You have too many large Time Machine backup snapshots.

Some apps you’ve deleted in the past might still have leftover files hanging.

You’re not properly ejecting disk image installers.

There are too many temporary cache files on your Mac, which are usually generated by third-party apps.

But if you see it growing into dozens of gigabytes, it can mean one of a few things: Most of the time, system data doesn’t take over too much space. In macOS Ventura, there’s no Other tab, but macOS and system data are now more clearly defined.

Take note of the Other (which included system data).

In earlier macOS versions, the naming was a bit different, so you had to: In macOS Ventura, you can check system data Mac has by:

Over the years, with new versions of macOS being released, the way to check system storage Mac occupies has evolved.

Extensions and plugins for various apps.

Cache files holding data related to certain apps, system processes, or browser activities.

Leftovers from various applications that you’ve deleted in the past.

System data is an umbrella term for all the files that are not part of any apps or utilities on your Mac, but also not directly attributed to the macOS either. What is that Mac system storage? And how can you clear system storage Macs keep accumulating? What is system data in storage? Looking at what actually takes up storage on your Mac, you might be surprised that system data can occupy dozens of gigabytes. This means that the best way to maximize available storage is to optimize.

It’s not possible to upgrade storage on MacBooks after you buy them anymore, and models with larger storage capacity are much pricier. As all basic Mac models come with 256 GB of storage, it might not be enough for those who work with media files, such as image, audio, and video. The only stumbling block for most people is storage. When you buy a new Mac, even in the default configuration, it’s ready to go and tackle any tasks you throw at it right out of the box, especially if you get an Apple Silicon model.

Make your Mac fast and secure with CleanMyMac X.

How to clean up macbook storage