Clear Other Storage on Mac: Full Guide

If your Mac’s storage is full and the “Other” category in About This Mac is taking up a huge chunk, this guide shows you how to find exactly what’s in it and clear it safely. “Other” includes caches, logs, temporary files, app support data, Time Machine local snapshots, and old iOS backups — all of which can be deleted without harming your system.

What You’ll Need

• Your Mac’s admin password
• About 30 minutes of free time
• Optional: an external drive if you plan to move large files

Step-by-Step

1. Check what’s actually in “Other”: Click the Apple menu → About This Mac → Storage. Click “Manage” to see a breakdown. Note that “Other” here includes system files, caches, logs, and app data that Apple doesn’t categorize separately.
2. Use built-in storage management tools: In the same Storage window, click “Manage”. Look at recommendations like “Optimize Storage” (removes watched Apple TV shows), “Empty Trash Automatically”, and “Reduce Clutter” (shows large files). Click each one and follow the prompts.
3. Clear system caches: Open Finder → Go → Go to Folder (or press Shift+Command+G). Type ~/Library/Caches and press Enter. Sort by size (list view, click “Size” column header). Delete the contents of folders you recognize (like com.apple.Safari, com.google.Chrome). Do not delete the folders themselves, only what’s inside. Empty the Trash afterward.
4. Clear user logs: Go to ~/Library/Logs using the same method. These are text files from apps and system processes. Select all (Command+A) and move them to Trash. They regenerate automatically when needed.
5. Delete temporary files: Go to /private/var/folders (you may need to use Go to Folder and type the path). These are system temp files. You can safely delete files inside that are older than a day, but it’s easier to use a tool like “CleanMyMac” or manually check the largest folders. Alternatively, restart your Mac — macOS clears many temp files on reboot.
6. Remove Time Machine local snapshots: If you use Time Machine, your Mac stores local snapshots when the backup drive is unavailable. These can be huge. Open Terminal (Finder → Applications → Utilities → Terminal) and run: tmutil listlocalsnapshots / to see them. To delete all, run: sudo tmutil deletelocalsnapshots / and enter your password. This frees significant space.
7. Delete old iOS backups: If you back up an iPhone or iPad to this Mac, old backups sit in “Other”. Open Finder → click your device name under Locations (when connected). Go to “Manage Backups” and delete old ones. Or manually go to ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup and delete folders with old dates.
8. Clear app support data: Go to ~/Library/Application Support. Look for folders from apps you no longer use. Delete those entire folders (but only if you’re sure you don’t need the app’s data). Also check ~/Library/Containers for sandboxed app data.
9. Remove duplicate and large files: Use Finder’s Smart Folder: File → New Smart Folder → click the + button → set “File Size” is greater than 1 GB. Review and delete files you don’t need. Also search for “duplicate” filenames manually.
10. Empty Trash and restart: After all deletions, empty the Trash (right-click Trash → Empty Trash). Restart your Mac. Re-check About This Mac → Storage — the “Other” number should drop significantly.

Common Mistakes

• Deleting the wrong folders: Never delete the entire ~/Library folder or system folders like /System or /Library. Only clear contents of specific cache/log folders.
• Using third-party “cleaner” apps blindly: Many apps promise to clear “Other” but delete important files or push paid upgrades. Stick to the manual methods above or reputable tools with clear explanations.
• Forgetting to empty the Trash: Deleted files still take up space until you empty the Trash. Do this last.
• Deleting app support for apps you still use: This can reset app settings, logins, and saved data. Only delete support folders for apps you’ve uninstalled or no longer need.

Tips

• Use a disk space analyzer: Free tools like OmniDiskSweeper or DaisyDisk (paid) show you exactly which files are largest. This is the fastest way to find hidden “Other” space hogs.
• Check Mail downloads: Mail app attachments can be stored locally. In Mail → Preferences → Accounts → Account Information, set “Download Attachments” to “None” or “Recent” to save space.
• Clear browser caches: In Safari, go to Settings → Advanced → Show Develop menu, then Develop → Empty Caches. For Chrome, go to Settings → Privacy and Security → Clear browsing data → Cached images and files.
• Restart regularly: A simple restart clears many temporary files and system caches that accumulate during a session.
• Move large files to external storage: Videos, old projects, and disk images (DMG files) are often the biggest “Other” items. Move them off the Mac.

Troubleshooting

• Storage still shows “Other” as huge after cleanup: Reboot and wait a few minutes. Spotlight re-indexing can temporarily inflate the number. If it persists, check ~/Library/Containers for app data from large apps like Photoshop or Xcode — these can be several GB each.
• You can’t delete a file because it’s “in use”: Close the app using it, or restart your Mac and try again. If it’s a system file, don’t force it — it’s likely needed.
• Terminal says “Operation not permitted”: You need full disk access for Terminal. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access → enable Terminal. Then try the tmutil command again.
• Your Mac feels slower after deleting caches: This is normal for a few minutes as apps rebuild caches. It will speed up again quickly.
• You accidentally deleted something important: If it’s in the Trash, restore it immediately. If already emptied, check Time Machine backups — restore from a recent backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What exactly is “Other” storage on Mac?
A: It’s a catch-all category for files that don’t fit into Apps, Photos, Music, Movies, or Documents. It includes system caches, logs, temporary files, app support data, Time Machine snapshots, and iOS backups.

Q: Is it safe to delete everything in the Caches folder?
A: Yes, the contents of ~/Library/Caches are safe to delete. Apps will recreate what they need. Just don’t delete the folder names themselves.

Q: Will clearing “Other” speed up my Mac?
A: It can, especially if your disk was nearly full. A full disk forces macOS to use swap space heavily, slowing everything down. Freeing space often improves performance.

Q: How often should I clear “Other” storage?
A: Once a month is reasonable for most users. If you work with large files (video editing, design), you may need to do it weekly.

Q: Can I use third-party apps to clear “Other” storage?
A: Yes, apps like CleanMyMac X or DaisyDisk can help, but they aren’t necessary. The manual methods above are free and just as effective if you’re comfortable with Finder and Terminal.

Q: Why does “Other” come back after I clear it?
A: Because caches and logs regenerate as you use your Mac. It’s not a one-time fix — it’s ongoing maintenance, similar to clearing your browser history.

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