Over 364 GB of Storage Data even after upgrading my MacBook Pro to Tahoe 26.5 just before. There is currently 387 GB available on my internal 2TB drive. Not sure what to do. Seems weird.
This article suggested things like upgrading, but that didn’t help.
Anybody else seeing this?
https://osxdaily.com/2025/05/14/huge-system-data-on-mac-why-how-fix/
What is System Data in Storage Settings sums up my understanding. It is not real data used by the system but a dumping category for data which the Apple algorithm can’t categorise correctly into one of the other headings.
I long ago stopped looking at the Apple Storage bar which shows this, but I just did out of interest. Not surprised to see I apparently have 195GB of System Data. My go-to for storage usage is DaisyDisk which is fast and accurate and shows no unaccounted data.
Macworld just updated their article How to clear System Data on Mac and free up storage space yesterday.
I use OmniDiskSweeper to see where the disk space is being used.
Another thing to check is if there’s an old APFS snapshot on the volume, that’s holding space from deleted files from being recovered. Just last week I had one that was holding 300 GB. In Disk Utility select the volume and then View > Show APFS Snapshots. Normally Time Machine snapshots only last a day or two, so anything that is weeks old is suspect.
I agree. I have categorized it a POSSIBLY Fake News and usually don’t engage it until someone writes about it then I get inquisitive. :) Not sure the meaning is the same as it used to be. Patrick
I used CleanMyMac and it seems to have worked well. Others are sceptical…
I just took a look at that. The only Time Machine snapshots are from today and yesterday.
I wonder what the safest thing is to try next. It just seems weird that there is only 394 GB of storage left. Especially when “System Data” reports using so much space.
Did you have a look at the Eclectic Light article I linked in my earlier reply ? You are not going to get 394GB back by eliminating System Data. It is a dumping category for stuff the Apple algorithm cant allocate correctly. Use a better tool like DaisyDisk to see what situation really is.
I just read the article. It recommended getting a better estimate of remaining disk space via Disk Utility. But when I do that it even shows less space available. I’ll take a look at DaisyDisk.
DaisyDisk has an off-putting (to me) main graphic which I ignore and concentrate on the lists at top right which you can drill down.
Years ago as macOS’ decent into bugginess seemed unending and ever worsening, I decided I should not complain unless I investigated and did what I could to help fix the problem. When I experienced a bug, I filed a bug report. Lots of reports. At some point routine system maintenance and macOS System Settings / General / Storage revealed that about 700 GB of my 1 TB startup disk was occupied by Other. Grandperspective revealed that almost all of Other was occupied by Feedback Assistant reports. My effort volunteered to support Apple had been rewarded by filling my system disk with hidden files, leaving so little free space that stable operation was in doubt. I figured this was just one more example of incompetent software management which had become common at Apple. I did not delete anything; I have learned through experience that deleting hidden files, no matter how useless they appear to me, can produce bad results. I stopped sending Feedback Assistant reports and eventually the free space came back up to 700 GB.
This was years ago, and I am not sure of the details of how the issue was resolved, or even if it was. Just another example of Excessive System Data.