How to Find Files Stored Locally on Mac

Identify files taking up storage space on your Mac by filtering for documents not synced to iCloud or external drives.

1. Open a new Finder window. Click the Finder icon in your Dock to initiate a new window. Ensure you are viewing the root directory of your user folder or the Macintosh HD drive.
2. Initiate a search query. Click into the search field located in the top-right corner of the Finder window. Type a period (.) to trigger the search parameters and reveal the search filter bar.
3. Restrict the search scope. Click the plus (+) button beneath the search bar to add a new search attribute. Click the 'Kind' dropdown menu and select 'Other' to access the full attribute list.
4. Configure local storage criteria. In the attribute search box, type 'Where' and check the box for 'Where' in the results. Select 'Where' from the dropdown, then select 'is' and choose 'This Mac' from the location list.
5. Exclude iCloud synced items. Add another attribute by clicking the plus (+) button. Set the attribute to 'iCloud Status' and set the value to 'Not Downloaded' to remove cloud-only placeholders from your results list.
6. Sort by file size. Click the 'View' menu in the top bar and select 'Show View Options'. Check the box for 'Size' and click 'Use as Defaults'. Click the 'Size' column header in your Finder window to sort files from largest to smallest.