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This incredibly useful app can help your old Mac run like new again

Published Jun 10th, 2015 4:12PM EDT
MacBook Air Performance Issues Disk Inventory X

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Does your MacBook start sounding like a rocket ship that’s about to take off if you have more than four browser tabs open at once? If so then you may want to do a cleanup of your Mac’s disk space and there’s no better way to do it than through a third-party app called Disk Inventory X.

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The app, which I first learned about from Joanna Stern’s excellent guide to improving your old Mac’s performance, gives you an easy-to-understand breakdown of the files on your Mac that are clogging up your storage. When I first used it, for instance, I found that there was a mystery folder that I never used that was taking up a ton of space. On closer inspection, it turned out the folder contained an entire copy of OS X Snow Leopard that I had never bothered to get rid of — no, don’t ask me how it got there because I don’t know either.

What makes the app particularly useful is that after it scans your disk, it gives you a list of folders on your Mac that are taking up the most storage. In my case, I found a huge folder of old pictures I’d taken at the 2013 Mobile World Congress that I had absolutely no need for. I deleted them and freed up at least 1GB of space through that alone.

At any rate, if your Mac sounds like it’s wheezing through its last breaths, give this app a shot and see if it can boost your computer’s performance.

Download Disk Inventory X for your Mac via this link.

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.