Running out of hard drive space can definitely slow down your Mac and prevent you from saving your work. Here are the quickest ways to clear up space so you can get back to normal:
1. Empty the Trash
Files in your Trash still take up space until they are permanently deleted.
Click the Trash icon at the bottom right of your Dock.
Click Empty in the top right corner of the window.
Confirm by clicking Empty Trash.
2. Use the Built-In Storage Manager
Your Mac has a great tool to show you exactly what is taking up the most space.
Click the Apple Menu () in the top left corner of your screen.
Select System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs).
Click General on the left, then click Storage on the right.
Review the Recommendations section. Click the "i" (info) icon next to Documents, Applications, or Messages to delete large files or old apps you no longer need.
3. Clear Your Downloads Folder
This folder is usually the biggest space-hog on a school computer.
Open Finder (the smiling face icon in your Dock).
Click Downloads in the left sidebar.
Sort by "Size" to find the largest files, or sort by "Date Added" to find old files you no longer need.
Drag unneeded files to the Trash, and remember to empty the Trash afterward!
4. Check Google Drive Settings
If you use Google Drive for Desktop, make sure it isn't saving all your files directly to your hard drive.
Click the Google Drive icon in your top menu bar.
Click the Gear icon (Settings) and choose Preferences.
Under "Google Drive," ensure your sync option is set to Stream files rather than Mirror files. Streaming keeps files in the cloud and saves your hard drive space.