Thanks to the seamless integration between Mac’s storage components and macOS, accessing and managing files on a Mac is very convenient. macOS facilitates users to take a detailed look at their Mac’s storage space and manage them. Besides this, according to Apple, there are numerous ways following which users can optimize storage space on their Mac.
Users can conveniently check up on their Mac’s storage statistics by navigating to the “About this Mac” section and clicking on the “Storage” option. A bar chart consisting of a detailed summary of Mac’s storage will open and provide all the necessary storage-related information. There are numerous compartments in Mac’s storage section, but the one which many users are curious about is the “Other” section. This article will cover different aspects of the “Other” section of Mac’s storage. Let us begin:
What is Mac’s “Other” Storage Section?
Once you open your Mac’s storage chart, you will see information about different sections. Each category is labeled in different colors to facilitate users to differentiate between categories. For instance, the yellow color is assigned for “Photos,” whereas red is used for “Apps,” etc. While going through different categories, you will come across the “Other” section. It is represented by light gray and usually takes up some time to load after you hover over the disk storage bar.
The “Other” category represents every file that does not fall in a specific category, like pictures, documents, applications, etc. The space occupied by the “Other” storage section depends entirely on what you use your Mac for. For instance, if you use your Mac for simply browsing the Internet or working online, your Mac’s “Other” storage section will not be much. In contrast, if you store many files on your Mac, the “Other” section will probably take up a lot of storage space.
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How to Free Up the “Other” Section’s Space?
If your Mac’s “Other” section occupies a lot of space, you can easily free up space by following numerous methods. For instance, if you wish to do the job quickly and efficiently, you can use CleanMyMac X. It is a powerful third-party application that offers tools for managing files, folders, apps, etc. To clean up your Mac’s “Other” storage section, you need to run the Smart Scan feature. It will locate all unnecessary files and allow you to delete them with a single click. CleanMyMac X is an effective cleaning tool that can significantly free up your Mac’s storage space.
If you wish to free up storage space on your Mac manually, i.e., without using a cleanup tool, you can remove obsolete log files and get rid of application support. You can also clear your Mac’s cache and delete temporary files. To know more about how you can free up space by cleaning the “Other” storage section, click https://macpaw.com/how-to/clean-up-other-storage-on-mac.
What does the “Other” Storage Section Consist of?
The “Other” section of Mac’s storage consists of items that do not fall into a specific category. It consists of the following items:
- System Files – System files are composed of different items, including caches of native applications and processes and log files which provide a complete history of events.
- Support Files – As the name suggests, support files are elements that accentuate the features of an app or process. Font resources, plugins, and extensions are some of the common examples.
- Archives and Attachments – The “Other” storage section also houses numerous application archives, installation files, attachments, etc.
Besides the items mentioned above, the “Other” section also stores hidden data, system folders, disk images, etc.
How to Check the “Other” Section on Mac?
Besides navigating to the “Storage” section present in the “About the Mac” menu, there are numerous techniques following which you can access and check the “Other” storage section on your Mac. Here are two of the most widely-used ones:
- Using Finder – You can conveniently access the “Other” storage section using macOS’ FInder utility. To do so, open the “~/Library” folder and switch to the List view. Then, by holding the “Control” key, click on the column header to bring up details. Now, select “Show View Options” after clicking on the gear-resembling icon. Check the box beside which “Calculate all sizes” is written to view all the files and items present in the “Other” section.
- Using Terminal – You can also view the files and items present in the “Other” storage section by using Terminal. Open a new Terminal window and press enter after typing the following command- “sudo du -hxd1 /System/Volumes/Data. Then, enter the administrator password. After a while, the size of all sub-folders will get displayed on your screen. To explore the “Other” section of your Mac’s storage, you can use numerous commands.
By following the methods mentioned above, you can conveniently access and clean your Mac’s “Other” storage section.