Messages Taking up Space on Mac

Why do Messages consume space on Mac?

Messages on macOS save more than just text files; they save every photo, video, audio, and external file that you have shared and received. Over time, these messages will take up storage on your Mac and overwhelm your Mac library with attachments and digital clutter. Even deleted iMessages can leave behind residual cache. What's more, your iCloud messages can automatically download backups of old conversations, demanding even more storage space. This buildup of files and cache is only going to slow down your MacBook activities right down. Therefore, we recommend you regularly delete any unnecessary messages to help keep your Mac running smoothly.

Advice to note before proceeding: 

 

It’s important to find out what exactly is taking up the most space on your Mac before you continue and follow our advice on how to free up disk space on Mac–in case you purge your device of files that are not the real culprit behind your slow service or lack of storage.

How to check how much space Messages are using on Mac?

Your computer’s slowness might result from excessive Message attachments and cache, all demanding too much space and resources. To check if this is the case, we suggest you head into Storage Settings to see how much space the Messages app is using.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Click on the Apple Icon and choose System Settings.
2. Go to General > Storage.
3. Check out the bar at the top of the screen and look for Messages.
4. From there, you’ll be able to see how much space Messages is using.

A hint from us: 

 

Not sure if your messages are responsible for taking up space on your Mac? Check out how to find what's taking up space on Mac and identify what’s really eating up all your storage.

What happens if you delete Messages from Mac?

If you’ve confirmed that the clutter is, in fact, Messages taking up storage on Mac, then you can go into your Messages app and look through all your conversations, deleting any that are unnecessary. However, manually deleting chats is neither time-efficient nor effective, as all your attachments and cache can still linger as residue files in your Mac library.

While manually deleting content can help reclaim some storage, it’s often not enough when iMessages, Mail, and iCloud conversations are taking up significant space. For a more efficient solution on how to clear Mail storage, we suggest using an automatic clean-up tool to remove digital junk and help keep your MacBook optimized.

A note from our experts: 

 

Utilizing a Mac cleanup tool can make decluttering your device much easier, as it saves you from manually digging through folders for unwanted junk. MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup developed by Clario Tech, in particular, can scan your laptop for unnecessary attachments or Mail clutter in seconds. It can then remove any hidden cache and utility logs that are often missed during manual cleanups. That way, even more space can be reclaimed.

 

Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup:

1. Download and open the MacKeeper app.
2. Click on Safe Cleanup.
3. Press Start Scan.
4. Look through the Logs, Cache, Trash, Languages, and Mail Attachments.
5. Tick everything you want to remove and press Clean Junk Files.

How to remove messages and declutter space on Mac

To remove messages taking up storage on Mac, we recommend the following:

• Manually delete messages or entire conversations directly in the Message app.
• Enter ~/Library/Messages/Attachments into Finder’s Go to Folder search, then manually look for files and press Move to Bin.
• Download a Mac cleanup tool, like MacKeeper, to help scan your system for unwanted or residual files that can then be quickly decluttered for you in seconds.

Can you prevent Messages from using too much space on Mac

Yes, you can limit how much space Messages uses on your Mac. Our advice is for you to consider making the following adjustments to your message settings:

• Turn off auto-download for attachments: This stops photos, videos, and files from automatically saving to your Mac.
• Disable message sync: If you want to stop iMessages from syncing across all your Apple devices, you can reduce local storage usage.
• Enable auto-deletion: Allowing the settings will let the app remove old messages and attachments for you after a set period, keeping your Mac clutter-free.

Extra helping hand: 

 

For more guidance on how to delete messages on a MacBook, check out our supporting blog article filled with tips from our Clario Tech experts to help you safely release much-needed space on your device.  

Free up space by managing Messages on Mac

Messages, photo attachments, and cached data can quickly accumulate on your Mac, taking up valuable storage and slowing down performance. While this might not always be easy to avoid, regularly checking your space can help – you’ll know when you could do with a declutter to keep your MacBook running efficiently. While you can manually delete your old Messages, we do recommend an automatic cleanup tool for efficiency.

MacKeeper macOS-targeted software allows you to benefit from our suite of Mac optimization and cybersecurity features without it affecting your operating system. Our Safe Cleanup tool can be used to scan and remove any leftover message attachments, Mail junk, and hidden cache in seconds. The automatic cleaner won’t affect your macOS; instead, its decluttering capabilities are likely to help optimize your device and integral software. You’ll have less clutter in your Mac library, but remain in full control over your personal content.