System Data taking up half of SSD space

[Jim Cook's MacBook]

I have a 512GB M1 MacBook Air and was trying to copy files to it when I ran out of storage. I'd like to ask on what this 231gb system data is and how I can get rid of it. The cache is only taking up 3GB, and worthless CleanMYMac X didn't see what it was. Thank you!

 

[Bigwaff]

Do you use Time Machine? Has it been some time since you've attached your external backup drive? Time Machine takes local snapshots and these will collect until you attach your external backup drive and run a backup.

 

[Jim Cook's MacBook]

Do you use Time Machine? Has it been some time since you've attached your external backup drive? Time Machine takes local snapshots and these will collect until you attach your external backup drive and run a backup.

No I dont use time machine

 

[Bigwaff]

Verify Time Machine is turned off in System Preferences > Time Machine.

 

[gilby101]

This comes up so often. Here are a few apps which will actually tell you what files and folders are consuming space:
DaisyDisk (my favourite) - free trial
OmniDiskSweeper - free.
GrandPerspective - free or not free (your choice).
You then have to decide what needs removing for yourself. So they require some understanding of what is on your disk.
None of them wave a magic (good or evil) wand which might or might not remove stuff without you understanding why.

 

[Fishrrman]

Download DiskWave from here:

DiskWave Homepage

It's small in size and free.

Open DiskWave and go to the preferences.
Put a checkmark in "show invisible files".
Close preferences.

The DiskWave window shows you all your volumes and drives in plain English (no ridiculous graphical formats).
Click on any item "on the left".
Now, you'll see what's ON the volume, listed in order of "largest to smallest".
You can easily locate what's eating up your space.

 

[stradify]

Do you backup your iPhone or iPad to your MBA?

 

[Jim Cook's MacBook]

Do you backup your iPhone or iPad to your MBA?

No

This comes up so often. Here are a few apps which will actually tell you what files and folders are consuming space:
DaisyDisk (my favourite) - free trial
OmniDiskSweeper - free.
GrandPerspective - free or not free (your choice).
You then have to decide what needs removing for yourself. So they require some understanding of what is on your disk.
None of them wave a magic (good or evil) wand which might or might not remove stuff without you understanding why.

Thanks! The system data was reduced down to 41gb. I may try to get more, but my computer has plenty of space now.