How to remove the Large tag from old files on Mac

What this does

This is the natural companion to the “tag big files” rule elsewhere in this guide, that one adds a Large tag, this one takes it back off once a file’s been sitting around long enough that the tag isn’t telling you anything new anymore. Without this, a Large tag stops meaning “recently arrived and worth a look” and starts meaning nothing at all, since eventually everything old enough qualifies.

What you’ll build

A rule that matches files tagged Large that were added more than 90 days ago, then removes the tag.

Open the rule editor

This walkthrough happens inside FilesAutomator itself, so install it from the Mac App Store first if you have not already, then open it. In its toolbar, choose Add, then New Automation Rule.

Name the rule and choose a folder

Name it something like “Untag my old large files” and use Add Folder to choose the same folder your “tag big files” rule watches.

Build the condition

Leave the top group set to “All of the following are true”.

Add a condition: Finder tags contains Large.

Add a second condition: Date added is more than 90 days ago.

FilesAutomator

Add the action steps

Step 1: Remove tags

Choose Add Step, then Remove tags. In “Finder tags (comma separated)”, type Large.

FilesAutomator

Turn it on

Select Create Automation Rule, then switch the rule on. From now on, a Large tag only ever means a file that’s genuinely new and worth a look.

A faster way

The template gallery inside FilesAutomator already has this rule ready to install, named Untag old large files.