Storage numbers aren't adding up/excess system storage on Mac? any help or advice?

[shadow tundra]

This is the storage settings page on my M4 MacBook Air 13", currently on macOS Tahoe 26.1 (25B78). I felt as if I've managed basically everything pretty well but I still have 200+ GB of storage usage, with about 120GB saying that it is "macOS"/other system data, which my machine never ends up finishing calculating here in the settings page. Anywhere I can check or do to reduce my storage usage to be much more reasonable? Maybe do I need to just completely erase my machine and restore it from a time machine backup?

Also I don't use iCloud Photos so there isn't any space being taken from that

[cerulean hare]

It'd be best to let macOS manage the system data and other storage. I wouldn't erase and restore, no point, there's no stopping it from building up again

[shadow tundra]

hmm okay. so you think I shouldn't worry too much even though it hovers upwards of 200 GB out of 256GB of my storage?

[cerulean hare]

Ye

I have a very similar storage situation as you

And it makes sense that it's that high, we have a lot of applications

[shadow tundra]

yeah i guess so

[shadow tundra]

thanks for the help

[cerulean hare]

Ofc

Do you have any other questions?