How to Clean Up Startup Disk and Why It Is Important. Storage capacity on MacBooks is probably the most underwhelming part of the machine, especially in base models. Owning a 128GB drive computer should really come with a space management 101 as, to be honest, it fills up much quicker than you would expect.
To clean up your full startup disk is the issue that cracks many Mac users nowadays. There are two possible ways, in which you can easily remove this problem and learn how to avoid such situations in the future. For experienced users, it may not be a problem. However, other people can spend hours to find a perfect solution. You can clean your disk manually, or you can download and install any trusted cleaning software. Among many applications that were made and designed for such purposes, we would like to recommend MacFly Pro. This app is capable enough to fix many issues of your MacBook and help you learn what to do when mac says startup disk is full.
How to Clean Up Startup Disk and Why Your System Needs It
Owning a MacBook can be a tough decision, and you have to be prepared for some inconvenient moments. For example, a 128GB model is always a reason of many headaches. Apple has decided to make an inclusion for its Mac OS when it requires disk space for normal system’s performance. However, sometimes it is hard to calculate the disk space, and as a result, your Mac startup disk is full. That is why you need to learn some simple rules and instructions.
How to Delete Files from Startup Disk on Mac and Increase Memory’s Performance
If you are looking how to fix this issue traditionally, without installing a special utility, the first thing you need to do is emptying the Trash bin. If you regularly keep your Trash bin empty, then it is not a problem for you.
Removing files from the system does not mean you’ve deleted them completely. In some cases, your Trash Bin can contain megabytes or gigabytes of your old files.
Open your Trash Bin and delete all files you have there. Control-click the Trash icon on your dock and select Empty Trash.
Clear ‘Downloads’ Folder
If you used to download media files, such as movies, music or other content, you could see that ‘Downloads’ folder is the main reason why harddisk is full on Mac. Open your ‘Downloads’ and follow these steps:
- Sort all files by Date (select Last Opened, Added, Modified or Created) and start the cleaning.
- You can also choose other options, for example, sort them by sizes (if you need to clear your Chrome cache).
- It is possible to delete all files that you have from your contacts (photos, videos or documents).
Try to delete all files, since you need to make your disk space free. If you want to check how Mac drive is full, you can use the built-in utility. Go to Apple Menu > About This Mac > Storage.
The Bottom Line
It is very important to keep an eye on your system’s disk space to prevent many problems. If you are an experienced user, you can easily delete some files and free up some space by using a manual method. To achieve better results, you can install MacFly Pro or any other third-party fix the problem in a few minutes.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Reinstall from macOS Recovery
macOS Recovery makes it easy to reinstall the Mac operating system, even if you need to erase your startup disk first. All you need is a connection to the Internet. If a wireless network is available, you can choose it from the Wi-Fi menu in the menu bar. This menu is also available in macOS Recovery.
1. Start up from macOS Recovery
To start up from macOS Recovery, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold one of the following combinations on your keyboard. Command-R is generally recommended, especially if your Mac was never upgraded to macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later.
Command (⌘)-R
Reinstall the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac (recommended).
Option-⌘-R
Upgrade to the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.
Shift-Option-⌘-R
Reinstall the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
Release the keys when you see an Apple logo, spinning globe, or other startup screen.
You might be prompted to enter the login password of an administrator of this Mac, or your Apple ID password, or a firmware password. If so, enter the requested password to continue.
When you see the utilities window, you have started up from macOS Recovery.
2. Decide whether to erase (format) your disk
You probably don't need to erase, unless you're selling, trading in, or giving away your Mac, or you have an issue that requires you to erase. If you need to erase your disk before installing macOS, select Disk Utility from the Utilities window, then click Continue. Learn more about when and how to erase.
3. Install macOS
After starting up from macOS Recovery, choose Reinstall macOS (or Reinstall OS X) from the Utilities window. Then click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions to choose your disk and begin installation.
If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac. If the installer doesn't see your disk, or it says that it can't install on your computer or volume, you might need to erase your disk.
Please allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. During installation, your Mac might restart and show a progress bar several times, and the screen might be empty for minutes at a time.
If your Mac restarts to a setup assistant, but you're selling it, trading it in, or giving it away, press Command-Q to quit the assistant without completing setup. Then click Shut Down. When the new owner starts up the Mac, they can use their own information to complete setup.
If you never upgraded to macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later
If macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later was never installed on your Mac, macOS Recovery works differently:
- Command-R is still the recommended way to start up from macOS Recovery. This combination makes sure that the installation isn't associated with your Apple ID, which is important if you're selling or giving away your Mac.
- Option-Command-R installs the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
- Shift-Option-Command-R isn't available.