With the growing availability of useful and cool applications and software, our hard drive space is filling up faster than ever. Not only will full storage prevent you from downloading new files or apps, it may also cause your laptop to slow down and struggle with simple activities. Cleaning out your MacBook hard drive regularly is always a good idea to maintain some free storage space and keep your device running smoothly. Here are some simple ways to do that. 

Clear out unwanted applications

We are all guilty of downloading lots of cool apps yet never really using them, this way clogging up our MacBooks with unnecessary stuff. Decluttering unwanted applications is a good way to start, as some of them may be using up a fair bit of your hard drive space. 

To do this, go on your Mac Finder, click on Applications and look for any apps that you haven't used or simply don't need anymore. Once you have deleted some apps, don't forget to empty your Trash too. 

Delete duplicate files

You'd be surprised how many duplicate files manage to sneak into your MacBook without notice. This can be either because you've downloaded something twice by mistake, or because you have a single file in two locations and under different names (e.g. the original version on your device and a backup copy on your iCloud). These are most likely to be images or documents, however, you may find large files too, such as video or film. 

The easiest way to do this is by downloading a storage management app, which will find the duplicate files for you and allow you to delete them with a couple of mouse clicks. The other way is by using your Finder and manually looking for duplicates, which will take a lot longer but still get the job done. 

Clean up cache files

Cache files are stored on your MacBook for a reason - they are there to improve your user experience. Whenever you open up a new web page, system or an app for the first time, your Mac saves your preferences and ensures that the next time you open it, everything loads faster and smoother. However, overtime, these cache files can add up and start clogging up and slowing down your MacBook. Therefore, cleaning them out regularly is a good idea. 

Keep in mind that there are a few different types of cache you may want to clean out. Browser cache and cookies is perhaps the most commonly known type that most people have cleaned out before. In addition to those, your MacBook also stores system cache and user cache within it, so don't forget to delete those too. 

Use an external cloud

If you find yourself struggling to declutter your files any further but your storage is still full, perhaps it's a sign that you should start using an external cloud storage instead. There are many cloud providers you may use, including iCloud and Google Drive. Those are super easy to set up and offer a large amount of storage for free. When you run out of those, you also have an option to purchase more storage space, when needed.