Freeing up System Data on 2020 iMac

I have an iMac which I use for Freelancing. It's a 27in 2020 which I purchased in 2021, running Ventura 13.5.1. Rather than save anything specifically on my computer I use Google Drive/ One Drive (etc) so very little is actually stored on the machine aside my Apps: Adobe software, Microsoft suite etc - But Because the System Data is so big (298.93GB) I'm starting to have issues with Working on larger files etc as well as no longer being able to back up my phone.


I've been looking through the forums and some people have suggested that nothing can actually be done about this - but that seems horrendous baring in mind its still not even passed out of warranty yet. Is there anything that can be done?





Posted on Sep 8, 2023 08:37 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 9, 2023 06:32 AM

System Data was once listed as “Other.” It is a catch-all for items Spotlight cannot categorize into the other bins. Generally, the display will start with a very large System Data, then as it identifies the type of data, it shrinks and others get bigger.

When it can’t categorize the storage, it remains in System Data.


Do you really have such a minuscule amount of Documents? My guess is the System Data is your Documents that Spotlight has incorrectly indexed.

Try rebuilding the Spotlight index.

Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support


2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 9, 2023 06:32 AM in response to roseynick93

System Data was once listed as “Other.” It is a catch-all for items Spotlight cannot categorize into the other bins. Generally, the display will start with a very large System Data, then as it identifies the type of data, it shrinks and others get bigger.

When it can’t categorize the storage, it remains in System Data.


Do you really have such a minuscule amount of Documents? My guess is the System Data is your Documents that Spotlight has incorrectly indexed.

Try rebuilding the Spotlight index.

Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support


Sep 9, 2023 07:39 AM in response to roseynick93

Follow Previous advise - First.


Only as a Fall Back position


It is generally a good computer practice to alway keep at least 15% to 20% of the Total Drive Capacity’s as Empty Space. Allowing the computer to drop below these guidelines may eventually, cause unintended consequences.


There is Purgeable Space and there is Empty Space.


Purgeable Space which is Controlled by the Operating System. When the Operating Systems decides the computer needs additional Empty Space, it will move a portion of the Purgeable to Empty space


AFAIK - there is no User Actions to hasten this transition from Purgeable to Empty Space


It can day or longer before this will occur  


The links below will assist in identifying what is taking up space on the Internal Drive and provide possible ways to remove data that is under the direct control of the User ( Home Folder ) . 


Using Adobe Applications - check with Adobe on where and how to clear the Adobe cache files.


Have seen some users clear those cache files and regained xx GBs of Empty Space


What is “Other” storage on a Mac, and how can I clean it out?


Free up storage space on your Mac


OmniDiskSweeper Safe to use


GrandPerspective 


How to delete Time Machine snapshots on your Mac.  


Often caused if the Time Machine Drive has not been attached  to the computer and TM Backup is set to run on a Schedule. 


TM Backup will make Snap Shot on the Internal Drive awaiting the TM Backup Drive to be attached. 


Only then will the Snaps Shots be transferred to the External Drive and deleted the Internal Drive.


See used and available storage space on your Mac


Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch


Notation - If the user is using a cloning software like Carbon Copy Cloner - and https://bombich.com/kb/ccc6/automated-maintenance-ccc-safetynet-folder suggest tweaking the Safety Net Feature in this software. It may be making additional Snap Shots that are not being Cloned to the Eternal Drive. If this should be the case, these Snap Shot could be using additional space on the drive 


The final word from Apple on Managing the " Other/ System Data “ Category


Other / System Data: Contains files that don’t fall into the categories listed here. This category primarily includes files and data used by the system, such as log files, caches, VM files, and other runtime system resources. Also included are temporary files, fonts, app support files, and plug-ins. You can't manage the contents of this category. The contents are managed by macOS, and the category varies in size depending on the current state of your Mac.

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Freeing up System Data on 2020 iMac

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