How to Clear Other Storage on Mac

Are you running out of storage space on your Mac? One common culprit is the “Other” category, which includes files such as cache, system backups, and application support data. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to clear up that pesky Other storage on your Mac, freeing up valuable space for your important files.

Step 1: Identify the Size of the Other Storage

The first step is to check how much storage is being occupied by the Other category on your Mac. To do this:

1. Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.

2. Select About This Mac.

3. In the pop-up window, click on the Storage tab.

4. You will see a breakdown of different categories. Take note of the size occupied by “Other”.

Step 2: Clear Cache Files

Caches are temporary files stored by applications to improve performance. However, over time these files can accumulate and take up a significant amount of space. To clear cache files:

1. Open Finder.

2. In the menu bar, click on Go, and then select Go to Folder..

3. Type in “~Library/Caches” (without quotes) and press Enter.

4. You will see a list of folders with cache files. Select all folders and move them to Trash.

5. Empty the Trash to permanently delete the cache files.

Step 3: Remove Unnecessary Language Files

Many applications come with language files for different languages. If you only use one or two languages, you can remove the unnecessary language files to free up space:

1. Open Finder.

2. Type in “/Applications” (without quotes) and press Enter.

3. Select an application that you want to remove language files for.

4. Right-click on the application and choose Show Package Contents.

5. Navigate to the folder named “Contents“.

6. In the Contents folder, look for a folder named “Resources“. Open it.

• If you see folders with language codes (e.g., en.lproj, es.lproj), delete those folders for languages you don’t need.

• Be cautious not to delete folders for languages you use regularly.

Step 4: Manage System Backups and Downloads

Your Mac may store system backups and downloads that are no longer necessary. Here’s how to manage them:

Delete System Backups:

• Click on the Apple menu and select System Preferences.

• Choose iCloud.

• In the left sidebar, click on Manage.

• Select “Backups” from the list of options.

• Delete any unnecessary backups by selecting them and clicking on the “Delete” button.

Clean Up Downloads:

• In Finder, click on the Downloads folder in the sidebar.

• Select files that you no longer need and move them to Trash.

• Remember to empty the Trash to reclaim storage space.

Step 5: Use a Third-Party Cleaning App

If you find it cumbersome to manually clear Other storage, you can use a third-party cleaning app like CCleaner or CleanMyMac. These apps can automatically scan for and remove unnecessary files, including those in the Other category. However, exercise caution when using such apps and always do thorough research before downloading or purchasing one.

By following these steps, you should be able to effectively clear up the Other storage on your Mac, reclaiming valuable space for your important files. Regularly maintaining your Mac’s storage will help keep it running smoothly and efficiently.