It is frustrating when you cannot install any more applications or save new files on your Mac because its storage space is already full. This is especially true if your Mac is the main computer used for work. Buying an external hard drive is the immediate solution most people will come up with to solve the storage problem.
But before you decide to get an expensive external hard drive, you can try deleting temporary files on your Mac. This will free up storage space that you can use for more important files and applications.
Why You Need To Delete Temporary Files
Temporary files are things that your Mac would store because certain applications, software, or program would need it to function properly. But you can safely delete and remove these files later on without any issues. Depending on how many apps or programs you have installed on your Mac, you are looking at hundreds or possibly thousands of temporary files and caches using up your storage space. Learn more help tips about how to clean it up.
Deleting these temporary files and caches could free up a lot of storage space in your Mac and allow you to use it for more important things. But deleting these files will not only free up storage space, but it can also help your Mac run faster. Having a full storage space also slows down the overall performance of your Mac, including running programs and applications.
The Mac’s drive requires about 20% of your storage space since it will use it to write new information. Your Mac slows down as it tries to find space to write that information on if your storage is already near or at full capacity.
Deleting Your Cache and Temporary Files
There are 2 ways that you can delete your cache and temporary files to free up storage space and optimize your Mac’s performance. The first way is automatic, and it will require the help of a software. The second way is to do it manually, which is time-consuming and requires more effort.
The Automatic Way of Deleting Temporary Files
If you don’t want the hassle of looking for all of the temporary files, there is an easy and automatic way to do it. There are several software and programs available that will make it easier for you to delete temporary files. One of the popular programs you can find is CleanMyMac X.
As the name of the software suggests, it specializes in cleaning your Mac Computer. This means that it will delete and remove all of the unnecessary clutter found inside your Mac, including temporary files and caches that need deleting. You only need to push one button and the program will do the rest.
You also don’t have to worry about the program deleting important files since it is designed to know how Mac works. The program can distinguish between junk and important files, so it won’t accidentally delete anything that your Mac will still need.
Or course, this program is not available for free, but the costs that you will pay is worth the investment if it can keep your Mac running smoother and faster. If CleanMyMac X is not the program you are looking for, you can also check out other similar programs like CCleaner and Drive Genius. Both programs are also good at deleting temporary files on your Mac and freeing up storage space.
Manually Deleting Temporary Files and Caches.
If you are still not keen on spending money on a cleaning program for your Mac, you can still manually delete the temporary files on your Mac. However, you have to take note that it will take some time and effort on your part since there are several steps that you need to do to completely delete all of the temporary files in your Mac.
Deleting Cache and Temporary File in Active User Account
Here are 6 simple steps that you can do to delete temporary files.
- The first thing you need to do is to close any app or program that is running on your Mac. You can try force quit programs if they are not closing properly.
- The next step is to launch the Finder program of your Mac OS. Hold the SHIFT button if you are using Sierra or the latest OS version on your Mac. Hold the OPTION/ALT button if you are using an older OS version.
- Pull down the Go menu and access the Library.
- Once inside, go to the Cache Folder and manually select all the files that you want to delete. You can also choose to delete them all if you don’t have any need for them.
- You can drag the files to the Trash Bin or right-click and select ‘Move to Trash’ all of the files that you have highlighted.
- Launch the Finder program and again and select Empty Trash. This will delete all of the files that you have moved to the trash folder.
Deleting Temporary Files in Browser
The step above will delete all of the cache and temporary files in your active user account. But there are still several temporary files and caches stored in your Mac, mainly the ones in your browser.
Here are the steps to deleting temporary files in your Mac browsers:
- Click Safari on the menu bar and access Preferences.
- Tick the “Show Develop menu in menu bar”
- Open Develop and find the “Empty Cache” selection and click it to delete all of the temporary files and cache your browser stored.
Restart Your Mac
Another easier way of removing temporary files and system caches is to reboot your computer. When you restart your computer, it will trigger the automatic system maintenance tasks that will include deleting and removing temporary files and system caches. This could take a while, so a bit of patience is needed here.
Final Words
Maximizing the storage capacity of your Mac is unavoidable, especially if you use it for work. But reaching full storage will mean you cannot install any new applications and it will slow down your Mac’s performance.
Fortunately, you can delete caches and temporary files to help remedy this problem. You can do it manually and you can use the information shared above to guide you. But if you don’t want the hassle of going through all the steps, you can purchase a software program that can do the deleting and cleaning for you.
Have you already tried a Mac cleaning software? If you have let us know what you suggest or if you other tips to offer.