mattytwxlls
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: 92GB of 'other' on my Mac - I have tried so many apps

I have 92gb of 'other' storage on my Mac. Can anybody recommend a way, of deleting a massive chunk of it, in an easy, quick, and simple way? Doing it manually seems risky, I want to know if theres any genuine apps out there which aren't 'free trials' or cost something ridiculous like £35.

 

Please help if you can!

 

Matt

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014), OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Aug 31, 2016 4:01 PM

by KiltedTim,Apple recommended
KiltedTim KiltedTim
Level 9 (55,043 points)
iPhone
A:

Start by reindexing spotlight.

Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support

 

This can take some time to re-build, so be patient.

 

"Other" just indicates files that don't necessarily fit into any of the pre-defined categories. Often, it is not stuff that is just safe to delete. See what re-indexing turns up.

 

The next step is to make sure you have a complete backup of your system before you try to free up space. Do NOT resort to using one of the so-called clean-up apps out there. They will do more harm than good.

 

You can try using an application like Grand Perspective to help identify what's taking up huge chunks of space on your hard drive. This will get you started on potentially identifying what can go and what you can move to external storage if you don't want to delete it.

 

I will say again, though, please do NOT start deleting things without having a full backup first.

Posted on Aug 31, 2016 4:07 PM

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mattytwxlls

Q: 92GB of 'other' on my Mac - I have tried so many apps

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  • Helpful answers

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Aug 31, 2016 4:05 PM in response to mattytwxlls
    Level 9 (52,162 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 31, 2016 4:05 PM in response to mattytwxlls

    First understand what OTHER consists of:

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202867

     

    Obviously you do not want to delete all of it and perhaps only some of it. To assist you. download from the Internet OmniDiskSweeper and Grand Perspective (both free) and open them. They will show all of your files and the respective sizes. Transfer to an external HDD or delete files you no longer want on your MBP.

     

    Do not forget to empty trash. Only then is space allocated for new data.

     

    https://www.omnigroup.com/more

     

    http://grandperspectiv.sourceforge.net/

     

    Ciao.

  • by KiltedTim,Apple recommended

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Aug 31, 2016 4:07 PM in response to mattytwxlls
    Level 9 (55,043 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 31, 2016 4:07 PM in response to mattytwxlls

    Start by reindexing spotlight.

    Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support

     

    This can take some time to re-build, so be patient.

     

    "Other" just indicates files that don't necessarily fit into any of the pre-defined categories. Often, it is not stuff that is just safe to delete. See what re-indexing turns up.

     

    The next step is to make sure you have a complete backup of your system before you try to free up space. Do NOT resort to using one of the so-called clean-up apps out there. They will do more harm than good.

     

    You can try using an application like Grand Perspective to help identify what's taking up huge chunks of space on your hard drive. This will get you started on potentially identifying what can go and what you can move to external storage if you don't want to delete it.

     

    I will say again, though, please do NOT start deleting things without having a full backup first.