Start with the Storage overview

On macOS Ventura or later, open Apple menu → System Settings → General → Storage. Let the categories finish calculating, then inspect Documents and other categories that offer a details button. Depending on your macOS version, the details view can include large files, downloads, or a file browser.

Use this as an overview rather than a deletion checklist. A large Photos library or an active project is not automatically disposable. Note which category is taking space so you can inspect the corresponding files more closely.

Find files above a size threshold in Finder

Finder is useful when you want to review files by location. A search for files over 500 MB is a practical first pass; use a lower threshold if it returns very little. This threshold is only an example, not a rule for what is safe to delete.

  1. Open Finder and press Command-F. Choose This Mac if you want a broad search, or keep the current folder selected for a narrower search.
  2. Add a search criterion with the plus button. Choose Other from the attribute menu and look for File Size.
  3. Set File Size to is greater than, choose MB, and enter 500.
  4. Switch to list view and show the Size column if needed. Sort the largest files first.
  5. Select a result and check its original location. Use Quick Look with the Space bar where supported before deciding what to do.

Separate files to keep, archive, and remove

A useful review has three groups. Keep current work where it is. Archive completed projects to a verified backup or external drive. Remove files you can identify as no longer needed, such as an old installer for an app you have already installed.

Before removing a local original, open the backup copy and confirm it is complete. Moving a file to another folder on the same disk does not create more free space. Moving it to the Trash is also not the final space-recovery step; review the Trash before emptying it.

If a file lives in an iCloud-synced folder, ordinary deletion can also remove it from other synced devices. For offloading a local copy while retaining a cloud copy, use the appropriate cloud-storage controls instead of assuming that Delete means local-only.

Use a scan for a repeatable review

Storage Cleaner: Disk & Cache can scan for large files in the folders you authorize, alongside cache and developer-file categories. Scanning is free; cleaning requires a purchase. Review the results rather than selecting everything just because it is large.

After cleanup, return to Storage and allow time for the figures to refresh. If the numbers still look unusual, check the selected disk, Trash, and any ongoing downloads before deleting more. A clear list of files you recognize is more useful than chasing a particular number in a storage chart.

Sources and further reading