{
  "schema": "https://storagestudio.us/schema/wiki-page.v1",
  "title": "Free Up Space",
  "slug": "free-up-space",
  "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/free-up-space",
  "markdown_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/free-up-space.md",
  "category": "Freeing up space",
  "category_url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/freeing-up-space/",
  "tags": [
    "free up space",
    "caches",
    "external drive",
    "rules"
  ],
  "summary": "Free Up Space runs your rules in one pass. It moves the files your rules pick out to your external drive, leaving a shortcut behind, and clears app caches that apps rebuild by themselves.",
  "published_at": "2026-10-01T06:15:53.000Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-01T05:34:36.000Z",
  "headings": [
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Starting a run",
      "id": "starting-a-run"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "What it does, step by step",
      "id": "what-it-does-step-by-step"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "The result",
      "id": "the-result"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "text": "Changing what it does",
      "id": "changing-what-it-does"
    }
  ],
  "links_out": [
    {
      "slug": "glossary-shortcut",
      "label": "shortcut",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-shortcut"
    },
    {
      "slug": "glossary-cache",
      "label": "caches",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-cache"
    },
    {
      "slug": "smart-care",
      "label": "Smart Care",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/smart-care"
    },
    {
      "slug": "rules-and-automatic-moves",
      "label": "Rules: moving folders automatically",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/rules-and-automatic-moves"
    },
    {
      "slug": "the-trash",
      "label": "The Trash and the space it holds",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-trash"
    },
    {
      "slug": "app-caches",
      "label": "Clearing app caches safely",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/app-caches"
    },
    {
      "slug": "optimise-cloud-storage-locally",
      "label": "Optimise Cloud Storage Locally",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/optimise-cloud-storage-locally"
    },
    {
      "slug": "reviewing-a-clear-up",
      "label": "Reviewing, stopping and checking a clear-up",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/reviewing-a-clear-up"
    },
    {
      "slug": "auto-rules",
      "label": "Auto Rules",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/auto-rules"
    },
    {
      "slug": "moving-folders-safely",
      "label": "Moving folders safely",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/moving-folders-safely"
    },
    {
      "slug": "glossary-dry-run",
      "label": "Dry run",
      "exists": true,
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-dry-run"
    }
  ],
  "links_in": [
    {
      "slug": "auto-rules",
      "title": "Auto Rules",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/auto-rules"
    },
    {
      "slug": "glossary-cache",
      "title": "Cache",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-cache"
    },
    {
      "slug": "app-caches",
      "title": "Clearing app caches safely",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/app-caches"
    },
    {
      "slug": "developer-storage",
      "title": "Developer caches and build folders",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/developer-storage"
    },
    {
      "slug": "freeing-up-space-overview",
      "title": "Freeing up space: the options",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/freeing-up-space-overview"
    },
    {
      "slug": "rules-and-automatic-moves",
      "title": "Rules: moving folders automatically",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/rules-and-automatic-moves"
    },
    {
      "slug": "smart-care",
      "title": "Smart Care",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/smart-care"
    },
    {
      "slug": "compared-with-macos-storage-settings",
      "title": "Storage Studio and macOS Storage settings",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/compared-with-macos-storage-settings"
    },
    {
      "slug": "the-trash",
      "title": "The Trash and the space it holds",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-trash"
    }
  ],
  "diagrams": [
    {
      "kind": "flowchart",
      "caption": "The steps of a Free Up Space run",
      "outline": "- Free Up Space starts\n  - leads to Is your external drive connected?\n- Is your external drive connected?\n  - Yes: leads to Step 1: run your rules - move old and large files to the drive\n  - No: leads to Step 1 is skipped\n- Step 1: run your rules - move old and large files to the drive\n  - leads to Step 2: clear app caches\n- Step 1 is skipped\n  - leads to Step 2: clear app caches\n- Step 2: clear app caches\n  - leads to Is cloud optimisation turned on for a provider?\n- Is cloud optimisation turned on for a provider?\n  - Yes: leads to Step 3: make that provider's downloaded files online-only\n  - No: leads to Result banner\n- Step 3: make that provider's downloaded files online-only\n  - leads to Result banner\n",
      "source": "%% caption: The steps of a Free Up Space run\nflowchart TD\n  A[Free Up Space starts] --> B{Is your external drive connected?}\n  B -->|Yes| C[Step 1: run your rules - move old and large files to the drive]\n  B -->|No| D[Step 1 is skipped]\n  C --> E[Step 2: clear app caches]\n  D --> E\n  E --> F{Is cloud optimisation turned on for a provider?}\n  F -->|Yes| G[Step 3: make that provider's downloaded files online-only]\n  F -->|No| H[Result banner]\n  G --> H"
    }
  ],
  "images": [],
  "screenshots_pending": [
    {
      "alt": "The Free Up Space progress window in Demo Mode after a finished run, with the green \"Free Up Space complete\" header and the output log",
      "caption": "Free Up Space, finished"
    }
  ],
  "faqs": [
    {
      "question": "What's the best app to free up space on a Mac?",
      "answer": "If you want space back without losing files, the best approach is \"move, don't delete.\" Storage Studio relocates big apps and folders to an external drive (with a shortcut left in place so they still open), reclaims space macOS is holding in old snapshots, and keeps cloud files online-only — all…",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/faq"
    },
    {
      "question": "How do I free up space on my Mac?",
      "answer": "Empty the Trash, clear app caches, remove old downloads, and move large apps and folders you rarely use to an external drive. Storage Studio does all of this in one tap with Tuhi — it clears caches and rarely-used files, reclaims old local backups, and keeps cloud files online-only, previewed…",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/faq"
    },
    {
      "question": "How do I get more storage on my Mac without deleting my files?",
      "answer": "Pair your Mac with an external SSD and offload what you don't need on the startup disk. Storage Studio moves large apps, folders, and media to the external drive and leaves a shortcut in the original spot, so you reclaim space while keeping every file — nothing is deleted.",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/faq"
    },
    {
      "question": "Is it safe to clear the cache on a Mac?",
      "answer": "Yes — app caches rebuild automatically, so clearing them safely reclaims space; the only risk is deleting the wrong thing by hand. Storage Studio clears only known-safe caches and rarely-used files, shows a preview first, and never touches your personal files without asking.",
      "url": "https://storagestudio.us/faq"
    }
  ],
  "text": "Free Up Space runs your rules in one pass. First it moves the files your rules pick out to your external drive, leaving a shortcut in their place so everything still opens where it was. Then it clears app caches , the files apps rebuild by themselves. It's also the first step of every Smart Care run. Starting a run In the Advanced view, click Free Up Space Now in the popover. While a run is going, the same button reads Free Up Space — view live progress . In the Home view, tap Run Tuhi : its first step, Tidy large folders & clear caches , is Free Up Space. If automatic tidy-ups are on, your rules also run on their own once a day. See Rules: moving folders automatically . The progress window shows what is happening line by line. It keeps going if you close it: This run continues in the background if you close — open the popover and click the running pill to come back here. Cancel stops the run part-way. What it does, step by step The steps of a Free Up Space run Flowchart outline: The steps of a Free Up Space run Free Up Space starts leads to Is your external drive connected? Is your external drive connected? Yes: leads to Step 1: run your rules - move old and large files to the drive No: leads to Step 1 is skipped Step 1: run your rules - move old and large files to the drive leads to Step 2: clear app caches Step 1 is skipped leads to Step 2: clear app caches Step 2: clear app caches leads to Is cloud optimisation turned on for a provider? Is cloud optimisation turned on for a provider? Yes: leads to Step 3: make that provider's downloaded files online-only No: leads to Result banner Step 3: make that provider's downloaded files online-only leads to Result banner Step 1: your rules. The default rules move files from Downloads, Desktop and Documents once they're old enough, move very large files, and clear old crash reports, old Mail attachments, the preview thumbnail cache and items that have been in your Trash for more than 30 days. Before anything moves, Storage Studio checks: Nothing younger than the hard floor. By default, files changed within the last 7 days are never moved or deleted. Nothing you've opened recently. A file you still open is kept, even if it's old. Nothing in use. Files an app has open are skipped. Nothing in iCloud. Cloud placeholders, and Desktop and Documents when they're kept in iCloud Drive, are left alone. Moved files are copied and checked before the original is removed. If a rule deletes something, it goes to the Trash, so you can still get it back. The two exceptions are caches, which rebuild themselves, and items that were already in the Trash: clearing those is permanent. See The Trash and the space it holds . Step 2: app caches. Storage Studio clears only well-known cache subfolders inside each app's data, such as the web and graphics caches that apps rebuild on next launch. It finds those apps by what their folders contain, so a newly installed app is covered too. It never removes an app's settings, sign-ins or history. See Clearing app caches safely . Step 3: cloud storage (optional). This step only runs for cloud providers you've turned on under Optimise cloud storage locally . It's off for every provider until you choose. See Optimise Cloud Storage Locally . The result When the run finishes, a banner sums it up: how much was freed, how many files were moved and how many caches were cleaned, or Already optimized — nothing to clean up if there was nothing to do. If your Mac could use more help, a Want more space? box can follow with a next step: Open Apps window when your Applications folder is large, Open Data Parking or Open iCloud settings when Documents is large, and Manage snapshots when local snapshots are building up. Changing what it does Open Settings → Rules . There you can: change the age on each rule under Default & Manual Rules ; see what's included under Free Up Space includes ; turn on Never delete personal files — only move them , which skips every Delete rule (cache cleaning still runs); raise the minimum ages, or change the Hard floor (lowering it below 7 days asks you to confirm first). Common questions What's the best app to free up space on a Mac? If you want space back without losing files, the best approach is \"move, don't delete.\" Storage Studio relocates big apps and folders to an external drive (with a shortcut left in place so they still open), reclaims space macOS is holding in old snapshots, and keeps cloud files online-only — all… How do I free up space on my Mac? Empty the Trash, clear app caches, remove old downloads, and move large apps and folders you rarely use to an external drive. Storage Studio does all of this in one tap with Tuhi — it clears caches and rarely-used files, reclaims old local backups, and keeps cloud files online-only, previewed… How do I get more storage on my Mac without deleting my files? Pair your Mac with an external SSD and offload what you don't need on the startup disk. Storage Studio moves large apps, folders, and media to the external drive and leaves a shortcut in the original spot, so you reclaim space while keeping every file — nothing is deleted. Is it safe to clear the cache on a Mac? Yes — app caches rebuild automatically, so clearing them safely reclaims space; the only risk is deleting the wrong thing by hand. Storage Studio clears only known-safe caches and rarely-used files, shows a preview first, and never touches your personal files without asking. See also: Reviewing, stopping and checking a clear-up · Auto Rules · The Trash and the space it holds · Moving folders safely · Dry run",
  "markdown": "**Free Up Space** runs your rules in one pass. First it moves the files your rules pick out to your external drive, leaving a [shortcut](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-shortcut) in their place so everything still opens where it was. Then it clears app [caches](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-cache), the files apps rebuild by themselves. It's also the first step of every [Smart Care](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/smart-care) run.\n\n## Starting a run\n\n- In the Advanced view, click **Free Up Space Now** in the popover. While a run is going, the same button reads **Free Up Space — view live progress**.\n- In the Home view, tap **Run Tuhi**: its first step, **Tidy large folders & clear caches**, is Free Up Space.\n- If automatic tidy-ups are on, your rules also run on their own once a day. See [Rules: moving folders automatically](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/rules-and-automatic-moves).\n\nThe progress window shows what is happening line by line. It keeps going if you close it: *This run continues in the background if you close — open the popover and click the running pill to come back here.* **Cancel** stops the run part-way.\n\n## What it does, step by step\n\n```mermaid\n%% caption: The steps of a Free Up Space run\nflowchart TD\n  A[Free Up Space starts] --> B{Is your external drive connected?}\n  B -->|Yes| C[Step 1: run your rules - move old and large files to the drive]\n  B -->|No| D[Step 1 is skipped]\n  C --> E[Step 2: clear app caches]\n  D --> E\n  E --> F{Is cloud optimisation turned on for a provider?}\n  F -->|Yes| G[Step 3: make that provider's downloaded files online-only]\n  F -->|No| H[Result banner]\n  G --> H\n```\n\n*Flowchart — The steps of a Free Up Space run. Outline:*\n\n- Free Up Space starts\n  - leads to Is your external drive connected?\n- Is your external drive connected?\n  - Yes: leads to Step 1: run your rules - move old and large files to the drive\n  - No: leads to Step 1 is skipped\n- Step 1: run your rules - move old and large files to the drive\n  - leads to Step 2: clear app caches\n- Step 1 is skipped\n  - leads to Step 2: clear app caches\n- Step 2: clear app caches\n  - leads to Is cloud optimisation turned on for a provider?\n- Is cloud optimisation turned on for a provider?\n  - Yes: leads to Step 3: make that provider's downloaded files online-only\n  - No: leads to Result banner\n- Step 3: make that provider's downloaded files online-only\n  - leads to Result banner\n\n**Step 1: your rules.** The default rules move files from Downloads, Desktop and Documents once they're old enough, move very large files, and clear old crash reports, old Mail attachments, the preview thumbnail cache and items that have been in your Trash for more than 30 days. Before anything moves, Storage Studio checks:\n\n- **Nothing younger than the hard floor.** By default, files changed within the last 7 days are never moved or deleted.\n- **Nothing you've opened recently.** A file you still open is kept, even if it's old.\n- **Nothing in use.** Files an app has open are skipped.\n- **Nothing in iCloud.** Cloud placeholders, and Desktop and Documents when they're kept in iCloud Drive, are left alone.\n\nMoved files are copied and checked before the original is removed. If a rule deletes something, it goes to the Trash, so you can still get it back. The two exceptions are caches, which rebuild themselves, and items that were already in the Trash: clearing those is permanent. See [The Trash and the space it holds](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-trash).\n\n**Step 2: app caches.** Storage Studio clears only well-known cache subfolders inside each app's data, such as the web and graphics caches that apps rebuild on next launch. It finds those apps by what their folders contain, so a newly installed app is covered too. It never removes an app's settings, sign-ins or history. See [Clearing app caches safely](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/app-caches).\n\n**Step 3: cloud storage (optional).** This step only runs for cloud providers you've turned on under **Optimise cloud storage locally**. It's off for every provider until you choose. See [Optimise Cloud Storage Locally](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/optimise-cloud-storage-locally).\n\n## The result\n\nWhen the run finishes, a banner sums it up: how much was freed, how many files were moved and how many caches were cleaned, or **Already optimized — nothing to clean up** if there was nothing to do. If your Mac could use more help, a **Want more space?** box can follow with a next step: **Open Apps window** when your Applications folder is large, **Open Data Parking** or **Open iCloud settings** when Documents is large, and **Manage snapshots** when local snapshots are building up.\n\n## Changing what it does\n\nOpen **Settings** → **Rules**. There you can:\n\n- change the age on each rule under **Default & Manual Rules**;\n- see what's included under **Free Up Space includes**;\n- turn on **Never delete personal files — only move them**, which skips every Delete rule (cache cleaning still runs);\n- raise the minimum ages, or change the **Hard floor** (lowering it below 7 days asks you to confirm first).\n\n- **What's the best app to free up space on a Mac?** If you want space back without losing files, the best approach is \"move, don't delete.\" Storage Studio relocates big apps and folders to an external drive (with a shortcut left in place so they still open), reclaims space macOS is holding in old snapshots, and keeps cloud files online-only — all… (https://storagestudio.us/faq)\n- **How do I free up space on my Mac?** Empty the Trash, clear app caches, remove old downloads, and move large apps and folders you rarely use to an external drive. Storage Studio does all of this in one tap with Tuhi — it clears caches and rarely-used files, reclaims old local backups, and keeps cloud files online-only, previewed… (https://storagestudio.us/faq)\n- **How do I get more storage on my Mac without deleting my files?** Pair your Mac with an external SSD and offload what you don't need on the startup disk. Storage Studio moves large apps, folders, and media to the external drive and leaves a shortcut in the original spot, so you reclaim space while keeping every file — nothing is deleted. (https://storagestudio.us/faq)\n- **Is it safe to clear the cache on a Mac?** Yes — app caches rebuild automatically, so clearing them safely reclaims space; the only risk is deleting the wrong thing by hand. Storage Studio clears only known-safe caches and rarely-used files, shows a preview first, and never touches your personal files without asking. (https://storagestudio.us/faq)\n\nSee also: [Reviewing, stopping and checking a clear-up](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/reviewing-a-clear-up) · [Auto Rules](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/auto-rules) · [The Trash and the space it holds](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/the-trash) · [Moving folders safely](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/moving-folders-safely) · [Dry run](https://storagestudio.us/wiki/glossary-dry-run)\n"
}