Freeing up space · Free Up Space wizard and button
Why did a clean-up free less space than Storage Studio predicted?
Short answer: The result is measured, not predicted. Gaps usually come from your Mac holding freed space in local backups for a while, an item skipped or only partly moved, or new files written during the run.
Because the result is measured on your disk, not taken from the plan — and Storage Studio tells you when the two differ rather than claiming success either way.
The common reasons:
- Your Mac may keep some of the freed space in its own local backups for a while; it usually comes back within about a day, or you can release it in Local Snapshots.
- An item was stopped, skipped because an app was using it, or only partly moved.
- New files were written elsewhere during the run.
If an item only partly moved, its row offers Put the link back to finish it — see repairing a half-finished move.