Help · Mac storage
What is purgeable space on a Mac?
Purgeable space is storage macOS is using for things it can remove by itself whenever it needs room: local Time Machine snapshots, caches, files already safe in iCloud. Finder counts it as available, which is why two places on your Mac can disagree about how much space you have.
Why the numbers disagree
- Finder and Storage settings show available space: truly free space plus purgeable space, because macOS would hand that back if you needed it.
- Disk Utility, Terminal (
df) and some apps show free space: only what's empty right now.
Neither is wrong; they answer different questions. To see both, open Disk Utility, select your startup disk, and click Info (or the ⓘ button). It lists purgeable space separately.
Can I clear it?
Not directly, and usually you don't need to. macOS removes purgeable files on its own as soon as something needs the space. There's no “delete purgeable” button, by design.
It becomes a problem only when an app checks for free space rather than available space, and refuses to continue. Installers, some video apps and virtual machine tools do this. Then:
- Restart your Mac. It clears temporary files and often releases some purgeable space.
- Empty the Trash. Files in the Trash still take space until you empty it. This is permanent.
- Check local Time Machine snapshots. They're often the biggest part of purgeable space. Connect your backup drive and let a backup finish; see how to see and delete local snapshots if you need the space now.
- Make room the ordinary way, and macOS will release purgeable space as it goes: see “Your disk is almost full”: what to do.
Apple also notes that starting up in safe mode clears some system caches, which can free enough room temporarily for a job like a macOS update.
macOS's own Storage recommendations
In System Settings › General › Storage, Apple offers:
- Store in iCloud: keeps older files, photos and messages in iCloud, downloading them when you open them
- Optimise Storage: removes TV shows and films you've already watched
- Empty Trash Automatically: permanently deletes items that have been in the Trash for 30 days
Each is optional and can be turned off again.
See all three numbers, explained.
Pangalin Space Manager's Storage view shows what your disk holds, what's genuinely empty, and what Finder offers, and explains the difference. Its System Data card tells you how much is purgeable: space macOS takes back by itself, not junk to clean. It never inflates the number.
Free to scan · first 5 GB freed free, then $25 a year · 14-day full refund · Notarised by Apple