How I got back over 30GB of storage on my Mac
I’ve had the M1 MacBook Pro since day one, and one of the first apps that I installed was Xcode – Apple’s development application for building apps for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
When I ordered the Mac I went for the entry-level 256GB storage configuration, mainly because I’m holding out for Apple’s rumored new 14-inch MacBook Pro, expected to launch later this year, so for someone who spends their life on their Mac, whether that be developing, writing, business or simply as an everyday computer – storage can get a little tight.
The other day I stumbled across a really good video by YouTuber CodeWithChris, who showed how he was able to reclaim 16GB of hard drive space on his Mac that had been taken up by Xcode DerivedData and iOS DeviceSupport, and it got me thinking, how much storage could I get back on my machine?
You’ll see from the video above, it’s surprising simply to see how much storage is being eaten up by Xcode, and while this may be common knowledge for big-time developers or those who know software developing like the back of their hand, for newbies or those who have experimented with Xcode in the past, you might be able to also get back some Mac storage and not know about this useful trick.
After following the video, which is based on a guide from iOS Dev Nuggets, I was able to get back over 30GB of storage, taking me from 48GB of available disk space to over 80GB. A huge difference.
Xcode itself is a relatively hefty app to have installed on your Mac, whether it be a new M1 Mac like mine or an aging Intel machine, this simple trick could help boost your Mac’s performance and give you extra space, making your Mac run like new again.