Low storage on Mac can lead to problems. Generally speaking, it can cause your machine to slow down and other issues that stop it from running at its best. The worst scenario is that your computer will not boot at all. Therefore, it is a good option to clear system data on Mac regularly. This guide will explain how to do it on iMac, MacBook Pro/Air, Mac mini, and more.

Part 1: What Mac System Data Includes

Some Mac users find it puzzling how quickly storage can fill up. What is taking up space on your disk? The system data on Mac is not just one thing, but covers several file types, including:

System junk and cache files. They help your apps open faster. Think of them as quick notes that apps take to remember your actions.

System logs. They are a diary on your Mac. They are used to find out why something went wrong.

Temporary files. These files store all your activities using your Mac, such as unsaved documents. They are deleted once you power off your machine. Sometimes, they stick around.

App support files. They save your app settings and more.

Browsing history and cookies. They store your online actions, like the websites and web pages that you visited.

Part 2: Clear System Data on Mac Manually

As mentioned previously, system data refers to files like caches, junk files, system logs, browsing history, and more. In other words, you have to delete system data on Mac step by step.

Step 1. Clear Caches

Open your Finder app from the Dock bar.

Head to the Go menu on the top menu bar, and choose Go to Folder.

Input ~/Library/Caches into the box on the pop-up dialog, and hit the Return key on your keyboard or click the Go button.

Then you will see lots of folders with your app names. They store your app caches.

Enter a folder, press the Cmd + A keys on your keyboard to select all files, and drag and drop them on the Trash icon on the Dock bar. Then repeat the workflow to delete files in other folders.

Step 2. Delete Logs

If you intend to delete system log files, go back to the Finder app, enter the Go menu, and choose Go to Folder.

Type ~/Library/Logs into the field on the pop-up dialog and press the Return key to access the logs folder.

Here you will see a variety of log files. Keep pressing the Cmd key and select each outdated and unnecessary file and folder.

Right-click on one selected file, and choose Move to Trash to clear system data Mac storage.

Step 3. Remove App Data

To get rid of system data on Mac, run the Go to Folder dialog in your Finder app.

Input ~/Library/Application Support into the field, and hit the Return key to access the folder that is used to store your app data.

Browse the subfolders, which are named after your apps. If you find one from an app you no longer use or need, delete it.

Next, you can also access the ~/Library/Containers folder and delete the folders related to the useless apps.

Step 4. Delete Browsing History

Open your Safari app, go to the Safari menu, and choose Clear History and Website Data.

Or go to the History menu, and choose Clear History. Next, pull down the Clear option, and choose a duration. At last, click the Clear History button to confirm it. Note that it only clear history, but cannot clear cookies on Mac.

Step 5. Empty Trash

Finally, empty your Trash to reduce system data on Mac. Right-click on the Trash button on the Dock bar, and choose Empty Trash.

If prompted, select Empty Trash again to confirm the action.

Part 3: How to Clear System Data on Mac with One Click

Bear in mind that manually deleting system data on Mac is dangerous. If you delete anything important, your Mac or apps cannot work as usual. Therefore, you need a powerful data cleaner app for your Mac, such as Apeaksoft Mac Cleaner. It scans useless system data and enables you to remove it quickly.

How to Delete Mac System Data with One Click

Step 1. Check system status

Install the best Mac cleaner app on your machine and launch it. Click the Status button and you can check the status of your CPU, Memory, and Disk.

Step 2. Scan system data

Next, go to the Cleaner tab, and you will see all the cleaning tools. Choose System Junk, and click the Scan button to begin looking for system cache, app cache, system logs, user logs, and localization. When it is done, click the View button to move on.

Step 3. Delete Mac system data

On the detail window, check the boxes next to the system data types that you intend to delete, like System Cache, Application Cache, etc. Plus, you can select the unwanted folders on the right panel. If you intend to remove all files, check Select All. At last, click on the Clean button on this Mac cleaner. When prompted, confirm the action.

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