Q: What is "Other" on my iMac?
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Feb 3, 2015 1:02 PMby dReAdLoK,Thanks, but I didn't post this without searching the web for answers. I have already looked all over this site and others, yet I still have "Other". I have done all the things your link provided, as I stated in the original post. Nor have I started my iMac in Safe Mode. So, does anyone else know how I can find and remove the files that are causing the "Other" to be so big? I have 10 more gigs of "Other" than Movies, Music, Photos, Backups and Apps, COMBINED. Please don't post a link on here to another thread, I have already searched, that is why I am posting on here. Thanks
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Feb 3, 2015 2:14 PMby Baby Boomer (USofA),If anyone out there could please tell me what exactly "Other" is on my iMac, that would be great!
The KB Article that linked did provide examples of what you asked. The examples are in the 2nd paragraph, last sentence that starts off "Examples of files that may be calculated as "other" include:"
Did you read this article? The Storage Display
To get a clearer picture of your problem, please post a screenshot of your storage display.
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Feb 3, 2015 5:59 PMby Linc Davis,For information about the Other category in the Storage display, see this support article. If the Storage display seems to be inaccurate, try rebuilding the Spotlight index.
Empty the Trash if you haven't already done so. If you use iPhoto, empty its internal Trash first:
iPhoto ▹ Empty Trash
Do the same in other applications, such as Aperture, that have an internal Trash feature. Then restart the computer. That will temporarily free up some space.
According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of available space on the startup volume (as shown in the Finder Info window) for normal operation—not the mythical 10%, 15%, or any other percentage. You also need enough space left over to allow for growth of the data. There is little or no performance advantage to having more available space than the minimum Apple recommends. Available storage space that you'll never use is wasted space.
See this support article for some simple ways to free up storage space.
You can more effectively use a tool such as OmniDiskSweeper (ODS) or GrandPerspective (GP) to explore the volume and find out what's taking up the space. You can also delete files with it, but don't do that unless you're sure that you know what you're deleting and that all data is safely backed up. That means you have multiple backups, not just one. Note that ODS only works with OS X 10.8 or later. If you're running an older OS version, use GP.
Deleting files inside a photo or iTunes library will corrupt the library. Changes to such a library must be made from within the application that created it. The same goes for Mail files.
Proceed further only if the problem isn't solved by the above steps.
ODS or GP can't see the whole filesystem when you run it just by double-clicking; it only sees files that you have permission to read. To see everything, you have to run it as root.
Back up all data now.
If you have more than one user account, make sure you're logged in as an administrator. The administrator account is the one that was created automatically when you first set up the computer.
Install the app you downloaded in the Applications folder as usual. Quit it if it's running.
Triple-click anywhere in the corresponding line of text below on this page to select it, then copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:
sudo /Applications/OmniDiskSweeper.app/Contents/MacOS/OmniDiskSweeper 2>&-
sudo /Applications/GrandPerspective.app/Contents/MacOS/GrandPerspective 2>&-
Launch the built-in Terminal application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.
Paste into the Terminal window by pressing command-V. You'll be prompted for your login password, which won't be displayed when you type it. Type carefully and then press return. You may get a one-time warning to be careful. If you see a message that your username "is not in the sudoers file," then you're not logged in as an administrator. Ignore any other messages that appear in the Terminal window.
The application window will open, eventually showing all files in all folders, sorted by size. It may take a few minutes for the app to finish scanning.
I don't recommend that you make a habit of doing this. Don't delete anything as root. If something needs to be deleted, make sure you know what it is and how it got there, and then delete it by other, safer, means. When in doubt, leave it alone or ask for guidance.
When you're done with the app, quit it and also quit Terminal.
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Feb 4, 2015 5:51 AMby dReAdLoK,Baby Boomer, yes I did read the article. Like I have said, I have read that article multiple times. That is what comes up when I use Google. I have already searched the internet, like I said, please don't post a link to another article. I have seen them. That is why I am here, as a last effort. Those are exactly what you said they were. Examples. I was looking for what EXACTLY "Other" is. If it is unknown what exactly that is, then that is what I wanted to know. But examples don't provide a solution for me, as I have already tried this. Thank you though for your help, it is appreciated. As for the screenie, here it is, I hope this helps. Thank you again.
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Feb 4, 2015 6:01 AMby dReAdLoK,Linc Davis wrote:
For information about the Other category in the Storage display, see this support article. If the Storage display seems to be inaccurate, try rebuilding the Spotlight index.
Empty the Trash if you haven't already done so. If you use iPhoto, empty its internal Trash first:
iPhotompty T ▹ Empty Trash
Like I said, I have done that. Thank you for the help though, it is greatly appreciated.
Linc Davis wrote:
For information about the Other category in the Storage display, see this support article. If the Storage display seems to be inaccurate, try rebuilding the Spotlight index.
Empty the Trash if you haven't already done so. If you use iPhoto, empty its internal Trash first:
iPhoto ▹ Empty Trash
Do the same in other applications, such as Aperture, that have an internal Trash feature. Then restart the computer. That will temporarily free up some space.
According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of available space on the startup volume (as shown in the Finder Info window) for normal operation—not the mythical 10%, 15%, or any other percentage. You also need enough space left over to allow for growth of the data. There is little or no performance advantage to having more available space than the minimum Apple recommends. Available storage space that you'll never use is wasted space.
See this support article for some simple ways to free up storage space.
You can more effectively use a tool such as OmniDiskSweeper (ODS) or GrandPerspective (GP) to explore the volume and find out what's taking up the space. You can also delete files with it, but don't do that unless you're sure that you know what you're deleting and that all data is safely backed up. That means you have multiple backups, not just one. Note that ODS only works with OS X 10.8 or later. If you're running an older OS version, use GP.
Deleting files inside a photo or iTunes library will corrupt the library. Changes to such a library must be made from within the application that created it. The same goes for Mail files.
I was under the impression, from other posts about ODS and GP on this forum, that they were not needed nor were they trusted by so many users on here. I may be wrong, that is just what I have read on this site in the past week. Including a lot of posts where you were involved. I don't remember if you were one that was promoting it or if you were one who was destroying it, but if that is a definite and trustworthy solution, I may give it a try.
When you say, deleting files inside of iTunes library will corrupt the library, do you mean delete the music within the iTunes app for finding the audio files within Finder? I have no music in my actual library, only tones. I have audio files on my computer, but not actual iTunes music. Thank you again.
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Feb 4, 2015 8:11 AMby Linc Davis,I was under the impression, from other posts about ODS and GP on this forum, that they were not needed nor were they trusted by so many users on here.
ODS is a product of one of the oldest and most reputable OS X software publishers. GP is open source and you can build it yourself from the source code if you wish. I have personally tested both. As with any third-party software, you should do your own research to verify these facts before deciding whether to run it.
Neither ODS nor GP is routinely needed, but they may be useful in a case like yours.
do you mean delete the music within the iTunes app
Yes.
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Feb 4, 2015 8:27 AMby babowa,I was looking for what EXACTLY "Other" is. If it is unknown what exactly that is, then that is what I wanted to know
I don't believe there is an exact answer - it depends on what files/apps you have on your machine. "Other" is everything on your hard drive that is NOT:
Audio
Apps
Photos
Movies
Backups
(the remaining categories in the storage display).
FWIW, my Other category shows 64 GB.
So, in order to see everything that is on your drive/taking up space, ODS is a great tool. If necessary, for a one-time use.
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