Help · Mac storage

Lost storage after a macOS update?

By Grant and Brad, who make Pangalin's apps · Updated 11 October 2026

You're not imagining it. Free space often drops by several gigabytes after a major macOS update. Some of that comes back on its own, some is macOS itself and stays, and some you can safely reclaim.

Why free space drops

• A bigger macOS. Each major version adds features and system files, including on-device models for features like Apple Intelligence. These count as macOS in Storage settings and aren't something you can delete.
• Snapshots from before the update. If you use Time Machine, macOS may keep a local snapshot from before the update. It removes local snapshots by itself when it needs the space.
• Re-indexing and caches. Spotlight re-indexes your disk and apps rebuild caches after an update, so numbers can look high for a day or so.
• A leftover installer. If you downloaded the full installer, an app called Install macOS … may still be in Applications, and it's often more than 10 GB.

What to do

1. Restart, then give it a day. Let indexing finish, then check System Settings › General › Storage again.
2. Delete a leftover installer. If Install macOS … is in your Applications folder and the update is done, move it to the Trash and empty it. You can download it again from Apple any time.
3. Check System Data. If that's what grew, see what System Data is and what you can safely reduce.
4. If you don't use Apple Intelligence, you can turn it off in System Settings › Apple Intelligence & Siri. Apple doesn't promise this frees space, so check Storage afterwards.
5. Then free up your own space. The 10-minute checklist covers the safe, built-in steps.

Don't try to delete macOS system files or folders to win the space back. They're protected for a reason, and macOS manages that space itself.