Fix Startup Disk Full Issue on Mac: Clear Space
For starters, the startup disk is the same drive that contains the macOS. Hence, having insufficient space on that particular disk isn’t a good thing since you’ll eventually run out of all the space, plus it’ll cause slowdowns. Now, there are multiple things that eat your storage. It includes cache, old log files, and unwanted junk, followed by apps and files that are no longer needed. Below is a step by step guide on how you can get rid of startup disk full issue on your Mac.
1] Clean Cache Files
Over time, the device collects cache files that help it do things faster. However, these files may often pile up to eat a large amount of storage. So, cleaning them regularly is an excellent way to manage your Mac’s space. Deleting cache files is usually safe for your Mac unless you don’t remove any important files. If you’re skeptical about what to delete, take a temporary backup of files or check the last method given in the article.
2] Clear Language Packs
The apps you install on Mac often contain language packs (also called localization files) that let you switch between different languages. Since most people usually need only one or two languages, you can delete the rest to make some space.
3] Delete Unwanted iTunes Library Backups
Every time you update iTunes, it creates a backup of the whole iTunes library on your machine. Frequent updates can be a major cause of startup disk full warning. Hence, make sure to remove older iTunes backups to free up space on your Mac startup disk.
4] Clear iOS Backup and Software Updates
iOS Backups and software update data, too, can take a significant space on your Mac. You delete the same as follows.
5] Compress Large Files
Compressing files into an archive is a good way to save space from files that you don’t need now but want to store for future use. A compressed file takes up less storage space and is easier to manage. If you want to reaccess the file, you’ll have to unzip the archive.
6] Remove Unwanted Downloads, Pictures, Apps, etc.
The storage is likely to be occupied by downloaded pictures, videos, and files, followed by apps that you no longer use. So, head to the Downloads folder, filter by size, and delete the unwanted files. Similarly, remove the apps that are not needed anymore. Doing this will save you a good chunk of storage.
7] Empty Trash
The files you delete go into the Trash and continue to eat the storage on your drive. Hence, it’s essential to clear the bin on your Mac.
8] Run CleanMyMac X
CleanMyMac X is an advanced tool that scans your Mac for clutter and deletes only those files that are safe to erase. It also helps clean caches, logs, and other residual junk left by uninstalled apps.
Wrapping Up
We hope that now you’re able to gain back your storage from unwanted files and fix the startup disk full issue on your Mac. Apart from the steps mentioned above, you can clean junk mail, duplicate files, and analyze your storage further to see what can be done to reclaim the space. If you’re still running low on storage, you can look forward to portable expansion options and cloud storage. Also, read- Apps Frozen on macOS? Three Ways to Force Quit Them
