Mac storage basics · Purgeable space and local snapshots

How do I make macOS free purgeable space right now?

Short answer: Release local snapshots (tmutil or a snapshot tool), make iCloud files online-only with Remove Download, and restart. macOS otherwise frees it only when an app asks.

macOS releases purgeable space when an app asks for room, but you can nudge it:

  1. Release local snapshots — in Terminal, tmutil listlocalsnapshots / lists them and tmutil deletelocalsnapshots followed by a snapshot's date removes one; or use a tool that does it for you.
  2. Make iCloud files online-only — right-click a file or folder in iCloud Drive and choose Remove Download.
  3. Restart to clear temporary files and swap.

If you're preparing for a macOS update, freeing more than the installer asks for avoids a second attempt.

Storage Studio's Local Snapshots window can release exactly the amount you need, and skips snapshots macOS requires. See the Local Snapshots manager.

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