How to find large files on Mac

When the disk is full, a few big files are usually to blame: old videos, disk images, installers and backups. Here are four ways to list them, biggest first.

1. Storage settings

1. Open System Settings › General › Storage.
2. Click the ⓘ button next to Documents.
3. Open Large Files to see files over a set size, sorted by size, and delete the ones you don't need.

It is simple, but it only covers some folders and doesn't let you choose the size or filter by type.

2. Finder search by size

1. In Finder, press ⌘ F and choose This Mac.
2. Click Kind, choose Other…, tick File Size and click OK.
3. Set it to is greater than 1 GB.
4. Switch to list view (⌘ 2) and click the Size column to sort.

3. Terminal

# files over 1 GB in your home folder
find ~ -type f -size +1G 2>/dev/null

# the same, with sizes, biggest first
find ~ -type f -size +500M -exec du -h {} + 2>/dev/null | sort -rh | head -30

# which folders in your home folder take the most space
du -sh ~/* 2>/dev/null | sort -rh | head -20

These walk the disk every time, so expect them to take a minute on a large home folder.

4. An instant size search

Everything Locator already knows the size of every indexed file, so a size search answers immediately and you can sort, preview and delete from the same list:

Press Space to preview a file and ⌘ ⌫ to move it to the Trash. ⌘ Z puts it back.

What is usually safe to delete

• Disk images and installers (.dmg, .pkg) once the app is installed.
• Old downloads and archives you already unpacked.
• Screen recordings and exported videos you have copied elsewhere.
• iOS backups you no longer need: manage them from Finder when your iPhone is connected.

See every big file in a second

Everything Locator searches your whole Mac by name, size and date as you type.

Mac App Store