---
id: mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-check-space-on-an-external-drive
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-check-space-on-an-external-drive
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "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."
tags: ["external drive", "free space", "finder"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/does-the-trash-take-up-space", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-check-how-much-storage-my-mac-has-left"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

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

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.

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