What Does Other Mean on Mac? Storage Guide

If you’ve opened Mac’s storage settings and seen a large gray “Other” category, you’re not alone. This article explains exactly what “Other” includes, why it grows so large, and how to reduce it safely—without deleting anything important.

What Is “Other” on Mac Storage?

In macOS, the Storage Management window (Apple menu ＞ About This Mac ＞ Storage) categorizes files into colorful segments: Applications, Documents, Photos, Music, Movies, Mail, and System. Everything that doesn’t fit neatly into those categories is lumped together as “Other.” It’s not a single type of file—it’s a catch-all bucket for data that macOS doesn’t classify elsewhere.

Typical contents of “Other” include:

• System files, caches, logs, and temporary files
• Application support files (e.g., saved states, preferences, plugins)
• Disk images (.dmg) and archives (.zip, .rar)
• Fonts, dictionaries, and local Time Machine snapshots
• Files not indexed by Spotlight, such as some user library folders
• Virtual machine files, iOS device backups, and browser cache

Because macOS doesn’t show a detailed breakdown for “Other,” it can feel mysterious. But it’s not a single app or file—it’s the sum of many smaller items.

Why Is “Other” So Large?

Several common culprits can inflate “Other” to tens of gigabytes:

• Time Machine local snapshots: If you use Time Machine, macOS stores local snapshots on your startup disk when the backup drive isn’t connected. These can consume many gigabytes and are not listed separately in the storage graph.
• App caches and logs: Web browsers, video editors, and even system processes accumulate cache files that are reused later. Over time, these can grow large.
• Old iOS backups: If you back up an iPhone or iPad to your Mac, those backups are stored in ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync and count as “Other.”
• Virtual machine disks: Files from Parallels, VMware, or VirtualBox (often .vmem, .vmdk) are huge and not recognized as “Documents” or “Movies.”
• Mail attachments and downloads: Some downloaded files and email attachments are stored in hidden library folders, not in your visible Downloads folder.

Additionally, macOS’s storage categorization is based on file type and Spotlight metadata. If a file’s extension is unrecognized, it defaults to “Other.” So a folder full of .csv or .log files will appear as “Other” even though you think of them as documents.

How to See What’s Actually in “Other”

macOS doesn’t provide a built-in tool to list every file in “Other,” but you can get a good idea using a few methods:

1. Use Finder’s “All My Files” view: Press Cmd+Shift+F, then sort by size (Cmd+J to enable size column). This shows large files, though it may miss hidden library items.
2. Check Time Machine snapshots: Open Terminal and run tmutil listlocalsnapshots / to see local snapshots. You can delete them with tmutil deletelocalsnapshots (but make sure you have a recent backup).
3. Inspect your Library folder: In Finder, hold Option and click “Go” ＞ “Library.” Look at Caches, Logs, Application Support, and Mail. Sort by size to find big items.
4. Use a third-party disk analyzer: Apps like DaisyDisk or GrandPerspective visualize disk usage and reveal hidden large files. (These are third-party tools; check their reviews before installing.)

If you’re comfortable with Terminal, you can also run du -sh ~/Library/* to see the size of each subfolder in your user Library.

How to Reduce “Other” Safely

Before deleting anything, back up your Mac (Time Machine or another method). Then, work through these steps from least to most aggressive:

1. Clear browser caches: In Safari, Chrome, or Firefox, go to Settings/Preferences and clear cached files. This often frees several gigabytes.
2. Delete old iOS backups: Go to Finder (or iTunes on older macOS) ＞ Manage Backups. Remove backups you no longer need.
3. Remove local Time Machine snapshots: In Terminal, run tmutil deletelocalsnapshots (this deletes all local snapshots). Only do this if you have a recent backup on an external drive.
4. Clean system caches: Navigate to ~/Library/Caches and delete the contents of folders you recognize (e.g., com.google.Chrome). Don’t delete the folders themselves.
5. Delete old disk images and archives: Search for .dmg, .zip, .pkg files in Finder and move them to Trash.
6. Uninstall unused apps: Use a dedicated uninstaller or manually delete app support files in ~/Library/Application Support.

After each step, check the storage graph—”Other” may not update immediately, so wait a few minutes.

Common Misconceptions About “Other”

Misconception 1: “Other” is a virus or malware. It’s not. It’s just an aggregation of files that don’t fit other categories. Malware would appear as an app or process, not as a storage category.

Misconception 2: Deleting “Other” is possible. You can’t select “Other” and delete it. You must delete the individual files that make it up. Trying to force-delete system files can break macOS.

Misconception 3: “Other” is always bad. Some “Other” content is beneficial, like cached files that speed up apps. Removing them may slow down your Mac temporarily until they’re rebuilt.

When to Leave “Other” Alone

If your Mac has plenty of free space (more than 20% of the disk), “Other” isn’t a problem. macOS manages caches and temporary files automatically. Deleting them manually can cause apps to behave unexpectedly (e.g., re-downloading assets, losing login states).

If you’re low on space, focus on the largest, safest targets: old iOS backups, Time Machine snapshots, and browser caches. Avoid deleting anything in /System, /Library, or ~/Library unless you know exactly what it is.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can “Other” include hidden files?
Yes. Many hidden files in your user Library (like ~/Library/Containers) count as “Other.” Use Finder’s “Go to Folder” (Cmd+Shift+G) to access them.

Q: Does “Other” include system files?
Partially. The “System” category in the storage graph is separate, but some system files (like caches and logs) are classified as “Other.”

Q: Why does “Other” keep growing after I delete files?
macOS creates new caches and logs as you use apps. Also, Time Machine snapshots may regenerate. It’s normal for “Other” to fluctuate.

Q: Will clearing “Other” speed up my Mac?
Not significantly. Freeing disk space can help if you’re below ~10% free, but “Other” itself doesn’t slow down your Mac unless it fills the disk.

Q: Can I move “Other” files to an external drive?
Some, like large archives or virtual machines, can be moved. But system caches and app support files should stay on the startup disk or apps may break.

Q: Is there a way to see “Other” in a list?
Not natively. Third-party tools like OmniDiskSweeper (free) or Disk Inventory X can show you all files, but they require careful use to avoid deleting system files.

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