How to Auto Free up Space Using Optimized Storage on macOS Sierra

First and foremost, you need to access Optimized Storage. There are two ways to do that, and the first one is rather simply. Do nothing! Once your storage is full, your operating system will ask you to optimize the storage. Once you click yes, you'll be taken to the tool. The second way is to access Optimized Storage manually. To do so, you need on the click on the Apple icon located in the top left corner. From the dropdown menu, select "About this Mac". Once you are in the System information window, click on "Storage", and then on "Details". This action will open the Optimized Storage feature with all four options.

That being said, let's talk how to store your files in iCloud using Optimized Storage. This option will store all your files that you haven't used (documents, photos, videos, music files, and everything in between) in the cloud. This way, your iCloud serves as a long-term storage for all your data files. If you have photos and videos that you want to keep in full resolution, iCloud is the way to go. You have the power to choose which files you want stored. After you've entered the Optimized Storage tool, click the "Store in iCloud" option. You can tick the box for "Store files from desktop and documents in iCloud Drive". Ticking this box will store ALL files from your documents folder and desktop to the cloud. Another option is the box "store photos and videos in iCloud Photo Library". This option will store all original photos and videos. You need to enable the iCloud features.

A more convenient way to use optimized storage is option "optimize storage". This option was presented by Apple officials during the WWDC 2016 event. Clicking this option will store all media that hasn't been used in a while (watched movies, watched shows, songs that you have listened from iTunes). Once you click the option, all associated files will be removed from your computer, and stored in the cloud. You can also choose to remove email attachments. Using this option is rather simple, as you just need to click Optimize. You will be asked to confirm if you want to optimize songs and videos from iTunes. Click optimize to confirm, and the feature will automatically remove movies, shows and music from your hard drive.

Unlike other options in Optimized Storage, reducing clutter requires a bit of a manual work. As in, you will have to manually clean files. Once you click the option, you will see a list of categories on the left side. Each list is folder that can store files. You can "review files", or simply select a folder from the list. You can go through the files in the folder individually, and select which one to keep, and which one to remove. For example, go to the apps folder, and view apps by type. More often than not, older versions of applications that you use can eat up your hard drive space. Delete them by using reduce clutter.

Last but not least, Optimized Storage allows you to empty trash automatically. Average computer users forget to empty the trash. And as your garbage can in the home, the bin on your computer adds up space. The difference is the trash bin doesn't get full. But all files in the can take up space. Using optimized storage, you can set up your macOS Sierra to remove trash automatically, every 30 days. In the optimized storage window, click "turn on" for empty trash automatically. You will be asked to confirm, and enabling the feature will remove files that have stayed in the trash bin for more than 30 days.