My SSD is full of something I do not not of

[manyelski]

Hi all, so I got the message my SSD was full and I had no space when I tried to download something, which threw me off because I have pretty much nothing in my SSD (256 GB). It says I have a huge amount of documents, which I do not. Is there a way/app to find out what is going on? Thanks!
MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.5), 2.7 i5, 8 GIGs, 256 SSD, 13'

 

[keysofanxiety]

Please run OmniDiskSweeper and screenshot the results: https://www.omnigroup.com/download/latest/OmniDiskSweeper

 

[Fishrrman]

Actually there is something better than OmniDiskSweeper:
https://diskwave.barthe.ph

It's small and free.
Just download it and open it.
You'll see what to do next.

TIP: Go to preferences and set normally-invisible files to be made VISIBLE.
Now you can see everything.

 

[manyelski]

hope this helps

 

[Fishrrman]

What have you got inside your "users" folder that is taking up 142gb of space?

 

[manyelski]

this helps?

 

[Fishrrman]

Well you have 26gb or so of movies, but that's not unusual if you keep hi-rez movies around (the large file sizes "add up" quickly).
You have 10.5gb of pictures -- again, not unusual, especially if you shoot in large file sizes.
And 8.4gb of music.
There's 7gb of stuff on your desktop (in the desktop folder of your user account).

The only thing that stands out is 26gb of stuff in your user library.
You've got to "go in further" and find out what and where it is.

 

[Taz Mangus]

this helps?

There appears to be some 57GB that is not being shown for the Users folder. According to the first picture you posted it shows that the Users folder is taking up 142.6 and in the User folder, with 2 user accounts the total being used is around 84GB. So there is 57GB that does not show up. I wonder if local snapshots is turned on.

 

[iMi]

When you go to the "about" tap and look under "storage" does it show "backups" that is taking up a lot of space?

Are you using Time Machine?

 

[manyelski]

I am not using timemachine. Where can I find these local snapshots?

 

[Taz Mangus]

I am not using timemachine. Where can I find these local snapshots?

If you are not using TimeMachine than there won't be any local snapshots.

Click on "about" tap and look under "storage", what does it show. Post a picture.

 

[FreemanW]

If your issue remains, I suggest utilizing Disk Inventory X to gain further insight at what is consuming disk space.

http://www.derlien.com/index.html

 

[manyelski]

@FreemanW as far as I know I should not be using 3rd party software on MAC os?

 

[Taz Mangus]

@FreemanW as far as I know I should not be using 3rd party software on MAC os?

There is not an issue using third party software on a Mac as along as you obtain from a known good location. Most of software in the App Store is third party, its that you know it has been vetted and safe.

 

[Surrat]

All you have to do is use GrandPerspective app.
Run a scan from the root directory on your ssd, and it will show you everything thats taking up space, even hidden files. You will instantly see whats wasting the space.

 

[FreemanW]

@FreemanW as far as I know I should not be using 3rd party software on MAC os?

My iMac is filthy with 3rd party software. Adobe Creative Suite, Parallels, Windows x 3, Microsoft Office for Mac, Canon Imaging and Printer, Brother Printer, iStats Utilities, CyberPower Power Panel, Wacom, etc., . . . . . it's a long list.