How to Delete Other Storage on Mac: Space Saving Tips + More

If your Mac keeps whispering, “Your disk is almost full,” while you are only trying to download one tiny PDF, you are not alone. One of the biggest storage mysteries on macOS is the category many users still call Other Storage. On newer versions of macOS, Apple often labels this space as System Data, which sounds official, vague, and slightly like it is hiding in a trench coat.

The good news: you can reduce Other Storage on Mac safely. The better news: you do not need to delete your vacation photos, your school projects, or that 4 GB video of your dog blinking slowly at the camera. The trick is knowing what counts as Other or System Data, which files are safe to remove, and which folders should be left alone like a sleeping dragon.

This guide explains how to delete Other Storage on Mac, how to clear System Data without breaking anything, and how to keep your Mac from filling up again next week.

What Is Other Storage on Mac?

Other Storage is a catch-all category for files macOS cannot easily place into common groups like Apps, Photos, Documents, Music, or Videos. In newer macOS versions, this category is commonly shown as System Data. The name changed, but the basic idea is the same: it includes files that support your Mac, your apps, your browsing, your backups, and your daily work.

Other Storage or System Data may include:

• App caches and temporary files
• System logs and diagnostic files
• Browser cache and website data
• Old iPhone or iPad backups
• Disk images, ZIP files, and installers
• App support files left behind after uninstalling apps
• Time Machine local snapshots
• Fonts, plugins, extensions, and hidden library files
• Staged macOS updates or interrupted downloads

Some of these files are useful. Some are temporary. Some are digital crumbs from apps you deleted three years ago and have not thought about since. The goal is not to delete everything labeled Other. The goal is to remove what is unnecessary while keeping macOS stable.

How to Check Other Storage or System Data on Mac

Before cleaning, check how much space is actually being used. This prevents the classic mistake of deleting random things and then discovering your Downloads folder was the real villain all along.

On macOS Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, and newer

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner.
2. Choose System Settings.
3. Click General.
4. Select Storage.
5. Wait for macOS to calculate the categories.

On older macOS versions

1. Click the Apple menu.
2. Choose About This Mac.
3. Open the Storage tab.
4. Review the storage bar and categories.

Keep in mind that macOS storage numbers can shift after a restart, update, or backup. If System Data looks huge, restart your Mac first and check again. Sometimes your Mac just needs a polite nap.

How to Delete Other Storage on Mac Safely

There is no single “Delete Other Storage” button. That would be convenient, dramatic, and probably dangerous. Instead, you reduce Other Storage by cleaning specific file types that commonly live inside it.

1. Clear Cache Files

Cache files help apps and websites load faster. They are not evil. They are more like sticky notes your Mac leaves for itself. Over time, though, those notes can pile up.

To clear user cache files:

1. Open Finder.
2. Click Go in the menu bar.
3. Select Go to Folder.
4. Type ~/Library/Caches and press Return.
5. Open folders related to apps you recognize.
6. Delete cache contents you no longer need.
7. Empty the Trash and restart your Mac.

Important: delete the contents inside cache folders, not random system folders. Avoid touching unfamiliar folders in /System or the main /Library unless you know exactly what they do. Your Mac needs some of those files to function, and it will not appreciate surprise surgery.

2. Remove Old DMG, ZIP, and Installer Files

Old installers are one of the easiest wins. If you downloaded apps from the internet, your Mac may still have .dmg, .pkg, and .zip files sitting around. After installation, many of these files are no longer needed.

Try this:

1. Open Finder.
2. Go to your Downloads folder.
3. Sort files by size or kind.
4. Look for .dmg, .pkg, .zip, and old app installers.
5. Move files you no longer need to the Trash.
6. Empty the Trash.

Example: if you installed Chrome, Zoom, a printer driver, or a video editor months ago, the original installer may still be sitting in Downloads like a guest who never left the party.

3. Delete Old iPhone and iPad Backups

Local iPhone and iPad backups can take up a surprising amount of space. One backup may be manageable. Five backups from old devices can turn your MacBook into a storage museum.

To delete old device backups:

1. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac.
2. Open Finder.
3. Select your device in the sidebar.
4. Under the General tab, click Manage Backups.
5. Right-click an old backup.
6. Choose Delete Backup.
7. Confirm the deletion.

Only delete backups you are sure you do not need. If you still use the device or may need to restore it, keep the most recent backup or make an iCloud backup first.

4. Use macOS Storage Recommendations

Apple includes built-in storage tools that are safer than wandering through hidden folders with a flashlight and reckless confidence.

Go to System Settings > General > Storage. Depending on your macOS version, you may see recommendations such as:

• Store in iCloud: Keep files, photos, and messages in iCloud while saving local space.
• Optimize Storage: Remove watched Apple TV content and keep only recent email attachments locally.
• Empty Trash Automatically: Delete items that have been in the Trash for more than 30 days.
• Reduce Clutter: Review large files, downloads, unsupported apps, and documents.

This is a smart first stop because macOS shows large files in a cleaner, safer interface. If you want to free up storage on Mac without accidentally deleting something important, start here.

5. Remove Browser Cache and Website Data

Browsers collect cache, cookies, website data, downloads, and temporary files. If you use Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge heavily, your browser may be quietly storing enough data to qualify for its own studio apartment.

Clear Safari website data

1. Open Safari.
2. Click Safari in the menu bar.
3. Choose Settings.
4. Open the Privacy tab.
5. Click Manage Website Data.
6. Remove data for specific sites or choose Remove All.

Clear Chrome cache

1. Open Chrome.
2. Press Command + Shift + Delete.
3. Select Cached images and files.
4. Choose a time range.
5. Click Clear data.

Clearing cache may sign you out of some websites or make pages load slightly slower the next time you visit. That is normal. Your browser will rebuild fresh cache as needed.

6. Uninstall Apps You No Longer Use

Deleting an app from the Applications folder can free space, but some apps leave behind support files, preferences, plugins, or caches. These leftovers often appear under System Data or Other Storage.

To uninstall apps manually:

1. Open Finder.
2. Go to Applications.
3. Drag unused apps to the Trash.
4. Empty the Trash.
5. Restart your Mac.

For larger apps like Adobe software, Steam, audio tools, or development software, use the official uninstaller when available. These apps often store support files in several locations, and the built-in uninstaller usually removes more than dragging the app icon to the Trash.

7. Clean Up App Support Files Carefully

Some leftover app files live in ~/Library/Application Support. This folder can contain useful data, so do not delete everything inside it. Instead, look for folders belonging to apps you already removed.

To check:

1. Open Finder.
2. Choose Go > Go to Folder.
3. Type ~/Library/Application Support.
4. Look for folders named after apps you no longer use.
5. Move only clearly unnecessary folders to the Trash.

Example: if you deleted an old video editor six months ago and still see a large support folder for it, that may be a good cleanup target. If you are not sure what a folder belongs to, leave it alone or research it first.

8. Remove Old Logs

Log files record app and system activity. Most are small, but some can grow over time, especially after crashes, failed installs, or buggy apps.

You can check user logs here:

1. Open Finder.
2. Go to Go > Go to Folder.
3. Type ~/Library/Logs.
4. Review folders for apps you recognize.
5. Delete old logs from apps you no longer use.

Do not delete active system logs from unknown locations. If a log folder is tiny, it is not worth worrying about. Storage cleanup is a game of big wins, not hunting every 12 KB file like it owes you money.

9. Review Time Machine Local Snapshots

Time Machine can create local snapshots on your Mac. These snapshots are useful because they help you recover previous versions of files even when your backup drive is not connected. macOS usually deletes them automatically as space is needed.

If your storage is critically low, the safest first step is to temporarily turn off automatic Time Machine backups, wait a little, then check storage again. You can do this from System Settings > General > Time Machine.

Advanced users may list snapshots in Terminal with:

Manual deletion should be handled carefully. If you rely on Time Machine, do not remove snapshots casually. They are not junk; they are short-term recovery points.

10. Boot Into Safe Mode

Safe Mode can clear certain system caches and may temporarily free enough space to install an update or complete a stuck task. It is especially useful when your Mac is so full that normal cleanup becomes difficult.

For Apple silicon Macs:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press and hold the power button until startup options appear.
3. Select your startup disk.
4. Hold Shift and click Continue in Safe Mode.

For Intel Macs:

1. Restart your Mac.
2. Immediately hold the Shift key.
3. Release it when the login window appears.

After logging in, restart normally. Then check storage again.

What Not to Delete from Other Storage

Some cleanup guides make it sound like every hidden file is suspicious. That is not true. macOS uses hidden folders for important data, and deleting the wrong files can cause app errors, missing settings, or system problems.

Avoid deleting:

• Anything inside /System
• Random files in the main /Library folder
• Files you cannot identify
• Current iPhone backups you may need
• Active project files used by creative apps
• Developer tools or package folders unless you understand them
• Files required by work, school, or shared family accounts

A good rule: if you do not know what a file does, do not delete it just because it looks technical. Technical-looking files are often the ones doing actual work.

Quick Space-Saving Tips for Mac

Empty the Trash

Moving files to the Trash does not free space until you empty it. This is the Mac version of putting garbage by the door and declaring the house clean. Right-click the Trash icon and choose Empty Trash.

Move Large Files to an External Drive

Videos, RAW photos, old school projects, music libraries, and virtual machines can consume huge amounts of space. Move rarely used large files to an external SSD or cloud storage.

Delete Duplicate Files

Duplicates are common in Downloads, Desktop, Photos exports, and document folders. Before deleting duplicates, open them and confirm they are truly copies. Similar names do not always mean identical files.

Review Downloads Once a Month

Your Downloads folder is where storage goes to retire. Sort by size and remove old installers, duplicate documents, exported videos, and files you already saved elsewhere.

Restart Regularly

A restart can clear temporary files, close stuck processes, and refresh storage calculations. If you have not restarted in weeks, your Mac may be carrying digital baggage it no longer needs.

Why Other Storage Comes Back

After cleanup, Other Storage or System Data may grow again. That does not always mean something is wrong. macOS and apps create caches, logs, temporary files, and local data during normal use.

Common reasons System Data grows include:

• Editing large photos or videos
• Using browsers with many tabs and extensions
• Installing and uninstalling apps often
• Backing up iPhone or iPad locally
• Using Time Machine
• Downloading large ZIP or DMG files
• Running development tools, virtual machines, or design software

The goal is not to keep Other Storage at zero. That is impossible. The goal is to keep it reasonable and prevent it from swallowing your entire drive like a very organized whale.

Best Cleanup Routine for Most Mac Users

If you want a simple routine, follow this order:

1. Restart your Mac.
2. Check System Settings > General > Storage.
3. Review large files and Downloads.
4. Delete old DMG, ZIP, and installer files.
5. Remove old iPhone and iPad backups.
6. Clear browser cache.
7. Clear user app caches carefully.
8. Uninstall unused apps with official uninstallers when possible.
9. Empty the Trash.
10. Restart again and recheck storage.

This approach handles the most common storage hogs without requiring risky system changes.

Personal Experience: What Actually Works When Cleaning Other Storage on Mac

In real-world Mac cleanup, the biggest mistake is starting too deep. Many people immediately jump into hidden Library folders because they assume the mysterious “Other” category must require mysterious solutions. Usually, it does not. The easiest space often comes from boring places: Downloads, old installers, local phone backups, browser cache, and forgotten media exports.

A practical example: imagine a MacBook Air with 256 GB of storage and only 8 GB free. The Storage screen shows 70 GB of System Data. The user panics and searches for a magic button. But after checking Downloads, there are six old macOS installers, several Zoom and Chrome DMG files, three exported video projects, and a 14 GB iPhone backup from a phone that was replaced last year. Deleting only those obvious files may recover 30 GB or more without touching sensitive system folders.

Another common experience involves creative apps. Video editors, photo tools, music software, and design programs often create cache files while rendering previews or saving project states. These caches can be useful while you are working, but they may become dead weight after the project is finished. The best habit is to check each app’s own settings first. Many professional apps have built-in options to delete media cache, render files, preview files, or temporary project data. Using those tools is usually safer than manually deleting folders with dramatic names.

Browser cache is another sneaky one. If someone uses multiple browsers for school, work, testing, streaming, and shopping, cache can grow quickly. Clearing browser cache will not usually create a miracle, but it can remove several gigabytes and fix weird website behavior at the same time. That is a nice two-for-one deal, like buying socks and discovering one has money in it.

Time Machine snapshots are often misunderstood. When people see System Data taking up a lot of space, they assume snapshots are trash. They are not. They are temporary backup points, and macOS usually manages them automatically. If you urgently need space, adjusting Time Machine settings or connecting your backup drive can help macOS clean things up. But deleting snapshots should not be your everyday cleaning method.

The best long-term habit is monthly maintenance. Once a month, open Storage settings, sort Downloads by size, remove installers, review device backups, empty the Trash, and restart. This takes about ten minutes and prevents the scary “disk full” warning from appearing at the worst possible time, such as during an update, a deadline, or right when you are trying to save a project called “final-final-real-final-version-3.”

For most users, the safest mindset is simple: delete what you created or downloaded, be careful with what apps created, and avoid deleting what macOS created unless Apple’s own tools or the app’s official cleanup option recommends it. That balance keeps your Mac lighter, faster, and much less dramatic.

Conclusion

Deleting Other Storage on Mac is really about understanding what macOS is grouping under Other or System Data. You cannot remove it all, and you should not try. But you can safely reclaim space by clearing old caches, removing unused installers, deleting outdated device backups, reviewing large files, cleaning browser data, uninstalling apps properly, and using Apple’s built-in storage recommendations.

Start with the obvious files first. Then move carefully into caches and app support folders only when needed. With a smart cleanup routine, your Mac can breathe again, updates can install without drama, and you can stop treating every “Storage Almost Full” alert like a personal attack.