User level: Level 1 (4 points)My "about this mac" says I am using 484GB of space on my mac mini HD for applications. However, when I look at a list of all the apps, I calculate no more than 20GB. I am trying to free up disc space--what gives? And, how do I resolve this?
Posted on Sep 21, 2026 10:31 AM
User level: Level 9 (78,350 points)Sep 21, 2026 11:18 AM in response to Rocco H.
macOS storage management is a mess. Ignore all of the storage values, but especially the very misleading "Available" value shown everywhere in macOS. The only reliable storage value is the Free space value which is only shown in Disk Utility. With macOS "Available" is not synonymous with Free. Even the "Used" storage value can be misleading under certain system configurations.
You want to maintain at least 20% of Free space with no less than 80GB-100GB Free since even that can sometimes disappear very quickly even under seemingly simple workloads.
If you are running low on Free storage space, then you should check out the paid third party app Storeograph (watch the demo video to see what it can do "See what Storeograph can do" link on the product page). I think this is the only app which truly understands the APFS file system and macOS storage. There are some free apps such as OmniDiskSweeper which can show you the largest files & folders (some items may be inaccessible & won't show you some hidden storage areas), but they don't really understand macOS storage to assist the user.
User level: Level 10 (99,154 points)Sep 21, 2026 11:53 AM in response to Rocco H.
Plus 1
I also recommend using OmniDiskSweeper instead of the Storage Space Eye-Candy.
https://www.omnigroup.com/more
Then if the Mac mini is low on Storage Space because of a large Photos, Music or Movie Library.
You can move the largest single Library or all of your Libraries to an external drive.
Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support
Change where your music files are stored on Mac - Apple Support
Move Logic Pro for Mac and MainStage content - Apple Support
Move your iMovie for Mac library - Apple Support
Move a Final Cut Pro library - Apple Support
User level: Level 7 (21,895 points)Sep 22, 2026 5:50 AM in response to Rocco H.
Rocco H. wrote:
Thanks den.thed and HWTech. I am using the Mac mini only for photo management using Lightroom. ....
Lightroom can use up massive amounts of storage in the normally hidden user library folder ~/Library/ApplicationSupport/Adobe folder and other folders in ~/Library. This is especially true if any other associated Adobe apps are installed (especially Adobe Bridge).
That library not only consists of basic Lightroom and plugin data but also image previews, masks, and various databases which can gobble up disk space in a hurry. I believe Lightroom still allows keeping library data on an external drive (that is what I did when I was still using Adobe). Even at that, i still consumes like 40-50 GB of data in the ~/Library folder.
I will admit it has been years since I used the Adobe Photography suite, but I doubt much has changed in terms of disk space usage. If anything it is likely much worse.
Like @den.thed, I use OmniDiskSweeper for occasional spring cleaning. You will be surprised at how much data is put into the ~/Library folder. One thing, only mess around in your user folder unless you really know what you are doing.
User level: Level 9 (78,350 points)Sep 21, 2026 1:31 PM in response to Rocco H.
I forgot to mention that the macOS storage management section for the "Applications" category will include all executables on the system not just the apps which are installed in the Applications folder. I believe there was a post from several years ago that may have mentioned that even some internal macOS executables may even be included in that calculation.
I believe the Spotlight indexing may be what helps determine some of these values for the various category types. Perhaps that has gotten corrupted to indicate such large values.
Thanks for the updated information about your system's configuration.
The only important storage value is the Free space value that is shown in Disk Utility. Basically ignore all of the other storage values.
User level: Level 10 (99,154 points)Sep 21, 2026 7:20 PM in response to Rocco H.
What does OmniDiskSweeper show when you use it to sweep the Mac mini’s Macintosh HD…?
This is Apple’s User to User Forum and they will not respond to your question in this forum.
From here you have two options to reach out to Apple.
1) Send blind Feedback to Apple.
2) Contact Apple Support.
User level: Level 2 (446 points)Sep 22, 2026 5:56 AM in response to Rocco H.
Use apps like Radix and grandperspective as they are very helpful for clearing storage
GRANDPERSPECTIVE https://grandperspectiv.sourceforge.net/
Radix https://tryradix.app/
You can also use your built-in system settings, Storage setting in the general section
Rocco H. wrote:
So fundamentally, I have a one year old Mac Mini with 500 GB of HD and it’s basically full, even though I have less than 60 GB of apps and data (that I can find) and no real way to free up space? I tried the suggestions above, but clearly this is an issue with Apple’s design of its OS. I wish the company would have told me that 500 GB is chump space when I bought this. Where is Apple on this thread? I would like to hear their explanation for selling a computer that is dead weight after a year. I looked up a new Mini with 2 TB of space and the price doubles. Not good—especially when I have taken great pains to keep my HD space free of crap that usually fills it up.
If anyone has a fix for this, please let me know…
User level: Level 10 (211,627 points)Sep 21, 2026 10:17 PM in response to Rocco H.
"Mac mini reports incorrect application storage usage: My 'about this mac' says I am using 484GB of space on my mac mini HD for applications. However, when I look at a list of all the apps, I calculate no more than 20GB. I am trying to free up disc space--what gives? And, how do I resolve this?"
-------
Clearing Space:
Just how much of this is System Data? Use my User Tip to Clear It: How to Use Finder to Clear “System Data" on a Mac - User Tip
User level: Level 1 (4 points)Sep 21, 2026 1:23 PM in response to den.thed
Thanks den.thed and HWTech. I am using the Mac mini only for photo management using Lightroom. My entire library is on an external drive and then backed up on three more XHDs. Lightroom takes up about 45GB on the mini HD to store links and previews photos. Other apps do not take up much space on the mini HD. I'm astounded I can lose over 400 GB on storage management. I will try your suggestions, just wanted to let you know how I am using the Mac Mini. Its less than a year old--hardly enough time to overload it...I think.
User level: Level 1 (4 points)Sep 21, 2026 6:20 PM in response to HWTech
So fundamentally, I have a one year old Mac Mini with 500 GB of HD and it’s basically full, even though I have less than 60 GB of apps and data (that I can find) and no real way to free up space? I tried the suggestions above, but clearly this is an issue with Apple’s design of its OS. I wish the company would have told me that 500 GB is chump space when I bought this. Where is Apple on this thread? I would like to hear their explanation for selling a computer that is dead weight after a year. I looked up a new Mini with 2 TB of space and the price doubles. Not good—especially when I have taken great pains to keep my HD space free of crap that usually fills it up.
If anyone has a fix for this, please let me know…
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256362101