I wanted to update my OS but my Macbook showed an error that I didn't have enough storage. 100+GB of my disc was getting used by files and folders I wasn't even aware. Here's how I solved this :
First things first. If your photos storage keeps buffering - you need do these things:
That will stop the buffering and tell you exactly how much storage your photos app is using.
Doing that will also tell you how much storage your systems data is using up. You probably are surprised looking at how it could eat up 100's of GBs - probably TB's if you have been using you mac long enough.
If you have google drive app installed on your mac - check for ~/Library/Logs/Google/DriveFS. You may want to clean that up.
You can also lookup a folder called biome. Can i delete biome folder on mac? - Yes. you can clean up the things you don't need or large files in it.
Here's how you can look for more problematic large folder storage:
To examine storage used within your user Library:
In my case group.net.whatsapp.WhatsApp.shared" folder was 100+ GB LARGE.
I just deleted it and it solved the whole thing for me.
It took me hours to find this solution so if it worked for you - take 5 minutes to register on this site and reply with a like / thanks.
First things first. If your photos storage keeps buffering - you need do these things:
That will stop the buffering and tell you exactly how much storage your photos app is using.
Doing that will also tell you how much storage your systems data is using up. You probably are surprised looking at how it could eat up 100's of GBs - probably TB's if you have been using you mac long enough.
If you have google drive app installed on your mac - check for ~/Library/Logs/Google/DriveFS. You may want to clean that up.
You can also lookup a folder called biome. Can i delete biome folder on mac? - Yes. you can clean up the things you don't need or large files in it.
Here's how you can look for more problematic large folder storage:
Check Library Folder Storage Usage
To examine storage used within your user Library:- In Finder, click Go in the menu bar.
- Hold the Option key, then select Library from the dropdown.
- Switch to List View.
- Go to View > Show View Options, then check “Calculate all sizes”.
- Sort the list by size to identify large folders.
- You can also select all files/folders > right-click > Get Info to see total usage.
Troubleshooting High “System Data” or “Other” Storage on macOS
If you’re seeing unusually high storage usage under System Data or Other, here are some steps you can take to investigate and resolve the issue:
Booting into Safe Mode clears system caches and may resolve incorrect storage reporting:
Start with Safe Mode
- Shut down your Mac, then power it on while holding the Shift key.
- Release Shift once you see the login screen.
- Log in and allow your Mac a few minutes in Safe Mode before restarting normally.
To review all storage usage across your drive:
Analyze Entire Hard Drive
Let Finder finish calculating sizes—it may take a few minutes.
- Open a Finder window.
- Under Locations in the sidebar, select your hard drive.
(If it’s not visible: Finder > Preferences > Sidebar > check your drive name.)- Switch to List View.
- Go to View > Show View Options, then check “Calculate all sizes”.
- Sort by size to find large files/folders.
Common Culprits
- Containers folder: Large app container files may be stored here.
- Epic Games leftovers: If you deleted Epic Games, check the Shared Folder for remnants.
- Caches & Logs: Safe to clear in many cases, but double-check before deleting manually.
🗑 Final Steps
- After deleting files/folders/apps, empty your Trash.
- If unsure about what’s safe to delete, or if System Data still looks inflated, contact Apple Support.
In my case group.net.whatsapp.WhatsApp.shared" folder was 100+ GB LARGE.
I just deleted it and it solved the whole thing for me.
It took me hours to find this solution so if it worked for you - take 5 minutes to register on this site and reply with a like / thanks.