How to Check Storage on Your Mac: 5 Simple Methods

• Use About This Mac for a quick storage overview.
• Click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, then click More Info to see detailed storage information, including a breakdown by categories like Documents, Apps, and Photos.
• Track your storage in real time with iStat Menus.
• iStat Menus sits in your menu bar, giving you instant access to storage space, memory usage, CPU load, and more—so you can monitor your Mac’s performance without navigating through multiple menus.
• Try using Disk Utility or Terminal if you’re comfortable with advanced tools.
• Disk Utility offers a quick overview of your storage via Spotlight, while Terminal lets you run the df -h command to check available space. Keep in mind, Terminal shows sizes in gibibytes, so you may need to convert those figures.
• Media files and downloads are often the biggest storage hogs.
• Large applications, system files, caches, old backups, high-res photos and videos, plus forgotten downloads can quickly fill up your disk. Tools like CleanMyMac can help you spot and safely remove these files automatically.
• Consider getting Setapp for a comprehensive approach to managing your storage.
• Access iStat Menus, CleanMyMac, and over 250 other Mac apps with a single subscription. Get started with a 7-day free trial to easily optimize your Mac’s storage.

Are you reading this because your startup disk is nearly full or your Mac is running slow? Or maybe you’re just someone who likes to keep everything, including storage, well organized.

Whatever your situation, you’re in the right place. In this article, I’ll guide you through all the ways to check your MacBook’s memory so you’ll always know how much space is available. This helps you manage your storage efficiently and keep your Mac running smoothly.

What Is Storage on a Mac?

Simply put, storage is where everything on your Mac is saved. And by “everything,” I mean all kinds of data—from your favorite games and thousands of photos to installer files and app extensions.

Most importantly, your storage holds System Data, which includes essential files your Mac needs to run smoothly.

What’s Taking Up Space on Your Mac?

The first step to managing your Mac’s storage effectively is understanding what’s using up space. This can take some time since there are many possible causes. Large apps, system files, caches, and old backups are often the main offenders.

Media files are another major space hog. If you love high-resolution photos and videos, they could be filling up your disk quickly. Also, don’t overlook the Downloads folder—it often hides forgotten files that take up more space than you realize.

If you only have a minute to solve your storage issue, check out this table for the key solutions. For a deeper dive, just keep scrolling.

Quick Solutions Overview

• Problem: Need a detailed disk analysis
  Solution: Open Disk Utility to inspect your Mac’s storage.
• Problem: Want to monitor storage and performance
  Solution: Use i Stat Menus to track storage, CPU load, temperature, and more.
• Problem: Need general info about Macintosh HD
  Solution: In Finder, right-click Macintosh HD and select More Info.
• Problem: Looking to expand storage space
  Solution: Connect your cloud storage accounts to Finder using Cloud Mounter. Prefer a command-line option: Open Terminal, type df -h, and check the disk space listed under /System/Volumes/Data.

How to Check Disk Space on Mac

Apple offers several ways to check your Mac’s disk space, but each method requires knowing the specific steps. If you’d rather avoid memorizing different processes, a comprehensive monitoring app like iStat Menus can simplify things for you.

This app provides vital insights into your Mac’s performance, including storage usage, memory stats, CPU load, disk activity, temperature monitoring, and more. The best part? All this information is accessible with just one click from your menu bar.

#1. Check Mac Storage Using About This Mac

If you haven’t installed any specialized apps like iStat Menus and want a quick way to see your Mac’s storage, this is probably the simplest method. With just a few clicks, you can view exactly what’s taking up space on your Mac.

1. Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner, then select About This Mac from the drop-down menu.
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3. When the new window opens, click More Info to go to the General tab.
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5. Scroll down to the Storage section to see how many gigabytes of space are available on your Mac.
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7. Click Storage Settings for a detailed breakdown of your disk space by category. Hover over each section of the bar to view the category name and how much space it occupies.

Below, you’ll find storage recommendations along with a list of categories. You can open each category to view all items and delete any you no longer need to free up space.

In older versions of macOS, this is even easier. Just click the Apple icon, select About This Mac, and then click the Storage tab in the window that appears.

#2. Check Mac Storage Using Disk Utility

Disk Utility is a built-in macOS app made for managing your storage devices. It lets you format drives, combine multiple disks, check your MacBook’s memory, and much more.

1. Open Disk Utility (you can find it quickly using Spotlight).
2. Select Macintosh HD from the sidebar to see detailed storage information.

When comparing Disk Utility to About This Mac, the latter clearly comes out on top. Disk Utility offers a basic overview, but About This Mac provides detailed information organized into categories, showing every item within each section.

#3. Check Mac Storage Using Finder

If you’re looking for another way to view your Mac’s storage, try Finder, the smiley-face icon on your Dock. It helps you organize documents, apps, folders, and other files, and also displays information about your hard drives.

1. Click Finder on the Dock.
2. In the sidebar, locate the Locations section and click MacBook.
3. Right-click on Macintosh HD, then select More Info.
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5. Check the storage details in the General section that appears.

If your Mac’s drive isn’t visible in the Finder sidebar, open Finder, click Finder in the menu bar, and select Settings. Then, under the Sidebar tab, locate the Locations section and check the box next to your Mac’s name.

#4. Check storage using Quick Look

Here’s another way to check your MacBook’s storage: using Quick Look. The only catch is you’ll need to adjust a few settings first to make your Mac’s drive easily accessible on the Desktop:

1. Open Finder, then select Finder Settings from the menu bar.
2. In the General tab, check the box for Hard disks, then close the window.

After completing these steps, proceed with the following:

1. Locate your Mac’s drive icon on the desktop.
2. Click the icon and press the space bar to preview it.
3. The Quick Look window will open, letting you quickly check the available storage space on your Mac.

#5. View Mac Storage Using Terminal

If you’re wondering how to view storage on your Mac, this is the go-to method for those comfortable with command-line tools. Use Terminal to get detailed info. But if you’re new to Terminal or unsure, it’s best to try the simpler methods mentioned earlier.

1. Open Finder and select Applications from the sidebar.
2. Locate the Utilities folder, open it, and launch Terminal.
3. Type df -h and press Return.
4. After the list of disks appears, find the /System/Volumes/Data line. Check the Avail column to see how much free space you have.

Best Practices for Storage Optimization on Your Mac

To keep your Mac running smoothly, it’s essential to focus on storage optimization. In this section, I’ll share straightforward yet effective tips to keep your Mac organized and efficient. From clearing out unused files to setting up automated backups, these strategies will help you maximize your Mac’s storage.

Free Up Disk Space

Start by removing unused applications. It’s a good idea to regularly check your MacBook’s storage to identify and uninstall apps you no longer use. The same goes for large files—make sure there aren’t any bulky items sitting on your disk instead of being in the Trash.

Don’t forget to clear system and application caches, but be careful not to delete any important files. I personally prefer using CleanMyMac, which automatically scans and removes unnecessary old files, large items, duplicates, similar images, caches, and other clutter for good.

Use organizational strategies

Organize your files into folders. While it might take some time initially, having a clear structure makes it much easier to keep your space tidy and manage your files efficiently. As you organize, consider archiving files you rarely use.

Another effective way to handle large or infrequently accessed files is by moving them to cloud storage services like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox. If you need regular access to these files, try CloudMounter, which integrates cloud storage accounts directly into your Mac’s Finder for easy access.

Maintain a Regular Maintenance Routine

Make sure to keep your apps and macOS up to date with the latest software updates. These updates often include performance boosts and bug fixes that can help improve storage management and overall system performance.

To further optimize your Mac’s storage, schedule automated backups. This not only safeguards your data but also frees up space by moving files off your main drive. I recommend using Get Backup Pro, which lets you set backup schedules, offers four different backup methods, and can restore lost files to any Mac—even if the app isn’t installed on that device.

How to Check Storage on MacBook: Final Thoughts

Apple provides several ways to check your Mac’s storage, from simple clicks in the menu bar to using Terminal commands. However, most of these options only show basic info like total capacity and available space on your drive.

Unlike other apps, those mentioned in the article offer detailed breakdowns of key system indicators, like iStat Menus, and powerful Mac maintenance tools, such as CleanMyMac. Along with CloudMounter, Unclutter, and Get Backup Pro—also featured in this article—these apps are available on Setapp, a platform boasting over 250 apps for everything from digital drawing to coding.

The best part? You can try all of these apps free for 7 days, with the trial starting whenever you choose. So, why wait?

How to View Storage on Mac: FAQ

How Do I Find My Storage on a Mac?

There are several ways to check your Mac’s storage, but here’s one of the simplest methods: Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner, select About This Mac, then click More Info. In the window that opens, scroll down and select Storage Settings.

How Much Storage Does My Mac Have?

Here are a few easy ways to find out how many gigabytes of storage your Mac has:

1. Click the Apple menu > About This Mac > More Info, then scroll down to the Storage section to see your total capacity and available space.
2. Open System Information using Spotlight Search: press Command + Space, type System Information, hit Enter, then select Storage in the sidebar for detailed capacity info.
3. Right-click your Macintosh HD in Finder and choose Get Info to view the total storage capacity at the top of the window.

Most newer Macs offer storage options from 256GB all the way up to 8TB, depending on your specific model and setup.

How to Check Your iCloud Storage on a Mac

Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings.

In the window that opens, click your Apple ID at the top of the sidebar, then choose iCloud.

Is It Possible to Add More Storage to My MacBook?

Yes, there are a few options. For most Mac models, the simplest solution is to use external drives connected via USB or Thunderbolt ports. If you prefer not to use physical hardware, cloud storage services like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox offer an effective alternative.

Additionally, some older Mac models (pre-2016) let you upgrade internal storage by swapping out the existing hard drive or SSD. However, newer MacBooks from 2016 onward don’t support internal storage upgrades.

In that case, you might want to try CleanMyMac to quickly clean up your laptop and free up extra storage space with just a few clicks.