These are super simple and quick ways to get rid of that annoying 'Other' storage on your Mac. The last tip in the video is definitely the best one ever!Hey. Apr 12, 2020 How to Delete Other Storage on Mac? Remove Extensions. There remain a lot of extension files on your Mac such as web browser and screensavers extensions. Step 2: Press Command + Shift + G keys. Step 3: Here, navigate to /Library/Caches directory. Delete Unwanted. For the most part, these files are created and saved by various apps on the Mac, mainly in the /Library folder. However, when using Apple menu About this Mac Storage tab, you cannot access the files in Other directly.
- What's The Other In My Mac Storage
- Other In Mac Storage
- What Is Considered Other In My Mac Storage
- Clean Up Mac Storage Other
Dec 21, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions
Mac studio fix fluid c5. There is no doubt that labels are quite helpful as they make you understand things easily. When you look at your ever-decreasing storage usage on your Mac, you'll get to see several labels, such as Apps, Photos, Backups, and Movies. Then, it comes to confusing label i.e. 'Other' storage and you see it is taking up quite large storage capacity on your Mac. If you are wondering what Other storage is and how to get rid of Other on Mac, then you have come to the right place.
Here, you will get to learn everything you need to know about 'Other', what it contains, and how you can delete it from your Mac.
Part 1. What Does Other Mean in Mac Storage?
The 'Other' category is a blend of files that aren't recognized as one of the other file categories (Apps, Music, Photos, etc). Similar to 'Other' on iOS devices, it stores different types of files. It takes a lot of storage space and that's why the majority of Mac users want to know how to delete other storage on Mac? It is also known as home to numerous files, temporary files, cached data, and junk files you probably want to remove from your Mac.
So, files present under this category may seem useless and redundant and can be removed. However, we recommended that you should first have a look at what type of files Another category contains.
The label 'Other' can be quite misleading as it doesn't only include junk files, but also crucial personal files. Thus, it is better that you should have a glance at what it contains to avoid the accidental deletion of some important data.
Part 2. How to Fix 'Microsoft Word Not Opening Mac'?
Well, you now got an idea about what 'Others' storage on Mac is all about. You might be probably wondering to know about what type of specific files is in there? It contains:
- Common file and document types, which include doc, PSD, PDF, and many more.
- Files in the OS X system folder, which include temporary files, voices, swap, and much more.
- Any type of disk images and archives, which include zips, tar, dmg, iso, etc.
- Your personal information and data.
- Application support, screensavers, iCloud files, etc.
- Fonts, application plugins, app extensions, app accessories.
- Numerous file types that aren't identified by Spotlight, for instance, a Windows Boot Camp partitions, virtual machine hard drive, and much more.
- Cache files, which include browser cache, system cache, and user cache.
- Non-time machine backups by apps, which include iTunes-created iOS device backup files.
- Files in the download folders.
- User and preferences settings.
- Third-party applications and Apple files
- Other system files such as catalogs, the File system event store, the disk directory, etc.
These files are present in Others category and thus, it is no surprise at all that the size of your 'Other' storage will normally come out so large.
Now, the main concern after knowing MacBook Pro/Air other storage you'll have is how to clear up Other space on Mac. So, continue reading this article to know how to do it.
Part 3. How to Delete Other Storage on Mac?
The truth is that you can't wholly delete Other storage on Mac. However, you can try to minimize how much storage capacity it takes up. Here, we are going to tell you different types of Other files, how you can get rid of them from your Mac and empty trash on Mac. So, let's begin.
1. Check the Other Storage Status
The first step to removing Other storage on Mac starts by knowing how to check the Mac storage usage. Well, here are the simple steps you need to follow:
- To begin with, tap on your Finder or desktop icon from the Dock.
- Next, choose the Apple Menu icon located at the upper-left of your computer screen.
- After that, tap on About This Mac
- Now, you need to select the Storage tab.
Finally, you get to see that each bar segment providing you with the estimation of the storage space being used by a different type of files. You can move your pointer or cursor over each segment to get more information about how storage capacity is being used on your Mac by different categories, which include Other too.
What's The Other In My Mac Storage
2. Get Rid of Cache Files
Now, you know how much storage space the 'Other' category is taking up on your Mac, it's time to get rid of it. You can begin by deleting files you don't need any more, which include caches for web browser, photo previews, and much more like that.
- Go to the new Finder window.
- Here, select 'Go'>' Go to Folder' or you can use 'Shift + Cmd + G' shortcut.
- When the window appears, you need to enter '~/Library/caches' into the text field.
- After that, choose the app folder you want to get rid of it. Next, drag it to trash to delete them from your Mac.
- Again, using the 'Shift + Cmd + G' keyboard shortcut, move to the folder, and now, enter '/Library/caches ' (rather than '~/Library/caches'). Next, you need to repeat all the above steps to delete the cache folders and files.
That's how you can delete cache files manually on your Mac.
3. Delete Downloaded Files
Possibilities are, your Mac Downloads folder contains Other-type items, which include documents, folders, installer packages, and other folders for which you've already copied in somewhere location. Thus, if you want to free up space on your Mac, then it's time to delete your downloaded files.
- From the dock, go to Finder, and tap on it.
- Once you enter the manage page, look for the Downloads.
- Once you locate it, tap on it to view all downloaded files on the right pane.
- Now, you can choose all the downloaded files you want to delete by using 'Command + A'. After that, right-click on the selected files, and choose 'Move to Trash'.
- Finally, you can empty the Trash folder on your Mac.
4. Remove Temporary Files
When your Mac is running currently, it creates system files known as logs and these files are crucial for your system to work normally, but only on a particular time span. After some time these items become outdated, resulting in taking up a large amount of your disk space. These files also come under the 'Other' storage category. Generally, these files are known as temporary files.
Other In Mac Storage
Sometimes, you need to delete temporary files manually and so, here are the steps on how to clean Other storage on Mac:
- To start with, move to '~/Users/User/Library/Application Support/'.
- Here, you will get to view applications that taking up a lot of storage space on your Mac with their temporary files.
- You can delete them manually by dragging them to the Trash folder.
5. Clear Plug-ins and Backups
While apps on Mac storage bar labels as Apps, and their plug-ins or add-ons comes under the Other category. As compared to other file types, app plug-ins and extensions don't take up much storage space of your Mac. But, every bit matters and that's why it is better that you should clear plug-ins from your Mac in order to save some storage space.
Here, we are going to show how you can delete extensions and plug-ins from various browsers, which include Chrome, Safari, and Firefox:
To clear extensions from Chrome:
- Launch Chrome and tap on the three-dot icon located at the top=right corner.
- Next, tap on More tools and then, choose Extensions.
- Finally, remove or disable as you want.
To clear extensions from Safari:
- Run Safari and tap on Preferences.
- Next, tap on the Extensions tab.
- Finally, choose the extension you like to remove and tap 'Uninstall' to clear or make it Enable to Disable.
To clear extensions from Firefox:
- Run the Mozilla Firefox browser and tap on the burger menu located at the top-right corner.
- Next, select Add-ons.
- Finally, go to the Extensions and Plugins tab to clear whatever plug-ins you want to.
Besides plug-ins, do you back up your iOS device using iTunes on a regular basis? Is so, then you may have lots of old unwanted backups too. Each backup can take up nearly 5GB, and that's why it is better that you should get rid of unnecessary backups. It is also another way for clearing Other storage on Mac. So, here are steps on how to do it:
- Run iTunes on your Mac.
- Tap the iTunes menu and choose Preferences.
- Next, choose Devices.
- Here, choose the backup you want to remove and tap on 'Delete Backup'.
Part 4. How to Recover Accidentally Deleted Files on Mac?
While you are trying to repair the drive and word files, it is common that the solutions don't work as expected and the files get deleted from Mac. Here is the perfect solution if getting stuck in such circumstances without any recovery option.
1. Recoverit - The Best Software to Recover Word Files:
The best tool available for data recovery on the internet is Recoverit Data Recovery Mac. This software is capable of recovering various kinds of deleted or lost data. It is a faster, easier, and more reliable recovery tool with a high recovery rate.
Recoverit - The Best Mac File Recovery Software
- Recover files from all storage devices like Mac.
- Recover 1000+ types and formats of data in all situations.
- Scan and preview the files before you recover them on Mac.
2. How to Recover Lost Word Files on Mac:
Step 1: Select a Location
Launch the software and select the drive from where the data files are lost. If you don't know which drive to search, tap on the 'I can't find my partition' option, and hit the Start button.
What Is Considered Other In My Mac Storage
Step 2: Scan the Location
Typically, the software will run an All-Around Recovery scan and search for the lost and deleted files on the entire drive.
Step 3: Preview and Recover
When the scan completes, the files will be listed on the screen. The software will sort out the files according to format to make the search easier. You can select multiple files at a time and have a preview at them.
Part 5. Tips for Deleting Other Files on Mac
If you're searching for effective tips on deleting Other files on Mac so that you don't end up deleting important files, then here are ones you're looking for:
- When you're deleting cache files, remember that you only need to remove old and unwanted files because current cache items save your preferences. That's why we firmly recommend that you should only remove cache items from old applications.
- When you are removing plug-ins and extensions, if you are not sure what an extension or plug-in does, then try to disable it first, and check if your system and apps work normally. You can delete that later.
- There is no doubt that you can delete temporary and cache files manually. However, if you want a much faster and safer method to do this, then you can use a cleaning app for Mac.
- When you've deleted old iOS backup from iTunes application to clean Other on Mac, make sure that you don't delete the latest backup version.
- Last but not the least tip is that delete only those items for which you have a clear idea that removing them won't create problems in the functioning of your system and apps.
Conclusion
That's all on what is Other storage on Mac, how to find Other files on Mac, and how to get rid of them to free up storage space. If you end up deleting some important files by mistake while trying to delete Other files, then Recoverit can help you to get back your deleted files with ease.
What's Wrong with Mac
- Recover Your Mac
- Fix Your Mac
- Delete Your Mac
- Learn Mac Hacks
Dec 21, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions
Truth to be told – this is one of the major queries of almost every Mac user these days. While Mac offers a wide range of features, most of the models suffer from limited storage. Therefore, a lot of people find it hard to manage storage on Mac and seek the assistance of external sources. Though, if you want, you can take some preventive measures and clear up space on Mac. Some several techniques and methods can help you do the same in less time. To make things easier for you, we have come up with several solutions that will clear space on Mac and resolve this situation.
Part 1. How to See How Much Space Is Left on Mac
Before you learn how to clear space on Mac, it is important to know about the system's available storage. In this way, you can get a clear idea of how much space in left in Mac and you can clear other content accordingly. Here's how to see how much space is left on your Mac storage.
- Firstly, launch Finder on your Mac and from its sidebar, go the Devices section, and select the root directory.
- Here, you can view all the partitions and external devices. Select the Macintosh HD (or Fusion drive). Right-click to get the context menu and go to the 'Get Info' section.
- A pop-up window will open stating all the essential details of the hard drive. The 'Capacity' section will display the total storage while the 'Available' option will inform you of the total free space on it.
How to See What's Taking up Space on Mac
After knowing how much space is left on your Mac, you can also take some extra measures as well. For instance, you can know what type of data is accumulating how much space on your system. To get an extensive bifurcation of the storage, follow these steps:
- Go to Mac's desktop and click on the Apple logo at the top left corner of the screen. From here, go to the 'About This Mac' option.
- This will launch a dedicated window with details about your system. Visit the 'Storage' section from here.
- Now, you can view the storage details of your Mac's partition or connected external sources. It would also depict the total and the available space on it.
- After that, you need to press 'Command + Shift + Period' to toggle to view hidden files.
Eight Solutions to Free Up Space on Mac
1. Downloads Folder
The Downloads folder is the default location on Mac that stores all the content that you have downloaded from the web. If you have been using your Mac for a while now, then the Downloads folder can accumulate a lot of data. Therefore, you should consider visiting the Downloads folder every now and then, and delete the unwanted files from it to clear disk space on Mac.
- To access your Mac's Downloads, just click on the 'Go' option on Finder and open the Downloads folder.
- You can also just launch Finder and visit the Downloads folder from the sidebar.
- On the right, you can view all the files stored in the Downloads folder. Simply select the unwanted data, right-click, and move it to Trash.
2. Unwanted Apps
We all use different kinds of apps on our Mac for numerous purposes. Though, there are times when the system ends up having too many unwanted apps. You can just inspect all the installed apps on Mac and get rid of the programs you no longer want. In this way, you can easily learn how to free up disk space on Mac and boost its processing as well.
- Just go to Mac's Finder > Applications to view all sorts of apps installed on Mac under various categories.
- Select the application you wish to delete, right-click, and move it to Trash to get rid of it.
- If you are removing any important application, then you would get a confirmation prompt like this. Just enter the admin username and password to confirm your choice and delete the app.
- Apart from that, you can also go to Launchpad to view the programs installed from Mac's App Store. Long press any app to get the delete option (as the icons would start to wiggle).
- Click on the cross button (delete option) at the top of the app icon and confirm your choice to delete the app.
3. Duplicate Photos and Media Files
This is something that almost every Mac user suffers from. Since we all move our photos, videos, music, and other media files from one place to another, it often results in redundancy. If you wish to free up space on Mac, then check for any duplicate content and get rid of unwanted files.
- Mostly, users observe the presence of duplicate photos on Mac. To analyze this, go to Finder > Pictures from the sidebar.
- Here, you can find both the Photos Library and iPhoto Library. You can choose either of these options and import photos from one library to another to get rid of duplicate files.
- Apart from that, you can take the assistance of iTunes to detect duplicate content as well. Simply launch iTunes and go to its File > Library > Show Duplicate Items.
- This will display all the duplicate songs, videos, and other media files on iTunes. You can just remove the files of your choice from here.
4. Get rid of Trash
Whenever we delete something from Mac, it is moved to Trash. This lets us recover the files that we have deleted accidentally. Though, if you wish to clear space on Mac, then it is important to wipe the Trash folder as well. In this way, you can delete files from Trash permanently and clear disk space on Mac easily.
- If you want to empty the entire Trash folder, then select its icon first and go to Finder. Click on the 'Empty Trash' option from here and confirm your choice.
- In addition to that, you can also select the Trash icon from the dock and right-click. From the context menu, click on the 'Empty Trash' option.
5. iTunes Backup
To make it easier for iOS users to manage their devices, Apple has provided several options in iTunes. Chances are that you must have taken its assistance to back up your iOS device as well. For instance, if you have an iPhone, then you can easily take its backup on iTunes as many times as you want. Though, multiple backups can take a toll on Mac storage and should be checked regularly. If you want to learn how to free space on Mac, then follow this simple drill.
- Start by launching iTunes on your Mac and go to its iTunes menu > Preferences.
- As the Preferences window will open, you can go to the 'Devices' section to view the available backup files.
- Simply select the file you wish to get rid of and click on the 'Delete Backup' button. Confirm your choice and the iTunes backup would be erased from your Mac.
6. Temporary Files
Just like every other leading operating system, Mac also stores temporary and cache data while processing. Ideally, these temp files help us with the processing of certain actions and the overall Mac performance. Nevertheless, they can also accumulate after a while and consume a large chunk of your Mac's storage. Thus, it is recommended to remove temporary files every now and then to free up space on Mac.
- Since every application can have its own temporary files, you can start by visiting the relevant folders. Visit Finder's Go > Go to Folders and enter '~/Users/User/Library/Application Support/' in the address bar.
- Once the Application Support folder would be opened, you can visit different files and search for temporary files (with temp or tmp extensions). Subsequently, you can move the relevant files to Trash.
- Apart from temporary files, you can also check the Cache data on Mac too. Just visit Library > Caches and remove all kinds of unwanted cache from here.
7. Mac Mail Attachments
Mac comes with tons of native apps like Mail that can help us manage our emails and messages in one place. Needless to say, the constant use of the mails and the downloading of several attachments can consume a lot of storage. If you want, you can get rid of individual or bulk attachments in the following way.
- Firstly, open the Mail app from Finder and go to the mail that has the respective attachment.
- Once the attachment is loaded, go to the Message option from the Finder and choose to Remove Attachment.
- If you want to manually delete bulk attachments that are already downloaded on Mac, then go to the ~/Library/Mail folder.
- Here, you can view all the stored Mac mail attachments. Make the relevant selection and delete the unwanted files.
8. Move Files to an External Storage
While we can delete unwanted content from Mac, there are certain files that we can't get rid of. In this case, you can simply move them to external storage like an SD card, pen drive, or external hard disk. This will free up disk space on your Mac while still keeping your important data safe.
- Simply connect an external data source to your Mac. Most likely, you can see its icon on the desktop from where you can access the storage.
- If you want, you can also launch Finder and visit the location of the files you wish to move.
- Select the respective files, right-click, and cut them from the source. Go to the external source from Finder's sidebar and paste your files here instead.
Part 4. How to Manage Storage on Mac
By following the above-listed techniques, you would be able to clear disk space on Mac. Apart from that, you can also manage storage on Mac more efficiently by following these suggestions:
• Manage iCloud Sync
By default, every Apple ID gets access to 5 GB of free storage on iCloud. If you want, you can even buy more storage as well. You should make the most of it by syncing certain things on iCloud with your Mac. This will maintain a dedicated backup of your data (like Photos) and improve their availability. Simply Go to Finder > System Preferences and launch the iCloud app. Set up your account if you haven't already and enable the syncing option for your photos, contacts, notes, etc.
• Auto Empty Trash
A lot of users forget to empty the Trash after moving files to it. If you want, you can make sure that the data would only be stored for 30 days in Trash. After that, it will automatically be removed from Trash to make more space on Mac. Just go to Finder > Finder Preferences > Advanced. Now, enable the option to remove items from Trash after 30 days automatically.
• Optimize Storage
There are also different ways to manage storage on Mac by optimizing it. To start with, de-clutter your system and try to have an organized hierarchy of the file system. If you want, you can automate this feature as well. Just go to Finder and click on the Apple icon > About this Mac > Storage > Manager. Here, you can enable the Optimize Storage option to remove the iTunes movies and shows that you have already watched.
There is also an option for 'Reduce Clutter' that you can turn on. This will organize your Mac and get rid of the documents you no longer need.
• Delete App Data
Sometimes, uninstalling apps is not enough as they can leave residual data on Mac. If you won't remove the leftover app data, then it can consume a lot of storage of your Mac in the long run. Just go to your Mac's Library and visit the folder of the app you have already uninstalled. From here, you can carefully remove the existing app data that is no longer needed by Mac.
• Organize Mac Partitions
Photoshop cc mac mega. You might already know that Mac lets us create different partitions to logically separate the disk. It is recommended to empty the partition and delete it to defragment the disk space. Once you have taken a backup of your data, go to Applications > Disk Utility and view the existing partitions. Delete the unwanted partitions, create new ones, or merge existing partitions from here to make the most of the provided space.
Part 5. How to Recover Lost Data While Clearing Space
As you can see, there are different ways to learn how to make space on Mac by managing the storage and getting rid of unwanted content. Though, there are times when we end up deleting something by mistake. In this case, you can take the assistance of Recoverit Data Recovery for Mac to get back the lost, deleted, or inaccessible data. Recoverit 8.0 is the latest release of the application that provides a wide range of data recovery features and an extremely simple user interface. Here are some of the new and advanced features of this data recovery tool.
- Recoverit 8.0 runs an extensive scan on Mac through its advanced recovery algorithm. This yields comprehensive results in less time.
- Using Recoverit, you can get back all kinds of lost and deleted data back. The application supports 1000+ different data types for photos, videos, audios, files, documents, etc.
- It is fully compatible with every major file system used in Mac like APFS, HFS+, exFAT, and more.
- You can preview the extracted content on its native interface and pick the type of data that you wish to get back.
- It doesn't matter if you have accidentally deleted something, the storage has been corrupted, or an entire partition has been formatted – Recoverit can handle every scenario.
- Apart from Mac's HD, you can also perform data recovery on SD cards, cameras, external hard disks, pen drives, and all the popular sources.
Since the basic version of Recoverit 8.0 is available for free, you don't have to spend a single dime to have a hands-on experience of the tool first. Later, you can follow these simple steps and restore your lost data from Mac using Recoverit 8.0:
Clean Up Mac Storage Other
Step 1: Select a Location
Install and launch Recoverit 8.0 on your Mac, whenever you wish to get back your lost files. On its home, you need to select a location to scan. This can be Mac's entire storage, a partition, or even a particular folder. You can browse to a specific location of your choice as well.
Step 2: Scan the Location
As you would click on the 'Start' button, Recoverit will scan the source and extract all the essential files from it. It might take a few minutes for the process to be completed, and hence, it is recommended not to close the application in between.
Step 3: Preview and Recover
When the scan is complete, the interface will let you preview all the extracted data. It will already list everything under different categories. Recoverit 8.0 now also provides a bigger and better preview for photos, videos, and documents. Select multiple files if you want to and click on the 'Recover' button to save them to any location of your choice.
Conclusion
Who knew it would be so easy to manage storage on Mac and even recover lost data from it. To make things easier for you, we have listed eight different solutions on how to free up space on Mac. Furthermore, we have even provided a smart guide on how to see storage on Mac beforehand. In this way, you can see the difference in your Mac storage before and after following the listed suggestions. Additionally, if you have deleted something by mistake, then simply take the assistance of Recoverit Data Recovery. Developed by Wondershare, it is one of the most advanced and reliable data recovery tools for Mac that you should certainly keep handy.
What's Wrong with Mac
- Recover Your Mac
- Fix Your Mac
- Delete Your Mac
- Learn Mac Hacks
