"What is 'Other' in Mac storage, and can it be deleted?"

Over time, our devices accumulate many forgotten and unused files. This buildup often leads to a noticeable decrease in a Mac's performance, prompting us to delete certain files to free up precious space.

In this article, we will delve into all the details regarding the "Other" in Mac Storage. We will also explore how to delete unnecessary files and free up space in Mac Storage to enhance your device's functionality. Let's get started!

What is "Other" in Mac Storage?

Before you proceed with freeing up Mac disk space or updating the operating system to resolve an issue with not enough space on MacOS Sonoma, it's crucial to know what comprises the Other category, as not all files in this category are unnecessary or redundant.

How do I create another file in Mac Storage?

The "Other" category in Mac storage includes various sources and files. It consists of macOS system and temporary files (like Word temporary files), cache data, app extensions, fonts, user-generated content, common file types, user library files, and any files that Mac's search system can't identify.

These files are generated and pile up over time when you use Mac. For instance, you would need the Word temporary files to perform recover unsaved Word document on Mac when you choose not to save a Word document while quitting.

Why does “Other” take up so much space?

“Other” takes up a lot of space because it is a catch-all category for files that do not fit into standard categories.

Temporary files, cache data, and various system files accumulate over time, taking up storage space. Additionally, user-generated content, extensions, and other miscellaneous data contribute to growth in this category.

What happens if you remove other data?

Freeing up space by removing other data can help you optimize Mac performance and have more room for your files and apps.

Still, you have to be careful when permanently deleting files from Mac, as some of the items in the Other category might be required for normal operation of macOS and specific apps.

In this case, you may need to recover them from the Trash. However, deleted files stay in the Trash for only 30 days before they are permanently removed. Unless you use professional data recovery tools like tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Pro, you won't be able to find them on your Mac storage.

Download and install this powerful data recovery software on your Mac so you can delete some unnecessary files without worrying about losing data. Besides, if you want to reduce the storage occupied by “Other,” keep reading, and we'll introduce 8 ways to delete “Other” on your Mac.

How to Clean Up “Other” Storage on Mac [8 Ways]

Now, let's discuss some ways to free up other storage on your Mac, especially when your Mac startup disk is full:

Fix 1: Delete Unnecessary Files

It may come as a surprise that even text files can take up a lot of room, making storage management an issue. To clean up manually:

Step 1. Press “Command + F” on your Mac to search for the document.

Step 2: Select "This Mac" and click the first dropdown menu.

Step 3: Click “Other,” and then check “File size” and “File extension.”

Step 4: Type in the file type (like .pdf or .pages) and size to look for large files.

Step 5: View and delete content as desired.

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Fix 2: Clean system data and temporary files

To clear temporary files and system data on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Hold down "Shift+Command+G." This will open the "Go to Folder" dialog box.

Step 2: In the “Go to Folder” dialog, type ~/Library/Caches/, then press Return.

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Step 3: Here, you'll see the list of cached and temporary files stored on your Mac. Select the cache files that you wish to delete carefully and send them to Trash using the Move to Trash shortcut for Mac.

Fix 3: Empty the Trash on Mac

Emptying the Trash on your Mac can help free up storage space and improve its performance. To empty the Trash on your Mac, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open Finder from the Dock.

Step 2: In the top menu, go to “Finder” and select “Empty Trash.”

Step 3: Click Empty Trash in the warning message to confirm.

Click to empty the recycle bin.

Occasionally, Mac users might find the Trash can't be emptied after clicking Empty on the Trash to free up storage space. This article mainly discusses the reasons behind this annoying issue and provides four solutions to fix it.

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Fix 4: Clean up disk images and archive files

Freeing up space on your Mac by deleting unnecessary disk images and archives can help reclaim valuable storage space. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click “File” in the menu bar at the top of your screen, then select “Find.” Select “This Mac” to search through all of your Mac's folders.

Step 2: Click the "+" icon to add search criteria. From the first dropdown menu, choose "Other," then select "File Extension" and "File Size." Click "OK."

Step 3: Tap the “+” icon again, and enter “.zip” and “.dmg” as file types. Review the items that appear, and delete them as necessary.

Fix 5: Uninstall app add-ons and extensions

Uninstalling extensions and plugins will free up “Other” storage, speed up your web browsing, reduce your computer's start-up time, and generally clean up your system for smoother performance. To uninstall app add-ons and extensions, do the following:

Remove add-ons:

Delete plugin:

Step 1: Go to the Library folder by using the Go to Folder command: ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins.

Click on "Internet Plug-ins".

Step 2: Find and remove unnecessary browser plugins to free up storage space and improve your Mac's performance.

Remove browser extensions:

Clear Extensions:

1. Open Safari.

Step 2. Click on “Preferences”.

Step 3: Click the "Extensions" tab.

Click to expand

Step 4: Click on any extension to remove it.

Fix 6: Remove Time Machine backups and snapshots

When you back up with Time Machine, it continues to save backups until the storage is full, and then it overwrites the oldest backups. To delete a Time Machine backup, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Finder and go to the external drive.

Step 2: Locate the Backups.backupdb folder.

Step 3: Open it, and then select the folder for your device.

Step 4. Find the backups you want to delete, and drag them to the Trash by right-clicking.

Move the backup to the Trash

Fix 7: Remove Unwanted Screen Savers

Cleaning up unnecessary screen savers can help free up space in the “Other” storage category on your Mac, which can improve overall storage efficiency and performance. To find and delete network plugins from “Other” storage, follow these three steps:

Step 1: Open the “Libraries” folder.

Step 2: In the “Go to the folder” text field, type ~/Library/Screen Savers.

Step 3: Identify any unnecessary screensaver files in this folder, and move them to the Trash to delete them.

Fix 8: Delete old device backups from iTunes

To free up space on your Mac, consider deleting old and unnecessary backups. To do this, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open iTunes.

Step 2. In the menu bar, click “iTunes” and choose “Preferences,” then click “Devices.”

Step 3. Select the backup you want to delete, then click Delete Backup.

Click "Delete backup."

Bonus Tip: Recover Permanently Deleted Data from Mac

It's crucial to remember that important data can be lost during a cleanup process on your computer. Whether you've emptied the Trash, accidentally deleted a file, or experienced another type of data loss, your files may still be recoverable. Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Pro is a reliable solution for Mac users facing such issues with data loss. It can help you recover permanently deleted files on Mac.

It is designed to address various data loss scenarios, including data deleted accidentally, formatted during macOS update, lost due to virus attacks, system crashes, hardware failures, unexpected shutdowns, or human errors. It can also help you recover Time Machine backups that you accidentally deleted.

With the Mac Pro Data Recovery Wizard, you can select your hard drive, initiate a scan to find deleted files, and preview all recoverable items. This versatile tool can rescue all sorts of files, from single Office Word documents to vast photo collections.

Here are the steps to recover deleted or lost files from your Mac:

Step 1: Search for the Lost File

On macOS Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, and the latest Sonoma, choose the disk location where you lost the file (it can be an internal HDD/SSD or a removable storage device). Then, click the "Search Lost Files" button.

Note: Before you proceed with data recovery, it's recommended that you click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar and create a backup of your Mac to prevent further data loss. After the backup, the software can recover data from the Mac backup, and your computer can overwrite new data.

Step 2: Browse the scan results

Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will scan the selected disk partition immediately and display the scanning results.

Step 3: Select the files and recover them.

Select the files you want to preview from the scan results, and then click the "Recover" button to get them back.

Conclusions

In a nutshell, it's crucial to understand what's included in the "Other" category of Mac storage. This encompasses system files, caches, logs, and more. While essential for the smooth functioning of your operating system, these can accumulate over time and take up significant storage space. Deleting "Other" data manually can be risky, as it may contain important system files.

To safely reclaim valuable storage space and retrieve deleted files, consider using a reliable data recovery tool like tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. This software is designed to help you recover lost data and optimize your Mac's storage space by securely deleting unnecessary files, ultimately enhancing your Mac's performance.

What is 'Other' in the Mac Storage FAQ?

Now, let's go through some common questions related to this issue.

Why is Other taking up so much space on my Mac?

The rest of your Mac's storage may be taken up by temporary files, caches, and system data. Apps and downloads can also take up space. Regularly clearing out unnecessary files can help reduce this.

2. Is it safe to clean up Other Storage on Mac?

It's usually safe to delete other storage files, like caches and temporary data. However, be careful not to remove important system files. Use a built-in macOS tool or a third-party app to clean up safely.

3. How can I see what's taking up space on my Mac's storage? To view the contents of your Mac's storage, follow these steps: 1. Click on the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of the screen. 2. Select "About This Mac" (About This Mac). 3. In the resulting window, click on the "Storage" tab. 4. You'll see a colored bar graph displaying the storage usage by different file types, such as Applications, Documents, System, Photos, Videos, and more. 5. Hover your mouse over each category to get more detailed information. 6. If you want to see the specific files or applications that are taking up space, open Finder and choose "Files" or "Applications" from the sidebar on the left to browse. These methods will help you understand how your Mac's storage is being used and identify potential items to clear to free up space.

To see what's categorized as “Other” in your Mac's storage, open Finder and press and hold the Option key. Then, click “Library” in the “Go” menu. The various files and folders in Library contribute to the “Other” storage category.