If you’re a Mac user, you might have noticed that a significant portion of your storage is occupied by “Other” space. But what exactly is this “Other” storage and how can you clear it up? In this guide, we’ll explore what “Other” storage is on Mac and provide you with steps to reduce its size if you’re running out of disk space.
How to Check “Other” Storage Space on Mac
To find out how much “Other” storage is taking up on your Mac, follow these simple steps:
- Click the Apple menu () and select “About This Mac”.
- Go to the “Storage” tab and locate the “Other” category.
The “Other” storage is represented by a blue item in newer versions of macOS and a yellow item in older versions. It includes various types of files and data that don’t fall into the predefined categories like applications, backups, and media.
Understanding “Other” Storage on Mac
So, what exactly constitutes “Other” storage on a Mac? Here are some examples:
- Documents and file types like PDFs, docs, and PSDs.
- Archives and disk images such as zip files and DMGs.
- Various personal and user-specific data.
- Files in system folders, temporary files, and swaps.
- User library items like application support files and screen savers.
- User and system caches, including browser caches and media files stored locally.
- Fonts, application accessories, and extensions.
- Files and file types that Spotlight doesn’t recognize, like virtual machine hard disks and Boot Camp partitions.
As you can see, “Other” storage is not just unnecessary clutter but a collection of diverse files and data. It’s important to note that “Other” storage on a Mac is different from the same category on iOS, which can sometimes include mismanaged cache or unreleased data.
How to Clear “Other” Storage on Mac
If you want to reclaim disk space by clearing up the “Other” storage on your Mac, here are a few steps you can take:
- Empty the Downloads folder (~ /Downloads) of unnecessary files.
- Delete user library caches (~ /Library/Caches/).
- Remove outdated documents from the Documents folder (~ /Documents/).
- Delete unnecessary attachments and media files from your Messages app.
For more extensive cleaning and freeing up additional disk space, you can explore advanced file search options, remove unused applications, and follow other methods outlined in these helpful articles:
- Free up disk space on any Mac running macOS.
- Find and remove large files with Advanced File Search in macOS.
- Delete unused applications in macOS.
Remember to always backup your Mac using Time Machine before deleting any files, and avoid modifying system folders or files unless you have expert knowledge.
Clearing System Caches, Temporary, and System Files
If you wish to clear system-level caches and temporary files that might be counted as “Other” storage, a simple restart of your Mac can often suffice. Avoid modifying the system folder unless you’re a knowledgeable user, as it may lead to unintended consequences. If needed, you can also use third-party tools like Onyx to safely clear caches, although this is usually unnecessary.
Additionally, note that Windows and Linux Boot Camp partitions will also appear as “Other” storage and cannot be reduced without deleting these partitions.
Freeing Up Disk Space on Mac
While “Other” storage may seem perplexing, there are various ways to reclaim disk space on a Mac. Here are some common tips:
- To address a “Startup disk almost full” error, identify and remove large files and unnecessary data.
- Delete old iTunes backups from iPhones and iPads.
- Explore other methods for freeing up disk space in macOS.
If you have any additional tricks or suggestions for clearing “Other” storage on Mac or freeing up disk capacity, feel free to share them in the comments below.
FAQ: What is “Other” Storage Space on Mac & How to Clear It Up
Q: What does this guide cover?
A: This guide explains what “Other” storage space is on Mac and provides instructions on how to clear it up.
Q: How can this guide help me?
A: This guide will help you understand the concept of “Other” storage on your Mac and provide you with actionable steps to free up valuable disk space.
Q: Which devices are supported by this guide?
A: This guide is applicable to Apple devices only.
Q: Which operating systems are supported?
A: This guide is suitable for macOS and iOS operating systems.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to “Other” storage on a Mac, understanding its nature and taking simple steps to clear it can help you regain valuable disk space. If you have further questions or need additional assistance, please reach out to us through the comment section or our contact page.
