Macbook Air upgrading to Ventura

First please review Free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support and Optimize storage space on your Mac - Apple Support.

If you are still unable to create sufficient space for the upgrade after exhausting all those steps, the workaround is to create a Time Machine backup, completely erase the Mac, install the latest version of macOS (read • below), and finally transfer the contents from that Time Machine backup when asked. To learn how to use Time Machine please read Back up your files with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support.

• To install the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac, refer to Other macOS installation options in How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support.

cfgarden wrote:

That's too scary for me plus ridiculous time intensive. Why if Ventura is 3.92 gig do I need 16.9 gig. Makes no sense

I recommend you use iCloud Optimization. It should easily fix your storage issues. I have a MacBook Air (M2, 2022) with 256 GB of storage, and with iCloud Optimization, I only use ~60 GB on the internal SSD at any point, even though I have 300 GB+ in iCloud.

To start, see:

• • Upgrade to iCloud+ - Apple Support
  • Set up iCloud Drive - Apple Support
  • Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support
  • Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support
  • Free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

Jack

cfgarden wrote:

That's too scary for me plus ridiculous time intensive. Why if Ventura is 3.92 gig do I need 16.9 gig. Makes no sense

I don't know where you got that idea. The Ventura installation app alone is 12.1 GB in size, and more than that will be required to upgrade systems preceding Monterey. Additional space in addition to the installer app itself is required to accomplish the actual upgrade, as temporary files become created and are subsequently removed.

In any event if you want to upgrade and the Mac is reporting insufficient space, then follow my instructions. They work.

That's too scary for me plus ridiculous time intensive. Why if Ventura is 3.92 gig do I need 16.9 gig. Makes no sense