How to See What Takes Up Space on Mac

Over fourth dimension, our devices fill up with lots of junk and forgotten stuff, which causes slowdowns as your computer runs out of space. Since defragging a Mac isn't the recommended way to make room, yous're often left with no option but to delete files off your drive. But when it'south fourth dimension to give your disk drive a bound cleaning, it can be catchy to figure out what yous tin can delete.

Yous might accept discovered a category chosen "Other" that's taking up gigabytes on your storage drive. But is it safe to delete Other files on Mac? We have the answer.

What is Other storage on a Mac?

The Other category on Mac storage consists of all the files that don't fit into whatever of the standard categories, such as Apps, Photos, Documents, Sound, or Video. The Other folder on Mac can fill up fast with cached and temp files and other file types.

But before you start freeing up space, information technology's of import to remember that non all files stored in Other are bloatware or garbage.

Removing of import files could cause serious problems with system operations or result in apps no longer working properly. That's why we recommend knowing what files really get saved in the Other category earlier yous offset deleting annihilation off your Mac.

Other storage on Mac tin can contain the post-obit file types:

• macOS organization and temporary files.

• Cached files (from the system, browser, and user caches).

• App plugins, extensions, and fonts.

• Deejay images and archives similar Zilch and DMG files.

• Personal user information.

• Common files such as PSD or PDF documents.

• User library files like screensavers, Application back up, or iCloud files.

• Whatever files that aren't recognized by Spotlight search.

It can be tricky knowing what to save and what to go on, but a dedicated cleaner tool similar Avast Cleanup for Mac makes information technology easy. But if y'all're set on doing it yourself, we'll show y'all how to delete Other on your Mac or MacBook and so you don't remove any files you need.

Changes in Sierra and newer Bone versions

With the introduction of macOS Sierra, Apple gave its Os X storage management feature a makeover. The Sierra update added a new Optimize Storage feature to help speed up your Mac, and more than important, information technology redefined what Other in Mac storage is and where you can notice it.

While each newer Bone varies slightly, the most of import matter to notation is that instead of lumping all file types together into Other, Apple at present divides certain file types previously stored in Other into the standard storage categories to make it easier to manage your disk storage.

That means that if you're using newer versions of macOS, it's easier to clean up Other files on your Mac.

How to check disk space on a Mac

The showtime stride to freeing upward disk space is to find out how much infinite you have left on your hard drive. Whether your Mac or MacBook has an SSD or HDD, information technology's easy to check your storage space on Mac:

1. Click the Apple tree icon in the elevation-left corner of your desktop and select Near This Mac.

   

2. Select the Storage tab. This nifty screen sorts your storage by file type then you can see what's in your Mac's storage.

   

You can avert having to cheque disk infinite manually with Avast Cleanup for Mac. Instead of excavation effectually your files trying to figure out what'due south safe to remove, Avast Cleanup will automatically articulate out unneeded files and gratis up space.

How to locate Other storage

At present that you know how to cheque the available storage on your Mac, it's fourth dimension to view and manage the Other files on your Mac.

Hover over each colour in the Storage tab'south file visualization display to check the file type category and the corporeality of storage being consumed. In newer macOS versions, like the one shown in the image beneath, Other is referred to every bit "Other Volumes in Container."

You lot can too access Other storage by looking in the Library folder on your Mac or MacBook. Hither's how to open your Library so you can find out what files are stored in Other:

1. Open Finder and select Go from the menu.

   

2. Hold down the Selection cardinal on your keyboard and click Library when the option appears in the dropdown carte.

   

   You can also select Go to Binder from the same dropdown menu and enter ~/Library.

   

3. You'll at present see the Library in your window with a bunch of folders and files, most of which are categorized equally Other.

   

   From the Library, you can go through your files and folders to figure out what you desire to remove or continue.

How to delete files from Other storage

At present that you know where to find them, it's time to remove some files to articulate up space in the Other storage category. Be extremely careful if you decide to manually delete Other on Mac in the Library.

There's a reason Apple hides the Library by default on Macs and MacBooks. Files under the Other characterization aren't always junk or unnecessary files. If you're not sure what a file does, it'southward meliorate to get out it alone, or at least inquiry whether it'due south condom to remove it. We likewise suggest making a clone of your bulldoze before starting.

Permit's have a await at how to become rid of Other files on your Mac:

1. Open a new Finder window by clicking on File and selecting New Finder Window in the menu. You can also employ the shortcut Cmd + North.

   

2. Press Cmd + Shift + M to open the Get to Folder option from the Become dropdown menu and enter the post-obit command in the text box: ~/Library.

   

3. Besides ~/Library, y'all can also visit these locations to look for Other files you might want to delete:

• ~/Downloads

• ~/Library/Caches

• ~/Documents/Logs

4. Right-click on whatsoever files or folders you lot want to remove and select Move to Trash.

   

5. After deleting all the Other files yous want, empty the Trash and restart your Mac. And yous're all done.

Note that if you're worried most accidentally removing important files that your computer needs, there's a better way to make clean out Other storage when disk space gets tight.

Avast Cleanup for Mac scans your hard disk for hidden junk files, finds duplicates you never knew near, and gets rid of wasteful apps that sus scrofa infinite to keep your Mac running smoothly without the hassle (or the stress).

If you're still set up on manually deleting Other files on your Mac, here's a quick listing to help you get started clearing out infinite on your disk:

Clear the cache

Cached files are temporary files that your Mac uses to save time when you open an app once again or revisit a website in your browser. Periodically clearing your cached files removes any unnecessary or outdated data that may be taking up space.

There are three primary caches you lot tin can clear: the browser cache, system enshroud, and application cache. To acquire more, check out our detailed guide on how to clear your cache on a Mac.

A word of caution: Some buried files be for other purposes, such as storing your current preferences or making sure your system is optimized. Removing the wrong files could exist detrimental to the overall performance of your device.

Remove installation files

If you're looking to save infinite on your Mac, a great place to explore is your Downloads binder. You'll likely find old installation files (DMG or PKG files) that are no longer needed, also as other common Other storage file types that you tin erase.

Remove extensions and plugins

Extension files (such as web browser extensions, installation files, screensavers, or app plugins) don't accept upwardly tons of space. Just they may exist draining your Mac'south random access retention (RAM) or causing other issues, hampering your system performance.

Reducing extensions and plugins not only frees up extra infinite in Other storage, it tin likewise dramatically speed up your internet connection, increase your computer'southward startup speed, and clean clutter to keep things running smoothly.

Here's how to remove extension files from your Mac:

1. Remove plugins

You lot can check what internet plugins you lot have in your Library binder by using this command in the Go to Folder text box: ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins. From in that location, you tin remove plugins from Other storage and also increment retentiveness when you're using your Mac.

ii. Remove web browser extensions

Web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari by and large provide their own individual steps for managing extensions. You can do a quick online search for how to remove extensions from Chrome or from your preferred website browser on your Mac.

You can also use a powerful browser cleaner tool if you're looking for a faster style to get rid of leftover cookies, cached files, and unnecessary temporary files from your favorite browser.

3. Remove screensavers

You tin find and delete internet plugins from Other storage by navigating to the Library and using the following control in the Go to Folder text box: ~/Library/Screen Savers.

In this folder, you tin view the screensaver files on your Mac and motility the ones you don't need to the Trash.

Remove application support files

All of your applications create and store temporary support files, such as logs and preferences. Fifty-fifty when yous uninstall apps on a Mac, some of these files may stick around and ataxia up your storage.

You lot tin detect the majority of these temporary files using the following command in the Go to Folder text box: ~/Library/Awarding support.

Remove former iOS backups

You might not realize it, just iOS device backups accept up a lot of space (4 to 5 GB each) on your computer. If you take older backups for an Apple tree device y'all no longer accept, you might rediscover gigabytes of infinite on your Mac or MacBook.

You lot tin notice and view old iOS backups by using the following command in the Go to Folder text box: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Fill-in.

But manually searching for all these different files tin can take forever, which is why y'all should use defended cleaning software to aid you regularly remove unnecessary files from your Mac.

Delete files from Other storage using Avast Cleanup

A specialized app like Avast Cleanup for Mac will help you automatically find Other files and safely remove them. Why do all the work manually when there's a much easier choice?

Hither's how to utilize Avast Cleanup to delete files from Other storage:

1. First, download Avast Cleanup and install it on your Mac or MacBook.

2. Later on installation, click the Scan button under Clean clutter in the main dashboard. This will automatically scan your Mac for redundant cached files, logs, and trash data that'due south safe to remove.

   

3. You'll see a detailed overview of file categories. Select the files or categories y'all'd like to remove and click Clean to remove.

   

And there you have it — three easy steps to make clean up Other storage on your Mac!

Cutting down on infinite-wasting Other files with Avast Cleanup for Mac

Every Mac requires some maintenance to go on it make clean, especially when you start running out of valuable storage infinite. And while at that place are lots of personal files yous want to save, at that place are plenty of junk files (like those in Other storage) that you can get rid of to make room for new stuff and go along your Mac running smoothly.

But manually cleaning Other files can take ages — not to mention how risky it can exist for your Mac if yous accidentally delete the wrong file. That'due south why you should use a defended cleaning and optimization tool to take out the digital trash with just one simple click.

Avast Cleanup for Mac automatically finds and removes cached and temporary files, duplicate files you didn't know were there, and other junk hiding on your disk. With Avast Cleanup, Other file tidying is and then easy, you tin do it whenever you desire, hassle-free.

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Source: https://www.avast.com/c-what-is-other-storage-mac

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