Glossary

Purgeable space

Purgeable space is room macOS is using for things it can clear by itself when it needs the space, such as local snapshots. It counts as available, but isn't empty yet.

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Purgeable space is room on your disk that macOS is using for things it can clear by itself whenever it needs the space — mainly local snapshots and some caches. It's a macOS term, not a Storage Studio one.

Finder counts purgeable space as available, and so does Storage Studio's free-space figure, so the two agree. But purgeable space isn't empty yet: macOS frees it on its own schedule, or when something asks for the room.

This is why free space sometimes doesn't go up straight after you move or delete something. If a local snapshot was taken before the move, it still holds the old copy, and that space stays purgeable until the snapshot goes. The Local Snapshots window shows how much snapshots are holding and can release it for you.

See also: Why deleting files doesn't always give the space back · I moved files but my free space didn't go up · Local snapshots

glossaryfree up spacelocal snapshots

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.
How do I reclaim space from local Time Machine snapshots on a Mac?
macOS keeps point-in-time APFS local snapshots so Time Machine can restore even when your backup drive is away — useful, but they can hold a lot of space. Storage Studio lists every snapshot, shows which are already safely backed up, and reclaims the space you choose in one click.

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