{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-check-space-on-an-external-drive","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-check-space-on-an-external-drive","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"external-storage","title":"External storage and adding space"},"question":"How do I see how much space is left on my external drive?","alt_questions":["external drive free space mac","check usb drive capacity","how full is my external ssd","get info external drive"],"short_answer":"Select the drive in Finder and press Command-I, or open it with Finder's status bar shown. Trashed files keep using its space until you empty the Trash with it connected.","answer_markdown":"Select the drive in Finder's sidebar and press **Command-I** to see its capacity, used and available space, or turn on **View → Show Status Bar** and open the drive. Disk Utility shows the same when you select it.\n\nRemember that files you trash from the drive keep using its space until you empty the Trash with the drive connected.","answer_html":"

Select the drive in Finder's sidebar and press Command-I to see its capacity, used and available space, or turn on View → Show Status Bar and open the drive. Disk Utility shows the same when you select it.

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Remember that files you trash from the drive keep using its space until you empty the Trash with the drive connected.

","answer_text":"Select the drive in Finder's sidebar and press Command-I to see its capacity, used and available space, or turn on View → Show Status Bar and open the drive. Disk Utility shows the same when you select it.\n\nRemember that files you trash from the drive keep using its space until you empty the Trash with the drive connected.","tags":["external drive","free space","finder"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.does-the-trash-take-up-space","question":"Do files in the Trash still take up space?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/does-the-trash-take-up-space"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-check-how-much-storage-my-mac-has-left","question":"How do I check how much storage my Mac has left?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-check-how-much-storage-my-mac-has-left"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I see how much space is left on my external drive? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Select the drive in Finder and press Command-I, or open it with Finder's status bar shown. Trashed files keep using its space until you empty the Trash with it connected.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"How do I see how much space is left on my external drive?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-check-space-on-an-external-drive"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-check-space-on-an-external-drive","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I see how much space is left on my external drive?","alternateName":["external drive free space mac","check usb drive capacity","how full is my external ssd","get info external drive"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Select the drive in Finder's sidebar and press Command-I to see its capacity, used and available space, or turn on View → Show Status Bar and open the drive. Disk Utility shows the same when you select it.\n\nRemember that files you trash from the drive keep using its space until you empty the Trash with the drive connected.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-check-space-on-an-external-drive"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · External storage and adding space

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How do I see how much space is left on my external drive?

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Short answer: Select the drive in Finder and press Command-I, or open it with Finder's status bar shown. Trashed files keep using its space until you empty the Trash with it connected.

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Select the drive in Finder's sidebar and press Command-I to see its capacity, used and available space, or turn on View → Show Status Bar and open the drive. Disk Utility shows the same when you select it.

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Remember that files you trash from the drive keep using its space until you empty the Trash with the drive connected.

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