{"id":"freeing-space.what-places-does-whats-using-space-check","url":"/faq/freeing-space/what-places-does-whats-using-space-check","category":{"id":"freeing-space","title":"Freeing up space"},"subcategory":{"id":"whats-using-space","title":"What's Using Space (Storage Inspector)"},"question":"Which places does What's Using Space check for big space users?","alt_questions":["What does Storage Studio scan?","Does it check Downloads and Desktop?","What locations eat space on a Mac?","Storage Studio curated list","Which apps' data does it look at?"],"short_answer":"A curated list: device backups, Xcode and Docker data, developer caches, chat and editor app data, your Downloads, Desktop, Documents and Trash, system leftovers, and big libraries like Photos and Mail.","answer_markdown":"Alongside your biggest folders, it checks a curated list of places that typically eat space on a Mac:\n\n- iOS device backups, Xcode simulators, archives and device support, Docker data and developer package caches\n- chat and editor app data (for example Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Slack, Discord, Teams, Spotify, Zoom, WhatsApp and Figma)\n- your Downloads, Desktop, Documents and Trash\n- system leftovers such as crash reports, Quick Look thumbnails and Mail downloads\n- large libraries shown for information, like Applications, Photos and Mail\n\nEach row has a friendly label, so you see \"iOS device backups\" rather than a folder path. See [what ACTIONABLE means](/faq/freeing-space/what-does-actionable-mean).","answer_html":"

Alongside your biggest folders, it checks a curated list of places that typically eat space on a Mac:

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Each row has a friendly label, so you see "iOS device backups" rather than a folder path. See what ACTIONABLE means.

","answer_text":"Alongside your biggest folders, it checks a curated list of places that typically eat space on a Mac:\n\n- iOS device backups, Xcode simulators, archives and device support, Docker data and developer package caches\n- chat and editor app data (for example Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Slack, Discord, Teams, Spotify, Zoom, WhatsApp and Figma)\n- your Downloads, Desktop, Documents and Trash\n- system leftovers such as crash reports, Quick Look thumbnails and Mail downloads\n- large libraries shown for information, like Applications, Photos and Mail\n\nEach row has a friendly label, so you see \"iOS device backups\" rather than a folder path. See what ACTIONABLE means.","tags":["whats using space","scan","locations"],"related":[{"id":"freeing-space.what-does-actionable-mean","question":"What does the ACTIONABLE badge mean in What's Using Space?","url":"/faq/freeing-space/what-does-actionable-mean"},{"id":"freeing-space.what-are-known-quick-wins","question":"What is the Known quick wins section in What's Using Space?","url":"/faq/freeing-space/what-are-known-quick-wins"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Which places does What's Using Space check for big space users? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"A curated list: device backups, Xcode and Docker data, developer caches, chat and editor app data, your Downloads, Desktop, Documents and Trash, system leftovers, and big libraries like Photos and Mail.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Freeing up space","path":"/faq/freeing-space/"},{"name":"Which places does What's Using Space check for big space users?","path":"/faq/freeing-space/what-places-does-whats-using-space-check"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/what-places-does-whats-using-space-check","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Which places does What's Using Space check for big space users?","alternateName":["What does Storage Studio scan?","Does it check Downloads and Desktop?","What locations eat space on a Mac?","Storage Studio curated list","Which apps' data does it look at?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Alongside your biggest folders, it checks a curated list of places that typically eat space on a Mac:\n\n- iOS device backups, Xcode simulators, archives and device support, Docker data and developer package caches\n- chat and editor app data (for example Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Slack, Discord, Teams, Spotify, Zoom, WhatsApp and Figma)\n- your Downloads, Desktop, Documents and Trash\n- system leftovers such as crash reports, Quick Look thumbnails and Mail downloads\n- large libraries shown for information, like Applications, Photos and Mail\n\nEach row has a friendly label, so you see \"iOS device backups\" rather than a folder path. See what ACTIONABLE means.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/what-places-does-whats-using-space-check"}}]},"fragment":"
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Freeing up space · What's Using Space (Storage Inspector)

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Which places does What's Using Space check for big space users?

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Short answer: A curated list: device backups, Xcode and Docker data, developer caches, chat and editor app data, your Downloads, Desktop, Documents and Trash, system leftovers, and big libraries like Photos and Mail.

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Alongside your biggest folders, it checks a curated list of places that typically eat space on a Mac:

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  • iOS device backups, Xcode simulators, archives and device support, Docker data and developer package caches
  • chat and editor app data (for example Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Slack, Discord, Teams, Spotify, Zoom, WhatsApp and Figma)
  • your Downloads, Desktop, Documents and Trash
  • system leftovers such as crash reports, Quick Look thumbnails and Mail downloads
  • large libraries shown for information, like Applications, Photos and Mail
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Each row has a friendly label, so you see "iOS device backups" rather than a folder path. See what ACTIONABLE means.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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Also available as Markdown and JSON.

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