Are Podcasts, Music or Movies chewing up your Mac's storage? Here's how to check and how to prevent this

Image by Csaba Nagy from Pixabay

I have seen a couple of clients recently who, when trying to work out what is taking up all the space on their Mac, have found that Podcasts is one of the culprits.

The Podcasts that they subscribe to and listen to on their iPhone (or iPad) have ended up downloaded and stored on their Mac as well - even though they don't listen to the Podcasts on that device.

Here's how to check if you too have this issue, how to remove the downloaded Podcasts and how to stop the automatic download in future. And we look at how to check that same thing for your Music and Movies/TV programs. We also look at how to check what else is using up your storage.

I have recorded a short tutorial for those of you who are members of the iTandCoffee Club.  Select the button below to visit the Members Area to watch this tutorial.  

​Not yet a member of the iTandCoffee Club? Here's where to learn more and join.

Stopping Automatic Downloads

What Mac-related events are coming up at iTandCoffee?

And we have some great books about Mac

Members of the iTandCoffee Club who have Online or Premium membership have FREE ACCESS to the PDF version of the below guides. Here's the Coupon Code that allows these members to 'purchase' the guides and remove any price.

Want to learn more about your Mac? Join the iTandCoffee Club today.

In paperback

A Guided Tour of the Mac - Big Sur Edition 2020 (Paperback)

A$29.50

This 52-page easy-to-read guide will help get you started on your Mac computer, so that you are able to find your way around, understand what all the major areas and functions are, and learn about how to customise your Mac to suit your preferences. 

Updated to reflect all the latest functionality provided under macOS Big Sur.

Here are the main topics that we cover

• What are you running on your mac?
• Your mac and its ‘user accounts’
• Let’s start with the 'Apple' menu
• What are your preferences?
• Turning your mac on and off
• Sleep and password settings
• Does your mac allow you to  ‘right-click’?
• Let’s talk about files and folders
• The desktop
• The dock
• Menus and the menu bar
• Connecting to wi-fi
• The app store on your mac
• Mission control
• Let’s talk gestures – scrolling, swiping & more
•  launchpad
• The bin (or trash can)
• Some common keyboard shortcuts

Please note that we only deliver to Australian addresses. Pickup from iTandCoffee in Camberwell, VIC, is also available.

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Files, folders and Finder on the Mac - Big Sur Edition 2020 (Paperback)

A$29.50

​Learn about managing all your files on your Mac in this 63-page guide - how to organise them into folders, find them when you need them, and save new files to new or existing folders. Understand all the main storage areas on your Mac and the grea features of your file manager, Finder. Here's what we cover in this latest 2020 edition, for macOS 11 Big Sur.

Here are the main topics that we cover:

• Understanding folders and files
• Opening finder
• Exploring finder - the sidebar
• Exploring finder – main folders
• Exploring finder – view options
• A look at the finder toolbar
• Finder preferences
• Navigating finder
• Sharing a file from finder
• Previewing files
• Selecting multiple files
• Creating folders
• Renaming a file or folder
• Copying and moving
• Searching for a file/document
• Smart folders
• Opening and saving within apps
• Managing finder windows
• Getting information about a file
• Working with external storage

Please note that we only deliver to Australian addresses. Pickup from iTandCoffee in Camberwell, VIC, is also available.

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Backups, Preferences and Apps on the Mac - Big Sur Edition 2020 (Paperback)

A$29.50

In this 73-page guide, we look at making sure that you keep your data safe using Apple's built in backup utility, about Apps and their preferences, and then some handy tips for some of the main apps that you will use - Mail, Safari, Contacts, Calendar and Notes.

Here are the main topics that we cover:

• Let’s talk Backups - Time Machine
• Another look at System Preferences
• Application Preferences
• Managing Apps and Windows
• The Standard Apps on your Mac
• Some Safari Tips
• Some Mail Tips
• Some Contacts Tips
• Some Calendar Tips
• A quick look at the Notes App

Please note that we only deliver to Australian addresses. Pickup from iTandCoffee in Camberwell, VIC, is also available.

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All sorts of handy tips about the Mac - Big Sur Edition 2020 (Paperback)

A$29.50

This is such a handy 54-page guide, giving your all sorts of tips like : how to screen shot, using the Preview for so many things, printing and PDFS, hidden keys (such as currency symbols, letters with accents), keyboard shortcuts, lots of useful built-in apps, great apps to get from the App Store, and more.

Here are the main topics covered in this latest, macOS 11 Big Sur edition.

• Before we start  
• Taking screen images (screen capture) 
• Insert a photo from your iphone/ipad 
• Quickly tidying a messy desktop 
• Creating a pdf from any image/s or document
• The preview app  viewing & editing images/pdfs
• Hidden keys on the keyboard
• Symbols and emojis 
• Quicktime player
• Other useful built-in apps
• Some apps worth adding 
• Fixing a slow Mac

Please note that we only deliver to Australian addresses. Pickup from iTandCoffee in Camberwell, VIC, is also available.

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Introduction to the Mac - Compilation of 5 User Guides, Big Sur Edition 2020 (Paperback)

A$75.00

Learn the basics as well as so many great tips and tricks about using your Mac, in this 331-page compilation all 5 iTandCoffee Guides from the Introduction to the Mac series.

1. A Guided Tour of the Mac
2. Files, Folders and Finder
3. Backups, Apps and Preferences
4. All sorts of handy tips for your Mac
5. The Photos app on the Mac

Here are the topics covered by each of these different parts:

Part 1: A Guided Tour

Part 1 will help get you started on your Mac computer, so that you are able to find your way around, understand what all the major areas and functions are, and learn about how to customise your Mac to suit your preferences. 

Part 2: Files, Folders and Finder

Learn about managing all your files on your Mac - how to organise them into folders, find them when you need them, and save new files to new or existing folders. Understand all the main storage areas on your Mac and the grea features of your file manager, Finder. 

Part 3: Backups,  apps & preferences

In this part we look at making sure that you keep your data safe using Apple's built in backup utility, about Apps and their preferences, and then some handy tips for some of the main apps that you will use - Mail, Safari, Contacts and Calendar. 

Part 4: All sorts of handy tips!

This is such part, giving your all sorts of tips like: how to screen shot, using the Preview for so many things, printing and PDFS, hidden keys (such as currency symbols, letters with accents), keyboard shortcuts, lots of useful built-in apps, great apps to get from the App Store, and more.

Part 5: The Photos App on the Mac

This comprehensive and easy-to-follow final part will tell you all you need to know about using the Photos app on your Mac to manage all those photos and videos. It covers all the latest features offered by mac OS Big Sur, released late in 2020

Please note that we only deliver to Australian addresses. Pickup from iTandCoffee in Camberwell, VIC, is also available.

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Introduction to the Mac - Compilation of 4 User Guides, Big Sur Edition 2020 (Paperback)

A$54.90

Learn the basics as well as so many great tips and tricks about using your Mac, in this 230-page compilation 4 iTandCoffee Guides from the Introduction to the Mac series.

1. A Guided Tour of the Mac
2. Files, Folders and Finder
3. Backups, Apps and Preferences
4. All sorts of handy tips for your Mac

See our separate Photos on the Mac guide (not included in this compilation series).

Here are the topics covered by each of these different parts:

Part 1: A Guided Tour

Part 1 will help get you started on your Mac computer, so that you are able to find your way around, understand what all the major areas and functions are, and learn about how to customise your Mac to suit your preferences. 

Part 2: Files, Folders and Finder

Learn about managing all your files on your Mac - how to organise them into folders, find them when you need them, and save new files to new or existing folders. Understand all the main storage areas on your Mac and the grea features of your file manager, Finder.

Part 3: Backups,  apps & preferences

In this part we look at making sure that you keep your data safe using Apple's built in backup utility, about Apps and their preferences, and then some handy tips for some of the main apps that you will use - Mail, Safari, Contacts and Calendar.

Part 4: All sorts of handy tips!

This is such part, giving your all sorts of tips like: how to screen shot, using the Preview for so many things, printing and PDFS, hidden keys (such as currency symbols, letters with accents), keyboard shortcuts, lots of useful built-in apps, great apps to get from the App Store, and more.

Please note that we only deliver to Australian addresses. Pickup from iTandCoffee in Camberwell, VIC, is also available.

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The Photos App on the Mac - Edition 5, Photos 6.0 macOS Big Sur (Paperback)

A$34.90

This comprehensive and easy-to-follow 103-page guide will tell you all you need to know about using the Photos app​ on your Mac to manage all those photos and videos. It covers all the latest features offered by macOS Big Sur, released late in 2020   

Here are the topics we cover:   

• Introducing Photos
• A Guided Tour of Photos
• Viewing your Photo Library On A TimeLine
• Other options for viewing your Library
• Viewing individual photos/videos
• Memories - Re-visit your past through photos
• Selecting Photos
• Deleting photos
• Introducing Albums
• Albums - Media Types
• Organising your Photos - Find your People
• Organising your Photos - Creating an Album
• Organising your Photos - Adding Photos/Videos to an Album
• Organising your Photos - Managing Album
• Sharing Photos and Videos
• Viewing your photos as a Slideshow
• Importing Photos into your Photos Library
• Where do my photos ‘live’?
• Editing Photos
• Viewing/changing information about your Photo
• Trimming & Editing Videos
• Duplicating photos and videos
• Searching for photos
• Organising your Photos - Smart Albums
• Exporting Photos
• Sorting out all those Duplicates
• Photo Books
• Now let’s talk about Photos in iCloud
• iCloud Photos
• My Photo Stream
• Shared Albums
• How to get your Photos out of iCloud

Please note that we only deliver to Australian addresses. Pickup from iTandCoffee in Camberwell, VIC, is also available.

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The Comprehensive Guide to iCloud (iOS 14 / macOS Big Sur Edition 2021) - Paperback

A$39.50

This 112-page plain English guide covers everything you need to know about iCloud, including

• Understanding 'The Cloud'
• What is iCloud
• What things will iCloud sync
• How big is my iCloud
• How do I get connected to iCloud
• Do I need to use iCloud
• Getting set up on iCloud
• Choosing what syncs
• Managing a full iCloud
• Getting more iCloud Storage
• What Apple ID should I use
• Accessing iCloud from any computer
• Your Photos in iCloud - and how to get then out of iCloud
• Backup to iCloud
• Documents and Data in iCloud - iCloud Drive
• iCloud Photos
• My Photo Stream
• Shared Albums
• iCloud on Windows computer
• And much more

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As PDF Downloads

A Guided Tour of the Mac - Big Sur Edition 2020 (PDF Download)

A$18.50

Learn More

Files, Folders and Finder on the Mac - Big Sur Edition 2020 (PDF Download)

A$18.50

Learn More

Backups, Preferences and Apps on the Mac - Big Sur Edition 2020 (PDF Download)

A$18.50

Learn More

All sorts of handy tips about the Mac - Big Sur Edition 2020 (PDF download)

A$18.50

Learn More

The Photos App on the Mac - Edition 5, Photos 6.0 macOS Big Sur (PDF Download)

A$23.90

Learn More

Introduction to the Mac - Compilation of 5 User Guides, Big Sur 2020 (PDF Download)

A$45.90

Learn More

Introduction to the Mac - Compilation of 4 User Guides, Big Sur Edition 2020 (PDF Download)

A$34.90

Learn More

The Comprehensive Guide to iCloud (iOS 14 / macOS Big Sur Edition 2021) - PDF Download

A$23.90

Learn More