"Other" storage on your Mac includes system files, caches, hidden files, disk images, application support files, iOS backups, and more; 1. Check Downloads for old installers; 2. Use macOS Storage Management to review large files and optimize storage; 3. Clean up ~/Library/Caches, ~/Library/Application Support, and ~/Library/Developer; 4. Delete old iOS backups in Finder; 5. Optionally use tools like DaisyDisk to identify space hogs, reclaiming gigabytes safely by removing unnecessary files.

"Other" storage on your Mac refers to files that don’t fall neatly into the standard categories like Apps, Photos, Documents, or System. It’s a catch-all category in macOS Storage Management that includes a variety of file types, which can sometimes make it confusing because it’s not immediately clear what’s taking up space.

What’s Included in "Other" Storage?

"Other" typically contains a mix of the following:

• System files and caches: Temporary files, logs, and cached data used by macOS and apps.
• Hidden files and folders: Files not visible in Finder, such as .dotfiles or configuration files.
• Archives and disk images: .dmg, .iso, .zip, or .tar files you’ve downloaded or created.
• Miscellaneous documents: Files with uncommon extensions or those not recognized as standard media, PDFs, or text files.
• Language files and plugins: Extra language packs, fonts, or third-party plugins (e.g., audio plugins, browser extensions).
• Application support files: Data stored by apps in ~/Library/Application Support or /Library.
• Old iOS backups: iTunes or Finder backups of iPhones and iPads.
• Installation packages: Leftover .pkg installers or software updaters.

Why "Other" Can Get Large

Over time, small files accumulate in the background. For example:

• Apps you no longer use may leave behind support files.
• Downloaded disk images (like DMGs for software) often stay in your Downloads folder.
• System and browser caches grow, especially if you don’t restart your Mac often.

How to Reduce "Other" Storage

If "Other" is taking up too much space, here’s how to clean it up:

• Check your Downloads folder
  Look for old .dmg, .zip, or installer files you no longer need.

  

• Use macOS Storage Management
  Go to ? > About This Mac > Storage > Manage. From there, you can:

  • Review and delete large files.
  • Optimize storage (e.g., offload watched iTunes movies).
  • Store files in iCloud.
  • Review "Documents" and sort by size to find hidden large files.

• Clean up Library folders
  Use Finder > Go > Go to Folder to check:

  • ~/Library/Caches – safe to delete contents.
  • ~/Library/Application Support – look for apps you’ve removed.
  • ~/Library/Developer – safe to remove if you’re not doing app development.

• Remove old iOS backups
  In Finder (macOS Catalina ), go to Devices under Locations and delete old phone backups.

• Use third-party tools (optional)
  Apps like OmniDiskSweeper, DaisyDisk, or CleanMyMac can visually map your disk usage and help identify large files in "Other."

Just be cautious—don’t delete files from system folders unless you’re sure what they are.

Basically, "Other" isn’t mysterious—it’s just a mix of everything macOS doesn’t classify elsewhere. With a little cleanup, you can often reclaim several gigabytes.

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