Clearing Storage on MacBook

Beeatrice200 wrote:

My MacBook Air is out of storage space. The version is 10.11.6. I can’t update it due to lack of storage, but the version doesn’t have the “manage” option that keeps being mentioned when I try to search it. What are some ways to be able to clear storage? Have gone through downloads, documents, emptied trash. The “other” category in the storage is the most full, but don’t know how to clear this.

Here are some suggestions for freeing up storage on your Mac: Free up storage space - Apple Support

You can't mess with the "Other". It is part of the Mac’s operating system. Doing so would corrupt the OS and render the OS inoperative requiring a Wipe and Re-Installation.

The Other category is a potpourri of files which include:

• System temporary files

• macOS system folders

• Archives and disk images (.zip, .iso, etc. - often found in the Downloads folder)

• Personal user data

• Files from the user’s library (Application Support, iCloud files, screensavers, etc.)

• Cache files

• Fonts, plugins, extensions

• Other files that are not recognized by a Spotlight search

• Media files that cannot be classified by Spotlight as a media file because they are located inside of a package

They can be located anywhere on your hard drive. The files that you have control over are located in the Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music and Movies folders.

Also, if your OS becomes too full your computer will stop functioning. This is a good time to add an external drive for needed storage. You can move files onto it and then delete them from your HD to clear needed space. Easy to do and problem solved.