attention and don’t randomly delete things, you will have a much better result. The outcome is great, the experience will be more consistent, and you don’t have to worry about anything else. Plus, the best part is that you can improve the overall performance of your Mac too, if you have more free space.
