Apple Mac startup disk is full? Here's how to fix it

You open your Apple Macbook as usual, only this time it gives you an ominous message: "Your startup disk is almost full."

What is a startup disk?

The startup disk is where your Mac’s data and system software reside. It contains all the information your computer needs to start properly.

Usually, the startup disk is the internal hard drive, called Macintosh HD. Here's how to find your Mac's startup disk:

Click Apple Menu > System Settings. Click General >Startup Disk.

What does a complete boot disk mean?

When your startup disk is full, it means your Mac has run out of storage space that the computer needs to load and function properly.

So if you receive a boot disk error message, the best thing you can do is take action quickly. We'll guide you through the entire process.

How to Check Disk Storage Space on Mac

Your Mac can show you what is taking up all the space so you can decide how to get the most out of your storage.

Open Finder. Click Startup Disk in the Location section. Click File > Get Info, and then click the arrow next to General.

How to Free Up Disk Space on Mac

Now that you know what’s taking up all that space, let’s look at ways to free up some of it.

Store large computer files in the cloud or on an external hard drive

Backing up the largest files on your Mac is the easiest and fastest way to free up disk space. There are two main ways to do this.

Save files to the cloud. iCloud is a fast, easy and secure way to move larger files from your computer to a secure data server for storage. As long as you have internet access, your files will be there when you need them again. Use an external hard drive. If cloud storage isn't for you, try moving your photos and videos to an external drive. These files typically take up the most space, so moving them can save you the trouble of browsing through all your documents.

Delete Unnecessary Files, Apps and Backups

Do you really need everything on your computer? What brings you joy? Marie Kondo Free your Mac of irrelevant data and enjoy more storage space. This could mean old photos, videos, apps, and documents. Or it could mean everything you backed up from an iPhone 6 from nearly a decade ago. We'll walk you through how.

How to Find the Largest Files

Deleting the largest files will help you quickly make space on your Mac. That's it:

On macOS Ventura or later. Go to Apple Menu >System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then click Storage on the right.

On earlier versions of macOS. Go to Apple Menu > About This Mac, then click Storage.

Now you are ready to filter the largest files and delete them.

How to Delete Old Backups

Your old backup is probably one of the largest files. Here's how to get rid of them:

On macOS Ventura or later: Go to Apple Menu > System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then click Storage on the right.

On earlier versions of macOS: Go to Apple Menu > About This Mac, then click Storage.

Click "Manage". Then, select the iOS file. Click on the old backup and delete it. Click Remove to permanently remove it from your MacBook.

How to delete apps you don’t use

If you don’t use some apps, delete them.

Click the Finder icon in the Dock. Click Applications in the Finder sidebar. Depending on the location of your application, you may need to follow some different steps. Don't worry, we've provided steps for both situations.

If the application is in a folder: Open the application's folder to check for uninstallers. If "Uninstall" or "Uninstall a program" appears, double-click it and follow the on-screen instructions.

If the application is not in the folder or there is no uninstaller: Drag the application from the Applications folder to the Trash.

My Mac says there’s not enough disk space, but there’s still

What if you have enough space but still see this error message? Your iCloud may be using some of your storage as placeholders. This usually happens if you have a setting called iCloud Drive turned on.

To turn off this setting and make the most of the space you have, try these steps:

Click the Apple icon > System Settings. Click on Apple ID and select iCloud. Turn off Optimize Mac Storage.

What to do if your Mac crashes because your startup disk is full

If your Mac has begun the “Boot Disc Full” death spiral, there’s one last thing you want to try – Turn on safe mode. This may free up enough space to allow it to start.

Turn on safe mode by holding the power button until the computer turns off. Press the power button and hold down the Shift button until the Apple icon appears.

If Safe Mode is in effect, start moving or copying your personal data to the cloud or external hard drive. You'll want to save as much money as you can before it's gone.

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