How-to guides for finding and clearing files on a Mac
These guides start from a job you want done, such as finding the PDFs from last week, tracking down what is filling your disk, or getting back something you deleted. Each one shows the free method with Finder, Spotlight and other built-in tools first, with the menu names and shortcuts you need.
Where FileSift makes the job quicker, the guide says how, and what it does and does not do. If you only ever need the built-in method, every guide still works without it.
21 guides
- How to find and delete duplicate files on a MacDuplicates are rarely named the same. Here is how to find them with Photos, Finder and a content check, and how to delete them safely.
- How to free up space on your MacFind what is using room in macOS Storage settings, then clear large files, unused apps, installers and old screenshots.
- How to search for files on a MacUse Spotlight for names, Finder search for filters like type, date and size, and plain-English search when you only remember what the file was.
- How to see file thumbnails and previews in FinderMake Finder show larger previews with icon view, Gallery view and Quick Look, or browse with a thumbnail-first file tool.
- How to delete old screenshots on a MacScreenshots pile up on the Desktop. Collect them in one list, sort by date, and move the old ones to the Trash.
- How to clean up your Downloads folder on a MacSort Downloads by size and date, remove installers and finished zip files, and keep the folder from filling up again.
- How to see which files are only in iCloud on a MacFind files stored only in iCloud Drive, download or remove local copies, and avoid triggering large downloads while you clean up.
- How to preview files on a Mac with Quick LookPress Space to preview any file without opening an app. Shortcuts, supported file types and how to use it in a thumbnail view.
- How to find PDFs from last week on a MacList the PDFs you saved, changed or opened in the past week with a Finder search, a Smart Folder or Recents, then narrow the list by date and size.
- How to find large files on a MacFind the biggest files on your Mac with Storage settings, a Finder size search and folder sizes in list view, and learn which large files are safe to remove.
- How to find files by date modified on a MacSort, group and search files by date modified, created, last opened or added in Finder, and use Terminal for exact date ranges.
- How to delete duplicate photos on a MacMerge duplicates in the Photos library with its built-in tool, then deal with copies in Downloads, Desktop and other folders without losing originals.
- How to find files by tag on a MacAdd Finder tags, then find tagged files from the sidebar, Spotlight, a Tags column or a Smart Folder that combines tags with type and date.
- How to see where a file was downloaded from on a MacUse Get Info, your browser's download list and Terminal to see the web address or source a file came from, and remove that record before sharing.
- How to search for text inside images and screenshots on a MacUse Live Text, Photos search and Spotlight to find words inside screenshots, photos and scans on a Mac, and what to do when built-in search misses them.
- How to find a file on a Mac when you forgot its nameFind a lost file on a Mac using what you do remember: roughly when, what type, which app, words inside it or where it came from.
- How to find and remove apps you no longer use on a MacFind apps you have not opened in months with the Date Last Opened column, uninstall them properly, and check subscriptions and background items.
- How to recover deleted files on a MacPut files back from the Trash, restore from iCloud Drive's Recently Deleted or Time Machine, and set up your Mac so deletions are easy to undo.
- What to do when Spotlight cannot find a file on your MacCheck Spotlight's privacy list and result categories, rebuild the index safely, and fix searches on external drives when files are missing from results.
- How to find files you have not opened in a long time on a MacList files you have not opened in months with Finder's Date Last Opened, decide what to archive or delete, and move old files off your Mac safely.
- How to use Smart Folders on a MacCreate, edit and organise Finder Smart Folders, with ready-made recipes for large videos, recent PDFs, screenshots and tagged files.