Time Machine snapshots, old iPhone backups and cloud-sync caches are some of the largest things on a Mac, and some of the least visible. These guides show how to find them and what is safe to remove.
Wondering does clearing sync cache delete files from iCloud, Dropbox, or OneDrive? Learn exactly what's safe to remove on macOS Sequoia and Tahoe.
6 min read, updated Jun 13, 2026Learn how to delete old iPhone backups on Mac using Finder, Terminal, and manual paths. Free up gigabytes safely in macOS Sequoia and Tahoe.
6 min read, updated Jun 13, 2026Dropbox cache on Mac hides in ~/Dropbox/.dropbox.cache and can grow to gigabytes. Learn the exact path, why it bloats, and how to clear it safely in 2026.
7 min read, updated Jun 10, 2026OneDrive taking up space on your Mac? Learn how to enable Files On-Demand, free up space with right-click, and verify reclaimed storage in 2026.
7 min read, updated Jun 10, 2026Startup disk full but not full Mac? Learn why your files don't add up to disk usage and how invisible Time Machine snapshots consume hidden space.
7 min read, updated Jun 10, 2026Mac shows available space but you still get disk full errors? Learn why purgeable space causes this gap and how to actually free your disk on macOS.
7 min read, updated Jun 10, 2026256GB MacBook full? Time Machine local snapshots quietly claim gigabytes. Learn how to reclaim that SSD space fast with real Terminal commands and settings.
7 min read, updated Jun 10, 2026Wondering why your iPhone backup is so large on your Mac? Learn the 7 real reasons iPhone backups eat your SSD — and what you can safely do about it.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Find the exact folder where iPhone backups live on your Mac, how to open it in Finder, why it's hidden, and how to safely manage or delete old backups.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Confused by purgeable space on your Mac? Learn what it means, why macOS reserves it, and how to reclaim real storage — with or without Terminal.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Time machine using all my disk space? Learn why local snapshots silently fill your SSD even when backing up to an external drive, and how to reclaim space safely.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Learn how to thin Time Machine local snapshots on macOS using tmutil thinlocalsnapshots to reclaim disk space without deleting your real backup.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Learn how to stop Time Machine local snapshots on macOS, whether you can truly disable them, the tradeoffs, and how to manage the disk space they consume.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Deleted files but Mac storage still shows full? Here's every layer that traps freed space — Trash, APFS snapshots, purgeable, iCloud — and how to reclaim it.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Purgeable space won't clear on your Mac? Walk through 9 proven fixes—from deleting APFS snapshots to forcing a Spotlight reindex—and finally reclaim your disk.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Learn how Optimize Mac Storage and Store in iCloud work, why they sometimes fail to free space, and what local cleanup iCloud offloading can never replace.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Deleted files but your Mac storage is still full? Diagnose the real culprit — Trash, APFS snapshots, purgeable space, and more — with this step-by-step fix guide.
7 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Learn how to free up purgeable space on Mac with 7 tested methods—from safe one-click tools to Terminal commands—ranked by risk and effectiveness for macOS 12–26.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Learn three reliable ways to check how much space iPhone backups are using on your Mac — Finder, About This Mac, and Manage Backups — plus how to safely reclaim that space.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Google Drive cache on Mac, Dropbox offline files, and OneDrive vaults silently consume gigabytes. Learn exactly which paths to clear and what's safe to delete.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Confused by free up space vs remove download in iCloud, OneDrive, and Dropbox on Mac? This guide explains exactly what each option does and when it's safe to use.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Struggling with a 256GB MacBook storage full warning? Start with purgeable space, Time Machine snapshots, and Trash for the fastest, safest GB wins before touching real files.
7 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Learn how to force your Mac to clear purgeable space right now using disk pressure, snapshot thinning, Safe Mode, and one-click tools. Works on macOS 12–26.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Learn how to exclude folders from Time Machine backups using System Settings and tmutil, and which big folders like VMs and node_modules are worth skipping.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Learn how to empty Trash on Mac when files are locked, in use, or stuck. Covers force empty, Terminal fixes, external drive .Trashes, and why freed space doesn't appear.
7 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026A real cloud sync local storage comparison for Mac: how Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and iCloud behave on disk, where their caches live, and how to audit each one.
7 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Learn exactly where Dropbox cache lives on Mac, why the hidden .dropbox.cache folder bloats your disk, and how to safely clear it — manually or with Crumb.
5 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Learn how to delete Time Machine local snapshots on Mac using tmutil, Disk Utility, or one click. Exact commands, when space is freed, and what is safe to remove.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Learn how to delete Time Machine local snapshots taking up disk space on your Mac using Terminal, Disk Utility, or Crumb — with clear steps for macOS 12–26.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Learn how to delete APFS local snapshots on Mac using tmutil deletelocalsnapshots or a GUI. Reclaim gigabytes of purgeable space safely, with clear warnings about what you lose.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive caches hide inside macOS System Data. Learn how to find, understand, and safely reclaim hidden sync caches on your Mac.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026APFS snapshots taking up space on your Mac? Learn how to list, measure, and safely delete local snapshots with tmutil commands — without breaking Time Machine.
7 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Learn why APFS local snapshots from Time Machine silently consume tens of GB of disk space, how to check their size, and when it is safe to remove them.
6 min read, updated Jun 8, 2026Learn exactly how to find iPhone backup on Mac using Go to Folder, check their size, and safely delete old backups to reclaim gigabytes of space.
6 min read, updated Jun 6, 2026Learn where Box Drive cache lives on your Mac and how to safely clear it without losing files. Step-by-step guide for macOS Sequoia and Tahoe.
6 min read, updated Jun 4, 2026iCloud optimize storage not working on Mac? Here are 7 proven fixes for macOS Sequoia/Tahoe in 2026 — reclaim real disk space today.
6 min read, updated May 20, 2026Learn how to delete an iPad backup on Mac safely without touching your iPhone backup. Step-by-step guide for macOS Sequoia and Tahoe.
6 min read, updated May 14, 2026Learn how to stop iPhone backups filling up your Mac with step-by-step fixes, folder locations, and safe cleanup tips for macOS Sequoia and Tahoe.
6 min read, updated May 12, 2026Learn what the MobileSync folder on Mac contains, how big it gets, and whether it's safe to delete iPhone and iPad backups stored inside it.
6 min read, updated May 11, 2026