Updates directory takes up 20gb of space: Can I delete it?

I only have about 10gb left on my 128gb 2019 13" MacBook Pro. After realising that 65GB was being occupied by 'other' I did some further digging.

Now I found that part of the problem is in the /Library/Updates folder, as this folder takes up about 22GB.

Four folders starting with '001' take up about 5.4GB each. I would like to remove these to free up space.


Now a few questions

  1. How do I get the permissions to delete these directories?
  2. Is removing these directories safe for my Mac?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 21, 2020 05:18 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 21, 2020 06:59 AM

surferfelix wrote:

1. I only have about 10gb left on my 128gb 2019 13" MacBook Pro. After realising that 65GB was being occupied by 'other' I did some further digging.
Now I found that part of the problem is in the /Library/Updates folder, as this folder takes up about 22GB.
Four folders starting with '001' take up about 5.4GB each. I would like to remove these to free up space.

Now a few questions
How do I get the permissions to delete these directories?
2. Is removing these directories safe for my Mac?



You do not have permission to r/w to the /Library.

About the read-only system volume in macOS Catalina - Apple ...



Your "user" Library is < ~/Library > here you have r/w privileges.


See used and available storage space on your Mac

https://support.apple.com/guide/system-information/see-available-storage-space-syspf9b375b9/10.14/mac/10.15


How to free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206996


User tip: "Other and What Can I Do About It ?"

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-5142


Thin local snapshots :

ref: https://eclecticlight.co/2020/04/09/where-did-all-that-free-space-go-on-my-apfs-disk/



Try something like OmniDiskSweeper for a GUI to get a good look at itemized file size and location:

OmniDiskSweeper http://www.omnigroup.com/more

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2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 21, 2020 06:59 AM in response to surferfelix

surferfelix wrote:

1. I only have about 10gb left on my 128gb 2019 13" MacBook Pro. After realising that 65GB was being occupied by 'other' I did some further digging.
Now I found that part of the problem is in the /Library/Updates folder, as this folder takes up about 22GB.
Four folders starting with '001' take up about 5.4GB each. I would like to remove these to free up space.

Now a few questions
How do I get the permissions to delete these directories?
2. Is removing these directories safe for my Mac?



You do not have permission to r/w to the /Library.

About the read-only system volume in macOS Catalina - Apple ...



Your "user" Library is < ~/Library > here you have r/w privileges.


See used and available storage space on your Mac

https://support.apple.com/guide/system-information/see-available-storage-space-syspf9b375b9/10.14/mac/10.15


How to free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206996


User tip: "Other and What Can I Do About It ?"

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-5142


Thin local snapshots :

ref: https://eclecticlight.co/2020/04/09/where-did-all-that-free-space-go-on-my-apfs-disk/



Try something like OmniDiskSweeper for a GUI to get a good look at itemized file size and location:

OmniDiskSweeper http://www.omnigroup.com/more

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Updates directory takes up 20gb of space: Can I delete it?

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