Just got back yesterday after being away for 19 days, and when I booted up my Mac, I noticed 8GB of space has just disappeared! It seems to have happened since my Mac started saying that “Apple Intelligence” is ready to be turned on. I don’t want it, so I’ve made sure it hasn’t turned on. Checked for software updates, but there aren’t any waiting to install.


Anyone else had this happen to them? Or know what might be going on?

Thanks

 

apple menu->about this mac->storage tab->manage->reduce clutter/review files. Tab to "last accessed" and see what changed.

Also, turn off automatic updates.

 

There is a way to do it, I have just watched a video on YouTube and tried it. But, I've only gone from 906 to 911GB...Still missing 3GB

 

I do not remember any macOS update being 9gb. 3gb sounds more realistic, if even still a bit more than normal.

I use k'd version of this cleaner: https://www.drbuho.com/buhocleaner/download

If you do not mistakenly let it clear out system cache and log files, it is very good. Better than any other I have tried on Mac.

 

Yeah, I remember some being bigger when dealing with multiple chip architectures. (I think I have a HS install around here that weighs in ~6GB or something)... but yeah.. that that seems a lot....)...

Have you looked at PearCleaner clone? I know that is more for specific apps and whatnot in general... and I'm gonna checkout the one you linked, as I try and be careful and avoid a lot of the nonsense cleaner apps out there.... just AppCleaner&Uninstaller, PearCleaner, or Wide Blue Sounds Audio Plugin Uninstaller.. and compare, and check with faf etc... but I haven't heard of that one... so will check out it... thanks for the rec...

 

The release on Github shows minimum macOS version is 13. I only need a utility like this on my DAW mac, and I'm never going to update it past Mojave.

Buho does pretty much exactly what I need it for. It's a good uninstaller, clutter finder/remover, general cleanup tool for all hidden files left by demos, "detritus" might be the right term. I do not know if it works to cleanup UAD stuff, but works nicely for plist files and so on.

There are certain plugins that show up as leftovers after installation that you need to be careful not to remove. You will see they are the full size installer files and if you remove them, they won't work. DMG Audio is one of them, and some other bundles. Only bundles, which is weird. Anyway, you know where you can find a copy.

 

ah, that's right, I should remember that, my bad...

and yeah, "detritus" is the right term imho, well, at least in the fact that it is what I call all of 'that'....

Thanks for the heads up on the others, (regarding leftovers etc as I know what you mean...)

I picked it up, I generally tend to run a few and see how they differ as transitioning chipset/os now, and trying to find the general strengths/weaknesses of the different alternatives mentioned for different things... as I do hate detritus....