HighOnKittens
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Q: My storage is saying its full because the 'other' category has filled it up. Where can I find the things in the 'other' category to delete them?

So I have a Macbook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014) and it's on OX Yosemite (Version 10.10.5) and as it states in the question my storage is full but I can't find the things filling it up to delete them and every time I open up to storage view it's a different percentage, sometimes it says it's more and other times less. I just want to know where I can go in my folders to delete the things filling up my storage in the 'other' category.

 

I am currently backing up my computer before I try anything so I don't loose anything important. This effects my ability to even update my computer as it's so full it won't update.

 

It has done this once before and I managed to fix it by getting rid of my photo library but that hasn't worked this time around so I have no idea what to do. Any input or ideas on what I can do/look for would be greatly appreciated.

Screen Shot 2016-01-22 at 3.01.24 pm.png

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014), OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), null

Posted on Jan 21, 2016 8:11 PM

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HighOnKittens

Q: My storage is saying its full because the 'other' category has filled it up. Where can I find the things in the 'other' category t ... more

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  • by BobTheFisherman,

    BobTheFisherman BobTheFisherman Jan 21, 2016 8:15 PM in response to HighOnKittens
    Level 6 (15,649 points)
    Jan 21, 2016 8:15 PM in response to HighOnKittens

    OS X: What is "other" space in About This Mac? - Apple Support

  • by akkademus,

    akkademus akkademus Jan 21, 2016 10:38 PM in response to HighOnKittens
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 21, 2016 10:38 PM in response to HighOnKittens

    Hi,

     

    If you have Dropbox, iCloud Drive, Google Drive you could look into that.

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Jan 22, 2016 6:24 AM in response to HighOnKittens
    Level 6 (19,650 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 22, 2016 6:24 AM in response to HighOnKittens

    OmniDiskSweeper (free download)

    <http://www.omnigroup.com/more>

     

    When using OmniDiskSweeper, or any utility that shows all your files...  See the following article if you want to run it as root

    <http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/how_to_recover_missing_hard_drive_space>

     

    Boiler Plate Warnings:

     

    If you have a recurring, running out of disk space, problem, then OmniDiskSweeper may help identify where the space is going.  Posting the suspected locations and files will help the forum help you to figure it out.  Remember, we cannot see into your disk, you have to give us information to work with.

     

    DO NOT delete files in your Home Folder -> Library tree as there are things like your iPhone backups, your email messages, your application preferences, etc…  If you think you have found something in your Home Folder -> Library that can be deleted, you should ask first.

     

    DO NOT delete files outside your home folder, as you may end up deleting something essential to Mac OS X, and turn your Mac into an expensive “Door Stop”.

     

    I will point out that you will find some very large files in private -> var -> vm (these are the Mac OS X virtual memory paging files (swapfiles) and where Mac OS X stores the copy of RAM when your Mac is put to sleep).  The swapfile(s) get deleted on reboot, and the sleep image is just going to be created again when you put your Mac to sleep.

     

    If you think you have found something to delete outside your home folder, it would be best to ask first before deleting.  There are many examples of people deleting files outside their home folder, or renaming files, or changing the ownership or file permissions, and then their Mac stops running.  Do not be one of those people.  Ask first.