in my Macbook air my memory storage 77gb of 120gb is been taken by "other" i searched in the website and done all the steps they told to optimize (delete coaches, downloads, files ... etc), but how is it possible that i still have 77gb of other memory being used up?
MacBook Air (11-inch Mid 2013), OS X El Capitan 10.11.6
This is the only Apple information I could find:
In OS X El Capitan or earlier, “Other” files are those that your Mac doesn't recognize as belonging to any other category. These include files within disk images or archives, data stored by apps such as Contacts or Calendar, and app plug-ins or extensions. When your Mac is in Safe Mode, all files are categorized as Other.
Barry
This is the only Apple information I could find:
In OS X El Capitan or earlier, “Other” files are those that your Mac doesn't recognize as belonging to any other category. These include files within disk images or archives, data stored by apps such as Contacts or Calendar, and app plug-ins or extensions. When your Mac is in Safe Mode, all files are categorized as Other.
Barry
Barry's answer is correct but a bit incomplete. What he left out is that Spotlight is buggy and tends to 'lose track' of file types. Since Other is everything else, when Spotlight loses what kind of file it is looking it, it becomes Other. While Spotlight isn't good (over time) at identifying how much space is devoted to a specific file type, it is usually accurate about total drive space in use.
To rebuilt the Spotlight database follow these instructions: http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201716
If the report doesn't change try this terminal method: https://www.techradar.com/how-to/computing/apple/terminal-101-rebuild-the-spotli ght-index-on-the-fly-1305684
Since the "Other" files can be anything, looking for the "Other" is a waste of time. But we do know that the files most likely to be taking up lots of space are media files which are in the Pictures, Movies, and Music folders.
If you want to see what large files are taking up your disk space, try the two programs below. If you go Finder/View/Show Path Bar, it will show you where it is located.
EasyFind – Spotlight Replacement
I am running OS X 10.14 so this may not be relevant to you (if your profile is correct), but
Go to the Apple in the finder, click on "about this Mac," and then storage. That gives some information about what is in storage on your computer.
I have never had a problem like you have described, so I have not looked at "other."
Barry
Thank you, do you know by any chance how to find those things, like which folder specifically?
MacBook Air memory storage problem
