← Back to Support
PicBucket

How to manage my Bucket for storage space?

Managing Bucket (Mac) storage space in the PicBucket app can be broadly divided into "monitoring" through the app and "physical space management" through Mac hardware. Since this app uses your Mac as storage, not a cloud server, space management is directly linked to managing your Mac's hard drive.

1. Monitoring Storage Status in the App

The iPhone app acts as a dashboard that displays the remaining storage space of your connected Mac (Bucket) in real time.

  • Checking Storage Status: The "Bucket Storage Usage" graph appears in the center of the app's main screen (dashboard).
    • Usage: Displayed as a percentage (%) (e.g., 95% used).
    • Capacity: Displays the total capacity and the currently used capacity in specific numbers (GB) (e.g., 494G total / 470G used).
  • Knowing When to Manage: When this graph is full or nearing red, it's time to clear up your Mac's storage.

2. Free up physical storage space (on your Mac)

PicBucket uses your Mac's physical hard drive, so you must manage it directly within the Mac operating system (macOS), rather than clicking the "Free up space" button within the app.

  • Delete unnecessary files: Free up storage space by deleting unused files and old documents from your Mac and emptying the Trash. As your Mac's storage grows, the "Bucket storage usage" indicator in the app will automatically update.
  • Expand storage: If your Mac's internal drive is full, you can increase physical storage space by connecting an external hard drive or upgrading your SSD. This offers the advantage of "unlimited scalability," unlike cloud services where you can simply add hardware without paying additional monthly fees.

3. Manage backup quality and file types (subscription settings)

If you want to use your storage space efficiently or manage it in higher quality, you can change your data storage method through subscription options.

  • Free version (capacity-saving): The free plan only backs up "small-sized photos" and does not support videos. This lowers the image quality, taking up less storage space on your Mac.
  • Paid Subscription (Original Preservation): Subscriptions allow you to back up photos and videos in their original quality. If you want to keep high-quality photos, consider subscribing, but be sure to reserve ample free space on your Mac, as large files are stored.

Summary: The Key to Bucket Management

According to report analysis, the biggest advantage of personal PC backup is that "users can flexibly expand their storage capacity."

  • Check: Check your usage regularly in the iPhone app.
  • Action: If you're running low on space, organize files on your Mac or add an external hard drive.
  • Policy: Choose a free (low-capacity) or paid (original) backup plan depending on the importance of your photos.

To use an analogy: The PicBucket app is like a "fuel gauge." It tells you how much gas (storage space) is left in your car (Mac), but you have to do the actual filling (adding hardware) or emptying (deleting files) yourself on your car (Mac).