TL;DR
Yes, you can delete disk images on Mac. Here is how:
- Open Finder and locate the disk images (often in Downloads).
- Select the files and press Command ⌘ + Delete or right-click to Move to Bin.
- Empty the Bin to permanently delete the files.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
Managing storage on your Mac can feel like a never-ending task, especially when hidden files like disk images quietly eat up space. These files often go unnoticed, but they add up fast. Here’s how you can clean them out easily.
Is it Safe to Delete DMG Files on Mac?
Yes, it’s safe to delete DMG files after you’ve finished using them. DMG files are just containers that hold the contents needed to install an application or software.
Deleting a DMG file won’t affect the installed program on your Mac; the application will still work as usual. However, make sure the software is fully installed before deleting the DMG. If you delete it before installation, you’ll need to download it again if you want to reinstall or update the software.
Did You Know? Disk images (.dmg files) are the macOS equivalent of Windows’ .exe files. They are self-contained software packages that can be opened, installed, and then safely deleted without affecting the installed application.
How Can I Delete Disk Images on Mac?
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Let’s explore how you can delete disk images on your Mac, both manually and by using third-party tools:
1. Manually Delete Disk Images on Mac
Follow these steps to delete disk images on Mac manually.
- Open a Finder window by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock.
- Navigate to the location where the disk images are stored. Typically, disk images are saved in the Downloads folder or in the folder where you downloaded or saved them.
- Identify the disk image files you want to delete. They usually have the file extension .dmg or .iso, but it may vary depending on the specific disk image format.
- Select the disk image files you wish to delete. You can select multiple files at once by clicking each file while holding the Command ⌘ key.
- After selecting the desired disk images, press the Command ⌘ + Delete keys on your keyboard or right-click the selected files and choose Move to Bin from the context menu.
- To permanently delete the disk image files and reclaim disk space, empty the Bin. Right-click the Bin icon in the Dock and choose Empty Bin from the menu.
- Confirm that you want to delete the file permanently by clicking Empty Bin in the pop-up window.
- The selected disk image files will now be permanently deleted from your Mac, freeing up storage space and removing them from your file system.
Remember to exercise caution when deleting disk image files, ensuring you no longer need them or have properly installed any required software or files from within the disk images.
2. Delete Disk Images With Third Party Tools
Using third-party apps like MacKeeper offers a quick and easy way to delete disk images and clean up your Mac. Here are the steps to delete disk images on Mac using MacKeeper:
- Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
- Launch MacKeeper and select the Smart Uninstaller option from the left sidebar.
- Click the Start Scan button to scan all installed applications on your Mac.
- When the scan completes, click Leftovers in the left sidebar.
- Select the leftover files you want to delete in the right pane and click Remove Selected.
- Tap the Remove button to confirm the removal.
- Wait for MacKeeper to remove the leftover files completely. Click Rescan if you want to run the scan again.
Best Practices for Deleting Disk Images on Mac
Deleting disk images on Mac is an essential task that can help optimize your Mac’s performance and free up valuable storage space. To ensure that you delete disk images from your Mac safely and effectively, here are some best practices to keep in mind:
- Before deleting any disk images, back up your data on Mac so you don’t lose anything important.
- To fully remove a disk image from your system, make sure to securely empty the Trash.
- Regularly checking your Downloads folder helps you spot and safely delete leftover disk images.
