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Which macOS Sierra Disk Space Analyzer to Use?

Written by John

A disk space analyzer helps you determine how the space in the storage disk is used and manage macOS Sierra disk usage. You will be able to see the applications and files in your mac as well as how much space they are occupying. This way, when the disk is full you can easily delete what is unwanted and leave what is necessary. You will not have to manually look at each file and see how much space it is occupying. It makes it easy to scan through storage details and take the necessary action, that is, delete or choose to keep the files. You will be able to manage your disk space better with one of the many available macOS Sierra disk space analyzers.

When you decide to use a disk space analyzer, be sure to delete only what you are sure about. The analyzers sweep the entire drive and may delete system files and folders that are necessary for the normal operation of the Sierra. The best way to avoid this is to backup the mac using the Time Machine before using the disk space analyzer apps. This will keep all your files safe and any critical files lost will be retrievable from the Time Machine.

So, which macOS Sierra disk space analyzer should you use? There are many available in the market. Whereas some are free, others come at a price. Here, we will look at the best options you have.

The Finder

If you do not want to use software from third parties then the Finder can be of help to you. The Search function in the Finder can help you find large files in the mac. For this you will be required to set a minimum file size to display then search.

Finder on macOS Sierra

Finder on macOS Sierra

All the files that meet the given criteria will be shown and you can do whatever you want with it. The Finder works well but has its limits. The better option is to use third party disk space analyzers which will give a better picture of what your disk space looks like.

OmniDiskSweeper (free)

This is a free utility so you need not worry about having to spend to use it. It works almost similarly to the Finder. It displays the files and folders in column view in descending order, that is, the largest file occupies the first place and the smallest occupies the last place. This order makes it easy to determine what is occupying too much space on your disk.

OmniDiskSweeper

OmniDiskSweeper

Disk Inventory X (free)

This has been around for quite a while now and has come to be loved by many. It is a free tool that has great functionality and is able to help you organize your disk space easily. Like the finder, it also displays the information collected in descending order so you can see what is eating up your space. Though the interface is not the best, it gets the job done fast which is commendable for a free tool.

Disk Inventory X

Disk Inventory X

DaisyDisk

If you are more into visual illustrations then this is your best option. It has a very beautiful and intuitive interface with a colourful wheel. It is this wheel that gives a visual display of how your disk space has been allocated.

DaisyDisk

DaisyDisk

The DaisyDisk works very fast to give you the information you need. It is very easy to use and access to the files and folders found only take two clicks; just right-click on the file/folder and click on ‘show in finder’. DaisyDisk offers a trial version which is effective but for more features you may opt for the paid version which costs only $10.

To sum it all up, you cannot underestimate the need to manage your disk space. You should not wait till you see the dreaded “startup disk almost full” warning showing on your macOS Sierra before you take action. The best thing to do is avoid this by using a reliable disk space analyzer.

There are many to choose from but to avoid going wrong you had better use one of the aforementioned options. These will give you a reliable look at how the space on your disk is being used. This way you can make more informed decisions and manage your disk space better.

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