File cleanup is an essential task for maintaining the performance and organization of your Mac. Over time, unnecessary files can accumulate, consuming valuable disk space and potentially slowing down your system. This article will guide you through the process of cleaning up files on macOS, using built-in tools and commands.

Examples:

1. Using Finder for Manual Cleanup:

   • Open Finder and navigate to your Downloads folder, as it often contains files that can be deleted.
   • Sort files by size or date to identify large or old files that are no longer needed.
   • Select the files you wish to delete and move them to the Trash by pressing Command + Delete.
   • Empty the Trash to permanently remove these files.

2. Using Storage Management:

   • Click on the Apple menu and select "About This Mac."
   • Go to the "Storage" tab and click on "Manage."
   • Use the recommendations provided, such as "Store in iCloud," "Optimize Storage," and "Reduce Clutter," to free up space.
   • Review the "Documents" section to manually delete large files.

3. Using Terminal for Advanced Cleanup:

   • Open Terminal from the Applications > Utilities folder.
   • To find and delete large files, use the following command:

     find / -type f -size +100M 2>/dev/null

     This command lists files larger than 100MB. You can adjust the size as needed.

   • To delete a specific file, use:

     rm /path/to/largefile

   • To clear system caches, use:

     sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/*
     sudo rm -rf /Library/Caches/*

     Be cautious with sudo commands, as they can affect system files.

4. Using Third-Party Applications:

   • Consider using applications like CleanMyMac or DaisyDisk, which offer user-friendly interfaces for identifying and removing unnecessary files.
   • These tools can automate the cleanup process and provide additional features like duplicate file detection.