Mac Startup Disk Full: How to Fix [2 Easy Ways]

How to fix Mac startup disk full error message when you use your Mac in your daily life? How to fix this storage error if it is now annoying you? This post from EaseUS will provide you with 2 effective methods.

When your startup disk shows full, it is a sign that your Mac is running out of space. To fix this error, you can free up some space by deleting some of the useless files, clearing the cache, and emptying the downloads folder.

It is common that you turn on your Mac as usual, but only to receive an error message that says "Your Mac startup disk full". This means your Mac is running out of storage space and cannot load or work properly. How to fix this full disk issue without software? Here are some workable solutions.

Remember not trying to delete some files to move space for it may cause further data loss. Now you can try the following method one by one:

How to Check the Disk Storage of Your Mac

If you are not sure if your Disk is full, you can check it and then decide how to clear the disk space:

Step 1. Open Finder and then locate your startup disk.

Step 2. Click the startup disk and then go to "File" > "Get Info".

Step 3. Click the arrow next to General, and you can view your disk storage now.

Method 1. Fix Mac Full Startup Disk by Deleting Unnecessary Backups

If you own other Apple devices like an iPad or an iPhone, you can delete some iOS and iPadOS backups. But remember to delete the backups only if you have already saved them to iCloud. Here is how you can do this:

Step 1. Click the Apple icon and choose "About This Mac" from the menu.

Step 2. Navigate to the Storage and choose "Manage".

Step 3. From the left panel, select "iOS Files" to see all your backups.

You can choose the backups you don't want and select "Delete" to clear the data. But, it is likely that you will see deleted files but Mac still no space error with this methods.

Method 2. Empty the Downloads Folder to Solve Mac Startup Disk Full Error

The downloads folder on your Mac can be filled with useless files because it keeps everything you downloaded, even when you re-download them. So, once your disk is full, you can do as follows to delete some of your unnecessary files:

Step 1. Open Finder and choose "Downloads folder" from the sidebar.

Step 2. Now, you can choose the files you want to delete and drag them to the Trash.

Step 3. Then, open the Trash and tap on "Empty".

Pro Tips: How to Recover Accidentally Deleted Data When Emptying Mac Disk

What if you have accidentally deleted some of the essential files when you try cleaning your Mac folder? If you have no backups and have already emptied the Trash, is there any possible method to get your files back? This is the time when EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac shines.

This data recovery tool for Mac from EaseUS can easily recover data from Mac's internal drive or external storage devices. This tool can help you restore lost files on a Mac only if the data is not overwritten. Here is how you can get your files back:

Step 1. Select the location and scan

Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac and choose the disk where you lost data. Then, click "Search for lost files" to start scanning.

Step 2. Filter and preview lost files

After the scan, use the file format filter on the left or upper right corner to find the deleted files you need.

Step 3. Recover lost data or files

You can double-click a file to preview its content, or choose multiple files to recover them at once. Click "Recover" to restore the lost data to a local or cloud drive.

Remember to share this post with users who are facing the same data loss error after emptying or clearing the cache:

Final Words

This post has looked at how you can fix this Mac startup full error and get files back if you have accidentally deleted some files you need. You can first delete some useless files and empty the downloads folder. If the unintentional deletion occurs, try EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.

FAQs on Mac Startup Disk Full

You may be curious about some related questions on the Mac disk full error. Read the following frequently asked questions:

1. How do I fix my full startup disk on Mac?

Repair the starting disk. You can accomplish this by running Disk Utility in macOS Recovery. When you start your Mac, use Command+R to enter macOS Recovery mode. Once in macOS Recovery, choose Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. Next, choose your starting disk and click the Repair Disk button. Reinstall MacOS.

2. What to do when Mac says disk is full?

• Move or delete files to create extra space.
• You can transfer data to another storage device attached to your Mac, such as an external drive.
• Delete music, videos, podcasts, or other