How Much Is Too Much? A Guide to System Storage Optimization

It often happens that your Mac starts performing slower and worse than it used to, which causes concerns and raises questions about the available memory space. As a rule, cluttered memory is the most evident cause of performance failures, so you can go to the Storage overview section in your menu and check how much storage is occupied.

In some cases, you might notice that system files have stuffed your hard drive without any reasonable cause. In this case, it’s time to think of cleaning the System files from your storage and getting more free space for better Mac performance. Here are some pointers for optimal System storage evaluation and management.

Why Do System Files Take So Much Space?

In fact, the System files are diverse and don’t only include the system-level data you never use. Your emails, messages, photos, and other stuff can also qualify as system files in your iOS, thus mixing with other core files and apps responsible for the smooth operation of your device.

Clarifying which files occupy so much space is easy and requires only some patience. Once you launch the Storage monitor on your Mac, you see a yellow bar for System files very quickly; it may be overwhelmingly large. But as time goes by and you still wait for the refined results of the Storage audit, you’ll see that a large portion of that bar is now allocated to the iCloud storage. This part of your system is not that critical for the device’s functioning. Still, it includes all your data, such as multimedia content, saved bookmarks, websites, etc. Thus, deleting this part of System files altogether can cause a loss of vital data. We recommend checking the files manually first to know that you won’t delete any rare photos or vital business documents.

How to Optimize System Files’ Volume?

There are numerous external apps for optimizing the System files’ volume. By launching some audit apps and cleaners, you’re guaranteed an efficient and quick automated process of space cleaning. As a rule, such software targets the corrupted and duplicate files, the temp files that remained within the system for some reason, and the virus-affected documents that undermine your system’s security.

Another option for quick and hassle-free space optimization is to reboot the Mac and recheck the free space after its restart. If the temporary or cache files don’t delete as they should, you can try a reboot in a safe mode, which activates a more robust temp file cleaning algorithm, and the Mac’s later restart in a normal mode. After such a procedure, you’re sure to observe much additional space on your hard drive, with many temp System files removed.

Which System Files Should Not Be Deleted?

As a rule, users wishing to maximize the available storage space go for deleting many System files. But the fact that you don’t recollect the name of some file or can’t figure out what purposes it serves doesn’t suggest that it’s useless altogether. System files are mostly system-critical, which means that deleting one such file may cause severe disruptions of your Mac’s operations and a complete shutdown.

So, whenever you need free space and consider System files as candidates for deletion, don’t mess up with the following files:

• Language files (they won’t give you that much free space, while their deletion can undermine system operations unpredictably)
• Hidden and private file folders
• System library folders
• User library folders
• Hidden files that you may find in the home folder

With this knowledge at your fingertips, you’re sure to optimize the space of System files more efficiently. Just keep in mind that the system data is vital for your Mac’s proper functioning; go through the files you’re planning to delete manually and double-check that those folders don’t contain critical system data.