See what is taking up space
Scan your disk once, then use the Space Map and the largest files list to find where the gigabytes went.
- Time
- 5 minutes, plus the first scan
- Steps
- 7
What you need
- l/Activity open.
- A few minutes for the first scan of a full disk. Later refreshes are much quicker.
Steps
Step 1. Open Storage and let it scan
Press ⇧⌘D. The first time, a scan of your startup disk begins by itself. If you set scans to manual, click Scan Whole Disk.
While it runs you see how many items have been inspected, and the folder tree fills in as folders are found. Sizes carry a ≥ sign until the scan is complete, because they can only grow. Sorting and searching arrive when it finishes. You can Pause at any time and carry on later, even after quitting.
StorageFind large files and folders, see cleanup suggestions, and review what to remove.BrowseChangesCleanupHistorySearch or jump to…⌘KCurrent scan≥118.6GBObserved on disk · allocated blocks in scanned folderFolders and sizes are still being measured.Sizes are lower boundsFull scanVolume capacity · 994.66 GB0%25%50%75%100%Observed≥ 11.9%of volumeNot attributed to this scan527.9 GB53.1%Available35.0%of volumeObserved file size≥ 124.1GBlogical bytes in scanned folderVolume available348.2GBVolume checked 13 Oct 2026 at 09:06:31Scanning storage412,880 items inspected1m 12s · 5,734 items/s averagePauseStopPreparingReading foldersFolder totals & viewsSaving≥ 118.6 GB on disk≥ 124.1 GB file sizeSizes are lower boundsSpace found≥ 18.3%Compared with 646.5 GB used on this volumeScan completion unknown/Users/sam/Library/Application Support/Kite Browser/Default/Service Worker/CacheStorage/5d1c9aFolder treeSpace MapLargest filesLargest foldersFile typesRank by space on diskSearch and ranking after scanExpand/21 items · ≥ 118.6 GBFile or folderOn diskFile sizeKindShare/≥ 118.6 GB≥ 124.1 GBFolder100%Applications≥ 22.6 GB≥ 24.3 GBFolder19.1%Library≥ 14.2 GB≥ 14.6 GBFolder12.0%System≥ 6.8 GB≥ 9.9 GBFolder5.7%Users≥ 71.4 GB≥ 71.6 GBFolder60.2%Refresh FolderReveal in FinderReview Cleanup…Select a file or folderStep 01 Step 2. Read the result
When the scan finishes, the stage shows how much the scanned folders hold on disk, and a bar for the whole volume in three parts: what the scan observed, what it could not attribute, and what is available.
The chip beside the number tells you whether the scan saw everything: Complete coverage or Partial coverage.
StorageFind large files and folders, see cleanup suggestions, and review what to remove.BrowseChangesCleanupHistorySearch or jump to…⌘KSaved snapshot13 Oct 2026 at 09:12612.4GBObserved on disk · allocated blocks in scanned folderComplete coverageFull scan2,184,306 itemsVolume capacity · 994.66 GBHow this relates to volume usage0%25%50%75%100%Observed61.6%of volumeNot attributed to this scan34.1 GB3.4%Available35.0%of volumeObserved file size640.8GBlogical bytes in scanned folderVolume available348.2GBVolume checked 13 Oct 2026 at 10:42:07Folder treeSpace MapLargest filesLargest foldersFile typesRank by space on diskFiltersFind a file or folderExpand/21 items · 612.4 GBFile or folderOn diskFile sizeKindShare/612.4 GB640.8 GBFolder100%Users463.4 GB481.5 GBFolder75.7%sam460.0 GB478.1 GBFolder75.1%Movies148.2 GB148.1 GBFolder24.2%Pictures86.4 GB86.3 GBFolder14.1%Developer62.8 GB79.6 GBFolder10.3%Library58.9 GB60.4 GBFolder9.6%Documents31.6 GB31.5 GBFolder5.2%Downloads22.7 GB22.7 GBFolder3.7%old-laptop-disk.dmg11.8 GB11.8 GBFile1.9%Music9.4 GB9.4 GBFolder1.5%Refresh FolderReveal in FinderReview Cleanup…Select a file or folderStep 02 Step 3. Look at the Space Map
In the browse card, switch the view to Space Map. Every folder and file is a tile, and the area of a tile is its share of the space. Files take a colour by kind: media and packages, code, documents and archives, or applications. Folders stay neutral, so a single huge file stands out.
Click a tile to select it. Double-click a folder, or press Return, to go inside. Esc goes back up. Space previews a file.
StorageFind large files and folders, see cleanup suggestions, and review what to remove.BrowseChangesCleanupHistorySearch or jump to…⌘KSaved snapshot13 Oct 2026 at 09:12612.4GBObserved on disk · allocated blocks in scanned folderComplete coverageFull scan2,184,306 itemsVolume capacity · 994.66 GBHow this relates to volume usage0%25%50%75%100%Observed61.6%of volumeNot attributed to this scan34.1 GB3.4%Available35.0%of volumeObserved file size640.8GBlogical bytes in scanned folderVolume available348.2GBVolume checked 13 Oct 2026 at 10:42:07Folder treeSpace MapLargest filesLargest foldersFile typesRank by space on diskFiltersFind a file or folderExpand/Userssam49 items · 460.0 GBOpen FolderShow Folder TreeMovies148.2 GB32.2%Lisbon trip 2025Wedding editFamily archive 2019.movBirthday 2024.mp4Pictures86.4 GB18.8%Photos Library.photoslibraryExportsDeveloper62.8 GB13.7%Library58.9 GB12.8%Documents31.6 GB6.9%Downloads22.7 GB4.9%old-laptop-disk.dmg11.8 GBMusicDesktop9.2 GB38 smaller items11.5 GBColor by file typeMedia & packagesCode, documents & archivesApplicationsFolders & otherArea shows space on disk. Arrows move. Return opens a folder. Esc goes up.Refresh FolderReveal in FinderReview Cleanup…1 selected· 148.2 GB in saved scan/Users/sam/MoviesStep 03 Step 4. Go straight to the biggest files
Switch the view to Largest files. It is a plain ranked list of single files across everything scanned, 500 to a page. Largest folders does the same for folders.
StorageFind large files and folders, see cleanup suggestions, and review what to remove.BrowseChangesCleanupHistorySearch or jump to…⌘KSaved snapshot13 Oct 2026 at 09:12612.4GBObserved on disk · allocated blocks in scanned folderComplete coverageFull scan2,184,306 itemsVolume capacity · 994.66 GBHow this relates to volume usage0%25%50%75%100%Observed61.6%of volumeNot attributed to this scan34.1 GB3.4%Available35.0%of volumeObserved file size640.8GBlogical bytes in scanned folderVolume available348.2GBVolume checked 13 Oct 2026 at 10:42:07Folder treeSpace MapLargest filesLargest foldersFile typesRank by space on diskFiltersFind a file or folderExpandFile or folderOn diskFile sizeKindShareLisbon trip 2025 master.mov38.4 GB38.4 GBFile6.3%Wedding edit final.mov26.1 GB26.1 GBFile4.3%dev-box.qcow222.8 GB40.0 GBFile3.7%macOS installer.dmg14.2 GB14.2 GBFile2.3%old-laptop-disk.dmg11.8 GB11.8 GBFile1.9%Lisbon trip 2025 proxy.mov11.6 GB11.6 GBFile1.9%Ceremony camera A.mov9.8 GB9.8 GBFile1.6%harbor-data.img8.9 GB64.0 GBFile1.5%Ceremony camera B.mov7.4 GB7.4 GBFile1.2%Archive 2024.zip6.4 GB6.4 GBFile1.0%Drone reel 4K.mov5.8 GB5.8 GBFile0.9%Every file in the saved scan, largest first. Double-click opens Quick Look.Page 1PreviousNextRefresh FolderReveal in FinderReview Cleanup…1 selected· 38.4 GB in saved scan/Users/sam/Movies/Lisbon trip 2025/Lisbon trip 2025 master.movStep 04 Step 5. Or by kind of file
File types groups everything by purpose: Video, Images, Audio, Applications, Archives, Documents, Code and more. Click a type to list its files.
StorageFind large files and folders, see cleanup suggestions, and review what to remove.BrowseChangesCleanupHistorySearch or jump to…⌘KSaved snapshot13 Oct 2026 at 09:12612.4GBObserved on disk · allocated blocks in scanned folderComplete coverageFull scan2,184,306 itemsVolume capacity · 994.66 GBHow this relates to volume usage0%25%50%75%100%Observed61.6%of volumeNot attributed to this scan34.1 GB3.4%Available35.0%of volumeObserved file size640.8GBlogical bytes in scanned folderVolume available348.2GBVolume checked 13 Oct 2026 at 10:42:07Folder treeSpace MapLargest filesLargest foldersFile typesRank by space on diskFiltersFind a file or folderExpandSpace by purposeFile extensionsApplications and packages include their contents. Each entry contributes its own bytes once, including nested packages and hard-link allocation. Outside packages, files are grouped by extension.Video4,212 items151.3 GBOther903,445 items108.8 GBPackages214,518 items96.2 GBApplications386,214 items58.3 GBImages86,420 items52.6 GBCode312,906 items44.9 GBArchives1,318 items41.8 GBDocuments38,655 items31.4 GBAudio9,870 items21.6 GBSpace Map color familiesMedia & packages321.7 GBCode, documents & archives118.1 GBApplications58.3 GBFolders & other114.3 GBSpace Map tiles use these four color families so each color stays distinguishable. A tile’s tooltip names its exact file type.
Click a type to show its matching items in the folder tree.
Observed space by type in the saved scan≥ marks incomplete totals≥ means an incomplete total. Folder sizes include descendants and are not guaranteed reclaimable space.Step 05 Step 6. See what changed since last time
In the title bar, open Changes. Keep today's scan as a baseline. After a later refresh, this view lists what grew and what shrank, largest change first, and recognises folders that were only moved or renamed.
StorageFind large files and folders, see cleanup suggestions, and review what to remove.BrowseChangesCleanupHistorySearch or jump to…⌘KSaved snapshot13 Oct 2026 at 09:12612.4GBObserved on disk · allocated blocks in scanned folderComplete coverageFull scan2,184,306 itemsVolume capacity · 994.66 GBHow this relates to volume usage0%25%50%75%100%Observed61.6%of volumeNot attributed to this scan34.1 GB3.4%Available35.0%of volumeObserved file size640.8GBlogical bytes in scanned folderVolume available348.2GBVolume checked 13 Oct 2026 at 10:42:07Changes since the baselineRank by space on diskFiltersFind a file or folderExpandReplace Baseline with Saved ScanRelease BaselineBaseline 06/10/2026, 09:05 · complete · 589.7 GB observedCurrent 13/10/2026, 09:12 · complete. Baseline stays saved across refreshes and restarts until released or cleared in Settings.Scan RootUp/Users/samFile or folderBaselineCurrentChangeShrank · GrewMovies129.6 GB148.2 GB+18.6 GBDownloads31.9 GB22.7 GB−9.2 GBDeveloper56.4 GB62.8 GB+6.4 GBTimelapse test.movObserved move from /Users/sam/Downloads/Timelapse test.mov0 bytes4.3 GB+4.3 GBLibrary57.3 GB58.9 GB+1.6 GBPictures85.9 GB86.4 GB+512 MBDocuments31.6 GB31.6 GBNo changeLargest observed differences first. Incomplete coverage has no exact change. A missing child counts as zero only when its parent was completely scanned. Observed moves match unique identity metadata and creation times; they are not content comparisons or absolute identity guarantees. Older or ambiguous entries remain separate path changes. Moving between folders keeps each folder’s byte change. Filters do not apply to this comparison.Page 1PreviousNext≥ means an incomplete total. Folder sizes include descendants and are not guaranteed reclaimable space.Step 06 Step 7. If the scan could not see everything
With Partial coverage, click Permissions & Scan Issues… to see exactly which folders were out of reach and why. macOS protects places such as Mail and Messages. Let l/Activity see protected folders shows how to allow them.
StorageFind large files and folders, see cleanup suggestions, and review what to remove.BrowseChangesCleanupHistorySearch or jump to…⌘KSaved snapshot13 Oct 2026 at 09:12≥612.4GBObserved on disk · allocated blocks in scanned folder≥ marks incomplete totalsPartial coverageFull scan2,184,306 itemsVolume capacity · 994.66 GBHow this relates to volume usage0%25%50%75%100%Observed≥ 61.6%of volumeNot attributed to this scan34.1 GB3.4%Available35.0%of volumeObserved file size≥ 640.8GBlogical bytes in scanned folderVolume available348.2GBVolume checked 13 Oct 2026 at 10:42:07Folder treeSpace MapLargest filesLargest foldersFile typesRank by space on diskFiltersFind a file or folderExpand/21 items · ≥ 612.4 GBFile or folderOn diskFile sizeKindShare/≥ 612.4 GB≥ 640.8 GBFolder100%Users≥ 463.4 GB≥ 481.5 GBFolder75.7%sam≥ 460.0 GB≥ 478.1 GBFolder75.1%Movies148.2 GB148.1 GBFolder24.2%Pictures86.4 GB86.3 GBFolder14.1%Developer62.8 GB79.6 GBFolder10.3%Library≥ 58.9 GB≥ 60.4 GBFolder9.6%Documents31.6 GB31.5 GBFolder5.2%Downloads22.7 GB22.7 GBFolder3.7%old-laptop-disk.dmg11.8 GB11.8 GBFile1.9%Music9.4 GB9.4 GBFolder1.5%Refresh FolderReveal in FinderReview Cleanup…Select a file or folderPermissions & Scan IssuesSaved snapshot of / · 13 Oct 2026 at 09:12DonemacOS protects some locations. Permissions settings explains the access used by l/Activity and guides you to the relevant macOS controls. After changing access, return here to retry the affected folders. System protections and other users’ files may remain inaccessible.
Manage Permissions…Retry All Denied FoldersCategoryAll issuesPermissionsRead errorsInvalid namesCoverageFind a pathFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Users/sam/Library/MailRevealPermissions…Retry FolderFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Users/sam/Library/SafariRevealPermissions…Retry FolderFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Users/sam/Library/MessagesRevealPermissions…Retry FolderFolder contents unavailable: Operation not permitted./Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCCRevealPermissions…Retry Folder4 issues · Page 1PreviousNextStep 07
02Good to know
The small print, in plain words
Note1 / 4
What ≥ means
A figure with ≥ in front is a lower bound. Part of that folder was not measured, so the real size is at least that much.
Note2 / 4
Two sizes for everything
On disk is the space the item takes on the drive. File size is the length of its contents. They differ for sparse files, compressed files and files that share blocks.
Note3 / 4
Why the total is not what Finder says
macOS shares disk blocks between copies and keeps local snapshots. Space like that belongs to no single folder, so l/Activity shows it as "Not attributed to this scan" instead of guessing.
Note4 / 4
A refresh is not a rescan
Refresh (⌘R) rechecks only the folders that changed since the last scan. By default this happens every hour while the app is open. You can change the schedule in Settings → Storage & Cache.
03Keep going
