Mac

How to check and free up storage on a Mac (and what System Data is)

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Updated 22 October 2026 · Checked October 2026

Device: MacBook Neo · Software: macOS 27.0.1

Publisher: Saadat Rafiq

2 min read4 steps

Screenshot from the guide: How to check and free up storage on a Mac (and what System Data is)

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-check-and-free-up-storage-on-a-mac/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Neo · macOS 27.0.1

In this guide
  1. Open Storage
  2. Hover over the bar
  3. Find System Data
  4. Free space elsewhere
  5. If you do not see this option
  6. If this does not work
  7. Good to know
  8. Sources
Quick answer

Open System Settings, General, Storage. The bar shows what fills the disk; Recommendations and the (i) buttons free space. System Data is the last row and has no (i) button. On ours it was 32,57 GB, more than macOS itself (30,58 GB).

4 of 4 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device
Mac
Shown on
macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)
App
System Settings
Path
System Settings › General › Storage
Real screenshots
4 of 4 steps
Checked
October 2026
Sources
1 official, linked below

Step by step

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Steps
Also include
  1. Mac screenshot: Open Storage
    Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size

    Open Storage

    Choose Apple menu, System Settings, General, Storage. Wait for the bar to finish.

  2. Mac screenshot: Hover over the bar
    Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size

    Hover over the bar

    Each colour shows its size. macOS was 30,58 GB on ours.

  3. Mac screenshot: Find System Data
    Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size

    Find System Data

    It is the last row, with no (i) button: you cannot open it.

  4. Mac screenshot: Free space elsewhere
    Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size

    Free space elsewhere

    Click (i) next to Documents. Large Files lists the biggest files; ours were two disk images (.dmg).

If you do not see this option

  • No System Data row? Scroll the list to the bottom and wait until Storage finishes calculating.
  • Called Other? Apple says this category may be called Other on some Macs. Source: Free up storage space on Mac
  • There is no Storage under General. Apple says that on macOS versions before Ventura you choose Apple menu, About This Mac, then Storage. Source: Free up storage space on Mac

If this does not work

  • System Data keeps growing? Apple points to the Recommendations at the top of Storage. Apple also suggests emptying the Trash, deleting files you no longer need from Downloads, and moving large files such as a Photos library to an external drive. Source: Free up storage space on Mac
  • Old iPhone or iPad backups? Apple lists deleting backups you no longer need as a way to free space. Source: Free up storage space on Mac
  • Still large? Apple says starting up in safe mode clears some system caches. Restart normally afterwards. Source: Free up storage space on Mac

About this guide

System Data is the storage that macOS does not put in another category.

The screenshots are from our MacBook Neo with macOS 27.0.1, taken on 18 October 2026. Ours had 91,15 GB of 494,33 GB used.

Good to know

Apps you no longer use: how to uninstall apps on a Mac.

In short: System Settings, General, Storage, last row. Free space through Recommendations and Documents.

Sources

Links checked in October 2026. Menus and features can change after software updates. These steps match the version named at the top.

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