{"id":2193,"date":"2022-08-03T03:19:02","date_gmt":"2022-08-03T03:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cleanerone.trendmicro.com\/blog\/?p=2193"},"modified":"2023-08-29T08:19:24","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T08:19:24","slug":"clear-other-storage-on-mac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cleanerone.trendmicro.com\/blog\/clear-other-storage-on-mac\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cOther\u201d Storage Takes So Much Space? How to Delete It on Mac"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although hard disk space is always increasing, with the continuous updates of macOS systems and apps, people still struggle with storage issues after using a Mac for a while. This situation is especially common since the upgrade to the Big Sur\/Monterey.
\nTo evaluate storage space on the hard drive, you\u2019ll need to click “About this machine” -> “Storage space”.
\n\"system<\/picture><\/p>\n

The system will display the storage space on the above bar graph according to the amount of space occupied by different file categories. While most are self-explanatory, the category of “Other” leads to some confusion, and the following questions:
\n\u2022 What exactly does the category Other contain?
\n\u2022 Why does it take up so much room? And after clicking “Manage”, why can’t I do anything with this category?
\n\u2022 How can I free up this space?<\/em><\/p>\n

What Files Are Included in the System?<\/h2>\n

The system classifies files in storage space into the following categories:
\n\u2022 Video, Music, Books, and Podcasts.
\n\u2022 Mail: Mail and attachments received using the Mail app.
\n\u2022 Messages: Contains conversations from the Messages app, including attachments.
\n\u2022 Developer: Contains cache and project build data \u2014 plus indexes for “Xcode”.
\n\u2022 Music Creation: Contains library band, Logic, and MainStage content.
\n\u2022 Apps: Contains all apps installed on the Mac (excluding apps that come with the system and cannot be uninstalled, such as “Contacts”, “Mail”, “Safari”, etc.).
\n\u2022 iOS Files: Contains backup data and firmware for backups of iOS using a Mac.
\n\u2022 iCloud Drive: This contains all files stored in iCloud Drive.
\n\u2022 Photos: Photos and videos are stored in the Photos app.
\n\u2022 Trash: Contains deleted items (items deleted from iCloud Drive are not included).
\n\u2022 Other Users: Contains files on your Mac that have been created and modified by other user accounts.
\n\u2022 Texts: Contains files in personal files that are not included in the above categories.
\n\u2022 System: Contains applications and files that are not uninstallable on the macOS system itself and those that come with the system (e.g., “Contacts,” “Mail,” “Safari,” etc.).<\/p>\n

What is Other in mac storage?<\/h2>\n

Other contains files that do not fall into the categories listed above. This category mainly includes:
\n1) Files and data used by the system while running \u2014 such as log files, cache, VM files, and other runtime system resources, temporary files, fonts, etc.
\n2) Support files (resources such as logs, caches, configuration files, temporary files, and databases) and plug-ins for third-party apps.
\n\u2022 Logs are used to record the status information of the App when it is running, and are often used to check the bugs in the program.
\n\u2022 Configuration files are used to store preference information for apps.
\n\u2022 Temporary files and databases are data generated or downloaded when the app is running.<\/p>\n

With the continuous use of apps, some apps do not limit the size of the log cache, and some apps accumulate temporary files and database files without reminding users to manage them, which will eventually cause this category to take up excessive space on a Mac. The system does not recommend that users manage these files directly, to avoid unpredictable running errors caused by improper operations. There\u2019s a way round this, though.<\/p>\n

Finder File System<\/h2>\n

Let’s start by reorganizing the file system from the perspective of the file management program, “Finder”. In “Finder”, all files come under two broad categories: System Files and User Files.<\/p>\n

System Files\uff1a<\/h3>\n

\u2022 The system itself
\n\u2022 Apps that come with the system
\n\u2022 Files and data required for system operation
\n\u2022 Files and data required for system self-app operations<\/p>\n

User Files:<\/h3>\n

\u2022 User apps
\n\u2022 Desktop
\n\u2022 Photos
\n\u2022 Music
\n\u2022 Files and data required for user app operation
\n\u2022 Trash
\n\u2022 Downloads
\n\u2022 Other folders<\/p>\n

How to Clear Other Storage on Mac?<\/h2>\n

You want to focus on “Files and data required for user app operation”. First, open the “Library” folder in Finder.
\n\"library\"<\/picture><\/p>\n

This folder contains the files and data we need to run the user app. In this folder, you will focus on several subfolders:
\n\u2022 Application Support: Temporary files and databases of non-App Store downloaded apps.
\n\u2022 Caches: Cache files of non-App Store downloaded apps.
\n\u2022 Logs: Log files of non-App Store downloaded apps.
\n\u2022 Preferences: Preference files of apps downloaded from non-App Store.
\n\u2022 Containers: Logs, caches, preferences, temporary files, and databases of apps downloaded from the App Store.
\n\u2022 Group Containers: Temporary files and databases of apps that use Group App technology, for example, MS Office Family Bucket.<\/p>\n

The cache files and log files of applications can be found in the “Library” folder of “Finder” \u2014 you can delete these two file kinds without much thought if storage space is limited.<\/p>\n

How to Delete \u201cOther\u201d Storage Safely<\/h2>\n

Using a dedicated Mac cleaning software<\/a> package is the most effective, easiest way of uninstalling Other storage on Mac. Here, we use “Cleaner One Pro” because it is the only application that provides both “Log Cache Cleanup” and “Disk Analysis” for free.
\n\"Download<\/picture><\/a>
\n1) Open Cleaner One’s “Junk File” scan to find and delete logs and cache files of user apps.
\n\"junkfile\"<\/picture><\/p>\n

2) Open “Disk Map” and select “Library” to analyze temporary files and databases. The results page will appear after the scan is completed.
\n\"disk-map\"<\/picture>
\n\"library\"<\/picture><\/p>\n

3) The left side will show the subfolders under the current folder, with their space size in descending order. The right side will show a pie chart with the size of each subfolder.
\n\"result\"<\/picture><\/p>\n

4) When you see a folder that takes up a lot of space, you can double-click on the list (left), or click on the pie chart (right), to go to the next level of the folder you are interested in.<\/p>\n

Emphasis:<\/strong> Caution is advised at this stage. Consider leaving deleted items in the trash for a while \u2014 in case you need to restore them. Or you can back up these files, and return if necessary.<\/p>\n

Q&A<\/h2>\n

Q1: What does the category “Other” contain?<\/h3>\n

“Files and data required for system operation” + “Files and data required for system app operation” + “Files and data required for user app operation”. Primarily divided into logs, caches, preferences, temporary files, and databases, etc.<\/p>\n

Q2: Why does other storage take up so much space?<\/h3>\n

Some apps do not limit the size of the log cache, and some apps accumulate temporary files and database files without reminding users to manage them. For example, the temporary files of Adobe family bucket, emails of Outlook, chat logs and attachments of WeChat, etc.<\/p>\n

Q3: Why can’t I do anything to this category after clicking “Manage”?<\/h3>\n

These files are all files used by the system or Apps currently running. Users are not directly involved in contacting them, so the system does not recommend that users manage these files directly.<\/p>\n

Q4: How can this part of the disk space be freed up?<\/h3>\n

Focus on \u201cData and files needed by user app running\u201d. Show the default hidden folder “Library” in “Access.” Manually search for logs, caches, temporary files, and databases in the following main directories by the app name or “App Bundle identifier”.
\n\u2022 Logs: Holds the logs of apps downloaded from the App Store.
\n\u2022 Preferences: Holds the preferences of apps downloaded from the App Store.
\n\u2022 Containers: Holds the logs, cache, preferences, temporary files, and database of apps downloaded from the App Store.
\n\u2022 Group containers: Saves temporary files and databases of apps that use Group App technology, such as MS Office family bucket.<\/p>\n

You can delete log files and cache files directly, but you need to delete temporary files and databases manually (with caution).<\/p>\n

Cleaner One Pro’s free “Junk File” function will scan the logs and cache first, while “Disk Analysis” scans the “Library” folder to find relevant files quickly. Try Cleaner One Pro today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Although hard disk space is always increasing, with the continuous updates of macOS systems and apps, people still struggle with storage issues after using a Mac for a while. This situation is especially common since the upgrade to the Big Sur\/Monterey. To evaluate storage space on the hard drive, you\u2019ll need to click “About this machine” -> “Storage space”. The system will display the storage space on the above bar graph according to the amount of space occupied by different file categories. While most are self-explanatory, the category of “Other” leads to some confusion, and the following questions: \u2022 What <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/cleanerone.trendmicro.com\/blog\/?p=2193","footnotes":""},"categories":[1,85],"tags":[455,119],"class_list":["post-2193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-howto","category-mac","tag-clear-other-storage-mac","tag-free-up-space-on-mac","en-US","has_thumb"],"yoast_head":"\n\u201cOther\u201d Storage Takes So Much Space? How to Delete It on Mac<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Why Does Other storage take so much space? 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