Fixing the “Not Enough Space” Error on macOS

If you’re encountering a “Not enough space” error when working with Capture One on macOS, even though there appears to be ample free space, the issue may stem from how macOS reports available disk space — particularly on APFS-formatted drives. This is a common issue that affects not only Capture One but other applications as well.

Why This Happens

macOS with APFS (Apple File System) introduces advanced features such as snapshots and dynamic space sharing. These features can confuse apps that rely on traditional disk usage reporting. As a result, Capture One may not be able to accurately parse available disk space, especially if macOS is reserving space for local snapshots, Time Machine backups, or other system-level processes.

Recommended Workarounds

Clear the Trash Bin

Sometimes files moved to the Trash still occupy disk space that the system marks as "available" but is actually not truly free. To free up real, usable space:

• Right-click the Trash icon in your Dock.
• Select Empty Trash.
• Confirm the action if prompted.

Note: This step often resolves the issue immediately and is worth trying first before proceeding with other workarounds.

Create a document or move the existing one to a location with enough free space

This is a great alternative if you are not ready to remove files in the Trash Bin and want to resort to it later. 

• Here's how to move a catalog or a session: How do I move a Catalog?
• To create a new catalog/session, go to File>New Catalog or New Session and pick the location for it.
• If you can start Capture One because of this error, hold down Alt or Option key while clicking the Capture One icon on the dock as this will bypass the previous document and give you the Open dialog window.
   

Run Disk Utility First Aid

To check for and repair any underlying disk issues:

• Open Disk Utility (found in Applications > Utilities, or use Spotlight search).
• Select your internal drive (usually labeled “Macintosh HD”).
• Click First Aid and run the scan.

While this may not directly increase free space, it helps ensure that macOS is reporting disk space correctly to applications.

Additionally, macOS utilizes APFS snapshots, which may retain copies of data that has been emptied from the Trash. These snapshots are typically created by backup utilities like Time Machine. Even after you delete large files or clear the Trash, space might not become immediately available because it's still reserved in these snapshots.

To check and optionally delete them:

Open Terminal and enter:

tmutil listlocalsnapshots /

To remove a snapshot:

sudo tmutil deletelocalsnapshots <snapshot-date>

Note: Proceed with caution. Deleting snapshots should only be done if you’re familiar with Terminal or under the guidance of Apple Support.