Mac Tutorials

How to Get More Storage on Mac

We’ve all suffered that frustration when you’ve tried to update your software or download a new app, only to receive a message saying that your Mac startup disk is full. Fortunately, increasing the storage on your device isn’t too tricky. On top of that, you’ve got several different options you can try out to achieve this.  

 

We’ll show you how to get more disk space on your Mac below. You’ll discover the most straightforward choices first before moving on to how you can expand your storage in other ways.  

 

Before we start

 

Knowing what’s taking up the most space is an excellent place to start when looking to get more storage on your Mac. Often, the files that consume most of our computer memory are ones we didn’t realize were on our devices — or apps we forgot about.  

 

Download MacKeeper to check your Mac’s storage and remove unnecessary files and applications in a couple of clicks. The app will also ensure you don’t accidentally delete folders or processes that are crucial to your computer’s performance.

1. Upgrade Mac storage with SSD

SSD stands for solid-state drive. MacBooks have SSDs built into them, as do post-2019 iMacs; older iMacs and the MacBook Pro use either a hard disk drive (HDD) or fusion drive. If your device uses an SSD, you could potentially get this upgraded; you can check your individual model to see whether this is possible.  

 

Here’s how to check which Mac model you have:  

  1. Click on the Apple logo in the top left and go to About This Mac
  2. In the next window, you’ll see the model you use at the top.
About this Mac option selected in the Apple drop-down menu as the initial step to check the information about your device model before the further storage upgrade
Step 1. Apple icon > About This Mac
The Overview home page section opened showing the actual information about your Apple computer in terms of its version as well as its memory capabilities
Step 2. See the details

If you choose to upgrade your Mac storage via the SSD, it’s a good idea to get a professional to do this for you. Apple actively discourages this; if you damage your computer, you could void your warranty.  

2. Use external storage to add memory to your Mac

You don’t necessarily need to change your SSD to add more storage to your Mac; using external storage is a simpler alternative. When adding external memory for your Mac, you’ll need to check and see which USB port type you have. Apple has a complete list of which Macs use which ports.  

 

Consider getting an external hard drive with around one terabyte (TB) of memory. Other factors you’ll need to consider when buying a drive include:  

  • Compatibility with Apple computers
  • A read speed of around 120Mbps
  • A write speed of around 128Mbps.

On our turn, to ease up your hard choice of the reliable option for your Mac, we’ve collected the best external SSD options with thorough descriptions. Once you’ve purchased one of them, all you need to do is plug the device in and install the driver’s necessary software. After that, you’ll have plenty of external flash storage for your Mac.  

3. Buy more storage via iCloud

Buying more storage for your Mac via iCloud is often more convenient and cost-effective than getting an external drive.  

 

Here’s how to buy more storage on your Mac via iCloud:  

  1. Click on the Apple logo and go to System Preferences > Apple ID  
  2. At the bottom of the page, click on Manage
  3. In the next window, hit Buy More Storage
  4. Choose the amount of additional storage you wish to purchase and hit Next
  5. Enter your Apple ID username and password and select Buy.
The Apple ID icon was selected and highlighted in the System Preferences of your Mac device as the initial stage to buy more storage
Step 1. Apple icon > System Preferences > Apple ID
In the Apple ID preferences window, the iCloud app is found and clicked to show the Manage option in order to optimize your Mac storage
Step 2. Manage
In an iCloud Storage window, first, check the current size of storage in the upper left corner, and then, if you’re longing for more, click on Buy More Storage in the upper right corner
Step 3. Buy More Storage
In the next iCloud Storage window, you’ll the available list of options you can purchase per month. Choose the suitable plan and click on Next
Step 4. Next
The Complete Your Purchase screen shows the confirmation of the selected plan and requires the final click on the Buy button on the user’s part
Step 5. Type your Apple ID details > Buy

Once you’ve purchased extra iCloud storage, you can use it straight away.  

4. Clean up your Mac to get more disk space

If you want to know how to make space on your Mac faster, the easiest solution is to clean up your Mac using appropriate software. MacKeeper’s cleaning tools allow you to do this in just a few steps.

  1. Download and install MacKeeper
  2. In the MacKeeper app, choose Safe Cleanup on the sidebar
  3. Click on the Start Scan button
  4. Tick and untick the boxes for what files you want to delete, before selecting Clean Junk Files.
The Safe Cleanup tool selected, highlighted with a red box, shows the part of MacKeeper’s functionality to help you get more disk space
Step 1. Safe Cleanup
To start the process of cleaning your Mac with MacKeeper, in an opened Safe Cleanup window, click on the Start Scan button
Step 2. Start Scan
MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup in action— see the result of scanning your Apple device, select the categories to be deleted, and confirm to Clean Junk Files
Step 3. Clean Junk Files

Another feature is the Duplicates Finder, which will help you free up space when you’ve got more than one version of the same file.

Your cleaning process doesn’t stop on that. Go for more with MacKeeper’s Duplicates Finder to delete unnecessary copies of your files

Alternatively, you can use MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller — which will find irrelevant apps, browser extensions, and more.  

To finish the professional cleaning of your Mac and get more space, go to MacKeeper's Smart Uninstaller feature and delete the apps you don’t need

Wrapping up

Having read our article, you should have a clear idea of getting MacBook extra storage — likewise for any other Mac that you might own. Once you’ve freed up space on your computer, our experts encourage you to check this regularly — which you can do with MacKeeper’s cleaning tools. That way, you don’t run into the same issues again.  

 

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