---
id: mac-storage-basics.why-do-finder-folder-sizes-look-wrong
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-do-finder-folder-sizes-look-wrong
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "Checking your storage"
question: "Why do folder sizes in Finder look wrong or never update?"
alt_questions:
  - "finder folder size not updating"
  - "finder size incorrect mac"
  - "folder size zero finder"
  - "calculate all sizes slow"
short_answer: "Finder calculates and caches folder sizes in the background, so they lag after changes, and unreadable or online-only items skew them. Use Command-I to recalculate."
tags: ["finder", "folder size"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-see-folder-sizes-in-finder", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-does-get-info-show-size-and-on-disk"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Why do folder sizes in Finder look wrong or never update?

Finder calculates folder sizes in the background and caches them, so numbers can lag after big changes, and folders you can't read show partial sizes. Online-only cloud files count at their full size in some views even though they use almost no space.

Close and reopen the window, or select the folder and press Command-I to force a fresh calculation. For a measured, drill-down view, use a storage tool such as Storage Studio's What's Using Space.