Because it can contain so many different kinds of files, the Other category is a difficult source of clutter to deal with, and frequently causes frustration to Mac users. In this article, we’ll show you the steps to take to clean it up — and get more from your Mac!
What Is Other on Your Mac’s Storage?
The Other category in Mac storage contains files that don’t easily fit into the typical categories of Document, Photo, App, Video, Audio, etc. Other storage on Mac can hold a wide range of files, including system files, temp. files, and cached files. But not all the files in the Other category on Mac are as easy to justify as cached files or archives. “Bloatware” (such as junk files) refers to programs that aren’t useful but take up a lot of space, decreasing performance.
The file types considered Other in Mac storage mayinclude:
The file types considered Other in Mac storage mayinclude:
- MacOS system files and folders.
- Temporary files.
- Common document and file types (for instance, PDF, DOC, PSD).
- Archives and disk images (such as ZIP, ISO, DMG).
- App plugins, add-ons, and extensions.
- Files from your library (such as Application support, iCloud files, and screensavers).
- Cached files (user cache, browser cache, and system cache).
- Files not recognized by a Spotlight search, such as a virtual machine hard drive.
How to Check Other Storage on Your Mac
1. Click the Appleicon in the top-left corner and select About This Mac.
2. Choose the Storage tab. You’ll see a chart showing the types of files that are taking up storage on your Mac. If you’re reaching your limit, it’s time to clear out that Other storage!
2. Choose the Storage tab. You’ll see a chart showing the types of files that are taking up storage on your Mac. If you’re reaching your limit, it’s time to clear out that Other storage!
How to Find Other Storage Files on Your Mac
Once the Downloads folder on Mac has been opened, you can just look for any file of your choice. There is a search tab on the top that can help you do the same in less time. Simply click on it and type the name of the file you are looking for in the Downloads folder. Dec 25, 2021 Here’s how: On the menu bar, click the Apple logo in the top left Select ‘About this Mac’ Select ‘Storage’. You can check your Mac storage in a few different ways.; To get a full breakdown of your Mac computer's storage space, click the Apple logo in the upper left corner and navigate to 'About This Mac.
1. Open Finder and click Go in the menu bar.
2. Select GotoFolder.
2. Select GotoFolder.
3. Enter ~/Library and press enter (or click Go).
4. The library will appear, which contains all files and folders categorized as Other. What follows is quite a risky and time-consuming process. Besure to do your research and know your file names — as the wrong deletion can be catastrophic.
4. The library will appear, which contains all files and folders categorized as Other. What follows is quite a risky and time-consuming process. Besure to do your research and know your file names — as the wrong deletion can be catastrophic.
The One-Stop Solution: Trend Micro’s Cleaner One Pro
Cleaner One Pro is an easy-to-use, all-in-one disk cleaning and utility optimization app that will help you boost your Mac’s performance. It will take care of the Other problem automatically.
Cleaner One Pro includes several housecleaning tools, including:
Cleaner One Pro includes several housecleaning tools, including:
- Memory Optimizer
- Junk Cleaner
- File Scanner
- Duplicate Files Finder
- App Manager
- File Shredder
- Memory Disk map
These functions are all rolled into one easy-to-use interface for maximum efficiency and simplicity. Click the link above or the button at the bottom of this page to get more from your Mac.
How to Delete Other Storage on Your Mac
After successfully opening the window above, you now want to go through these three primary folders:
1. ~/Downloads
2. ~/Library/Caches
3. ~/Documents/Logs
When you’re done going through these folders and deleting as necessary, empty the Trash and restart your Mac. But be careful what you delete — you do not want to jeopardize your device by deleting the wrong file!
Furthermore, while deleting files, remember that the Other label DOES NOT signify junk files. Some files in this category exist for a reason: for example, some cache files are needed in order to make your system work faster, while ZIP archive files can contain important system documents and data. Good luck!
As always, if this article has been of use and/or interest to you, please do SHARE it with family and friends to help keep the online community secure and protected.
1. ~/Downloads
2. ~/Library/Caches
3. ~/Documents/Logs
When you’re done going through these folders and deleting as necessary, empty the Trash and restart your Mac. But be careful what you delete — you do not want to jeopardize your device by deleting the wrong file!
Furthermore, while deleting files, remember that the Other label DOES NOT signify junk files. Some files in this category exist for a reason: for example, some cache files are needed in order to make your system work faster, while ZIP archive files can contain important system documents and data. Good luck!
As always, if this article has been of use and/or interest to you, please do SHARE it with family and friends to help keep the online community secure and protected.
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- You can check your Mac storage in a few different ways.
- To get a full breakdown of your Mac computer's storage space, click the Apple logo in the upper left corner and navigate to 'About This Mac.'
- You can also go to 'Disk Utility' via the Utilities folder to check how much storage space you have left.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Whether you've received an alert that 'your startup disk is almost full' or you're just curious about how much space you have left on your computer, knowing how to check your Mac storage can come in handy.
There are a few ways to check the storage space on a Mac computer, and two methods are particularly easy.
Here's how to do it.
Check out the products mentioned in this article:
MacBook Pro (From $1,299.99 at Best Buy)
How to check your Mac storage via 'About This Mac'
1. Click on the Apple logo at the top left of your screen.
2. Click 'About This Mac.'
3. Click 'Storage.' You should see a stacked bar graph depicting how much of your total storage is being taken up by different categories of data. Above that you can find out how much space is still available on your .
4. If you want to dive into the specifics of how much space each app or file is taking up, click 'Manage' for a full breakdown.
How to check your Mac storage via 'Disk Utility'
1. Click on your 'Applications' folder located on the right side of your Dock, or open your Finder and click the 'Applications' folder on the left side of the window.
2. Scroll down until you find the 'Utilities' folder. Click on it to open.
3. Click on 'Disk Utility.'
4. A window will pop open with a bar graph depicting how much of your total storage is currently taken up. Below that you'll see exactly how many megabytes or gigabytes are used and how many are free.
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