Don’t worry — this is a common issue and usually easy to fix!
“Your Startup Disk Is Almost Full”
What This Means (In Plain English)
Your Mac's main storage drive is running out of space. You need to delete some files to keep your Mac running smoothly.
Common Causes
- •Years of accumulated photos, videos, and documents
- •Old apps and downloads
- •Large email attachments stored locally
- •Time Machine local snapshots
How to Fix It — Step by Step
- 1
Click the Apple menu > About This Mac > More Info > Storage Settings.
- 2
Click "Manage" to see recommendations for freeing space.
- 3
Enable "Store in iCloud" to move old files to the cloud automatically.
- 4
Enable "Empty Trash Automatically" to delete trashed files after 30 days.
- 5
Review large files and delete ones you no longer need.
- 6
Move photos and videos to an external drive or iCloud Photos.
- 7
Delete old applications you no longer use: open Finder > Applications, right-click unwanted apps > Move to Trash.
How to Prevent This in the Future
Use iCloud storage to keep files in the cloud. Regularly empty the Trash. Move large files to an external drive.
Related Errors You Might See
Storage Almost Full
Your iPhone is running out of space to save photos, apps, and messages. Think of it like a filing cabinet that is nearly stuffed — you need to clear some room.
Not Enough Disk Space
Your computer is running out of room to save files and programs. You need to delete some things you no longer need.
Still stuck? Don’t worry!
If the steps above did not solve the problem, ask a trusted friend or family member for help, or contact us and we will do our best to assist you.