Why would my system data be using 314GB of my 500MG har drive?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iMac 27″, macOS 14.6
How to delete Time Machine snapshots on your Mac.
This often occurs if the Time Machine Drive isn’t attached to the computer and TM Backup is set to run on a schedule.
TM Backup makes snapshots on the internal drive until the Time Machine Drive is attached. Then, the snapshots are transferred to the external drive.
OP wrote " The hard drive is 100% full "
To late for an meaningful remedial actions
For Apple Silicon computers, use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.
For Apple Intel computers, use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac and then follow the instructions in How to reinstall macOS.
OK, here’s some more information. The picture below says it all I have a 500 GB hard drive why is 318 GB being taken by the operating system.
I don’t have much in the other categories.
When you click on the little eye to the right of the system data it says this is generated by the operating software and cannot be controlled or deleted.
I find that hard to believe and asking why this is the case.
Thanks.
Why, is this an issue that prevents to computer to function normally ?
What negative effects are being presented on the computer to warrant this inquiry ?
Perhaps if you explain in detail we maybe able to assist ?
It prevents the email from opening up. It says HD disk full so the email will not launch and the backup Time Machine passport will not back up and I can’t even upgrade to the new operating system because there’s not enough storage on the hard drive disk.
I just find it hard to believe that an operating system would take up 60% of the hard drive.
User wrote >> “ OK, here’s some more information. The picture below says it all I have a 500 GB hard drive why is 318 GB being taken by the operating system. “
A - System Data is Not used by the Operating System per se.
A - This is the first error
A - System Data is where the User Account or User Accounts are located
A - From your representation Image
A - The drive is basically 100 % Full
Jimlupo wrote:
It prevents the email from opening up. It says HD disk full so the email will not launch and the backup Time Machine passport will not back up and I can’t even upgrade to the new operating system because there’s not enough storage on the hard drive disk.
I just find it hard to believe that an operating system would take up 60% of the hard drive.
An aside and this can and does happen.
You are talking to yourself by relying to yourself
To help avoid doing this
To get the replies to your question in chronological order by Date
Click on your User Name >> >> " Edit Profile and Preferences "
Scroll way down and look for >> >> " Other Preferences "
Change the >> >> " Default thread sort " to Oldest
So this is helpful and I’m trying to delete the backup snapshots on my Mac, but is not as easy as it looks.
How do you turn off the Time Machine? It will only allow me to elect manual backup.
I can’t figure out how to delete the snapshots in the hard drive
Sorry for the delayed response
I just got home and I tried what you suggested. Going to the McIntosh HD data volumes when I click on it it doesn’t give me the files to the right to highlight and delete it just shows me data bar . The hard drive is 100% full. it does say there’s 303 MB purgeable I just don’t know how to purge it.
To optimize system data on your iMac running macOS Sonoma, start by clearing cached files, old logs, and temporary files. You can do this by going to Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage > Manage, then reviewing and deleting unnecessary files. Also, check for large, outdated backups or iOS files under “System Data.” Using third-party tools like Stellar Mac Data Recovery’s Cleanup feature can help identify and safely delete junk files. Your system data is likely using 314GB due to accumulated cache, app leftovers, or backup files. Regularly cleaning your Mac and managing storage efficiently should free up significant space.
If all else fails and you are sure most is in system data then erase drive and reinstall all and that number should drop quite a bit.
Go to disk utilities then click on data volume in left column and in right window your snapshots will show. Highlight and delete
FYI ... Choosing "Manual," in effect, disables Time Machine.
Please delete app caches and temporary files as well. They are in Application Support folder.
How do I optimise system data on iMac running macOS Sonoma?
