What Is Other in Mac Storage and Can You Delete It

As time passes, our devices accumulate many forgotten and unused files. This buildup often leads to a noticeable decline in our Mac's performance, prompting us to remove specific files to free up valuable space.

In this article, we will explore the complete details about what is Other in Mac storage. Moreover, we'll learn all about removing unwanted files in Other Mac storage and freeing up space for better functionality of your device. So, let's begin!

What Is Other in Mac Storage

Understanding what falls under the "Other" category is crucial before freeing up space on your Mac or updating your OS with not enough space for macOS Sonoma, as not all files in this category are unnecessary or redundant.

How Other in Mac storage is created?

The Other category in Mac storage comprises various sources and files. It includes macOS system and temporary files (such as Word temporary files), cached data, app extensions, fonts, user-generated content, common file types, user library files, and any files your Mac's search system doesn't recognize.

When you use your Mac, it generates and accumulates these files over time. Suppose you click "Don't Save" when quitting a Word document editing; you will need the Word temporary files to perform the unsaved Word document recovery on a Mac.

Why does Other take up a lot of storage space?

Other takes up a significant amount of storage space because it's a catch-all category for a wide range of files that don't neatly fit into standard classifications.

Temporary files, cached data, and various system files can accumulate over time, consuming storage space. Additionally, user-generated content, extensions, and other miscellaneous data contribute to this category's growth.

What is the effect of deleting Other data?

Deleting Other data can free up your Mac's storage space, leading to optimized Mac performance and more space for your files and applications.

However, it's essential to be cautious when permanently deleting files on a Mac. Some files in the "Other" category may be necessary for adequately functioning macOS and specific applications.

In this case, you may need to recover them from the Trash bin. However, deleted files remain in the Trash bin for only 30 days, and then they will be removed permanently so that you can't find them on your Mac storage unless you are using a special data recovery tool like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Pro.

Download and install this powerful data recovery software on your Mac, and you can delete some unnecessary files without worrying about data loss. In addition, if you want to reduce the Other storage occupied, keep reading, and we will introduce 8 ways to delete Other on your Mac.

How to Delete Other on Your Mac Storage [8 Ways]

Now, let's discuss some ways to delete the Other storage on your Mac, especially when your Mac startup disk is full:

Fix 1. Delete Unneeded Documents

Managing storage space can be surprising when you realize even text files can occupy significant room. To declutter your storage manually:

Step 1. Press "Command + F" to find documents on a Mac.

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

Step 3. Choose "Other" and tick "File Size" and "File Extension".

Step 4. Enter document types (like .pdf, .pages) and sizes to locate large files.

Step 5. Review and delete as needed.

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Fix 2. Clean Up System Data and Temporary Files

To clear temporary files and system data on your Mac, check the following steps:

Step 1. Hold down the "Shift + Command + G" keys, and this keyboard shortcut will open the "Go to Folder" dialog.

Step 2: In the "Go to Folder" dialog, type ~/Library/Caches/ and then hit the "Return" key.

Step 3: You will now see a list of caches and temporary files stored on your Mac. Carefully select the cache files you wish to remove, then move them to the Trash using the move to trash shortcut.

Fix 3. Empty Trash Bin on Your Mac

It would help if you emptied the trash bin on your Mac to clear Mac storage for better functionality. 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. Confirm the action in the warning message by clicking "Empty Trash".

On some occasions, when Mac users want to empty the Trash to save storage space, they may find they can't empty the Trash on Mac when they click empty. This article is mainly about the reasons for this annoying issue and how to solve this problem in four solutions.

Fix 4. Clear Disk Images and Archives

Clearing out unnecessary disk images and archives can free up valuable storage space on your Mac. To do this, follow these steps:

Step 1. Click "File" in the desktop menu bar, then choose "Find". Select "This Mac" to search all directories on your Mac.

Step 2. Click the "+" icon to add a search attribute. In the first dropdown, select "Other" and choose "File Extension" and "File Size". Click "OK".

Step 3. Click the "+" icon again, then enter ".zip" and ".dmg" as file types. Review the displayed items and delete them as needed.

Fix 5. Uninstall App Plugins and Extensions

Uninstalling extensions and plugins not only liberates space in your "Other" storage but can also significantly boost your internet speed, accelerate your computer's startup time, and declutter your system, ensuring smoother performance. To uninstall app plugins and extensions:

Remove Plugins:

To remove plugins:

Step 1. Access your Library folder via the "Go to Folder" command: ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins.

Step 2. Locate and delete unnecessary internet plugins to free up storage and enhance Mac performance.

Remove Browser Extensions:

To clear extensions:

Step 1. Open Safari.

Step 2. Go to "Preferences".

Step 3. Click the "Extensions" tab.

Step 4. Delete any extension by clicking on it.

Fix 6. Remove Time Machine Backups and Snapshots

When you utilize Time Machine for Mac backups, it saves them until the storage is full, then overwrites the oldest ones. To remove Time Machine backups, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open "Finder" and go to your external disk.

Step 2. Find the Backups.backupdb folder.

Step 3. Open it and select your device's folder.

Step 4. Locate the backups you want to remove. Move them to the Trash by right-clicking on them.

Fix 7. Remove Unwanted Screensavers

Clearing out unwanted screensavers can help free up space in the "Other" storage category on your Mac, improving overall storage efficiency and performance. To locate and delete internet plugins from "Other" storage, follow these three steps:

Step 1. Access the Library folder.

Step 2. Use the Go to Folder text box and input: ~/Library/Screen Savers.

Step 3. Identify unnecessary screensaver files inside this folder and move them to the Trash for deletion.

Fix 8. Delete Old Device Backups on iTunes

To reclaim space on your Mac, consider removing old, unnecessary backups. For this, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open "iTunes".

Step 2. In the menu bar, click on "iTunes" and choose "Preferences", then select "Devices".

Step 3. Locate the backup you wish to delete, then click "Delete Backup".

Extra Tip: Recover Permanently Deleted Data on Your Mac

It's crucial to remember that vital data might get deleted during computer storage cleanup. Whether you've emptied the Trash Bin, accidentally deleted files, or encountered other data loss situations, your data may still be recoverable. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Pro is a reliable solution for Mac users facing such data loss challenges. It can recover permanently deleted files on Mac.

It's designed to tackle various data loss scenarios, including data loss due to deletion, formatting during macOS updates, virus attacks, system crashes, hardware failures, unexpected shutdowns, or human errors. It also can recover Time Machine backups that you deleted by mistake.

With EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Pro, you can select your hard drive, initiate a scan to locate deleted files, and preview all recoverable items. This versatile tool can rescue a wide range of files, from single Office Word documents to extensive collections of photos.

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

Step 1. Search for lost files

Select the disk location to search for lost files (it can be an internal HDD/SSD or a removable storage device) on macOS Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, and the latest Sonoma. Click the "Search for lost files" button.

Note: Before data recovery, you'd better click "Disk Backup" from the left sidebar to create a backup of your Mac to avoid further data loss. After backing up, the software can recover data from the Mac backup, and your computer can wirte new data again.

Step 2. Go through the scanning results

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

Step 3. Select the file(s) and recover

In the scan results, select the file(s) to preview and click the "Recover" button to have them back.

Conclusion

In conclusion, knowing what is Other in Mac storage is very crucial. It includes system files, caches, logs, and more. While it's essential for the operating system's functionality, it can accumulate and take up substantial storage space over time. Deleting "Other" data manually can be risky, as it may contain critical system files.

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

What Is Other in Mac Storage FAQs

Now, let's discuss some common questions related to this issue:

1. Why is my other storage so high on my Mac?

Other storage on your Mac can be high due to temporary files, caches, and system data. Apps and downloads may also contribute. Regularly clearing unnecessary files can help reduce it.

2. Is it safe to delete other storage on Mac?

Deleting other storage files, like caches and temporary data, is generally safe. However, be cautious not to remove essential system files. Use macOS tools or third-party apps to clean safely.

3. How do I see what other is in my Mac storage?

To inspect the content categorized as "Other" in your Mac's storage, open Finder, press the Option key, and click "Library" in the Go menu. Various files and folders inside the Library contribute to the "Other" storage category.