Why so much Apple?
Apple are not here and won't respond in this user-to-user setting.
If you are using Time Machine for backups, see if its saved "snapshots" are piling up;
About Time Machine local snapshots - Apple Support
and
View APFS snapshots in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support
Speculation on why the storage gets so big often points to third-party apps and devices. Some printers save caches that don't clear. Some useless antivirus, "cleaning," and VPN apps may also contribute. Google Chrome has taken a few hits as a potential suspect as well.
A Safe Mode boot can do some cleaning up. See:
Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support
👉🏻 What's not in the instructions: I find that Safe Mode can need a little time to do its work. I let my computers "soak" in Safe Mode for about 30 minutes to give it time. Once done, restarting the computer returns it to normal mode.
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If you want a data-driven evaluation in this setting where we can neither see nor touch your computer, please post an EtreCheck report. We can quickly and within the limitations of these forums help you determine what issues are at play without our playing a protracted game of "20 Questions" with you that could go on for days.
EtreCheck Pro is available here: https://etrecheck.com/index
The free version will do nicely for this purpose, although the app is worthy of our financial support.
We can see hard data about storage performance, software issues and interferences, and RAM usage. Etrecheck is the development of a long-serving and trusted ASC contributor. It is a reporting app, not a "fix-it” app, expressly for displaying information in these forums to help us help you remotely. It will not reveal any personal or secure information.
Please see this excellent user tip on how to post long text reports like EtreCheck's into a forum response:
How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community
Please post the entire report. What seems insignificant to a new Etrecheck user can hold answers for those of us who have reviewed thousands of those reports.
