Taking good care of storage on your Mac is very important, as you can identify malware and all kinds of problems usually. That’s why some people are worried about the Other Users storage category. What does that mean, is it dangerous, and how can you avoid any issues with it? If you’re wondering how to tackle the Other Users section, you’re not alone, and we are here to help.
What does Other Users mean?
Simply put, when you see the Other Users section, that means there are multiple users on the device. Mac OS will allocate a certain amount of space for each user, more specifically to store their settings, preferences, files and other stuff similar to that. So if you see the Other Users section on your Mac, then that means it’s full of stuff from other people using the device.
File types you can find in the Other Users section
Before you want to remove other users and shared Mac storage, it’s a good idea to know what kind of files are available there. Most of the time, you will encounter cache files, hidden/ temporary files, browser data, time machine snapshots, hidden system data, as well as virtual machine files.
The Other Users section becomes very large because you have many files pertaining to multiple people. And, of course, every user can have leftover files, not to mention the Shared folder could host collaborative files that are big in nature as well.
Check the Shared folder
If you share the PC with other people, it makes sense to check the Shared folder. The reason you want to do that is to find any files or folders that are no use for anyone. Delete those, and you will be reclaiming quite a bit of space. Ask people before deleting files, just to make sure that no one needs those things anymore.
Use a Cleanup tool
The role of a cleanup tool is rather simple. It allows you to remove unwanted files from your device. And it will remove unnecessary files from the Other Users section as well. If you do that, you will reclaim quite a bit of space, which is extremely important to keep in mind. Yes, it can be tricky to do this, but in the end, that will only make the process easier.
Review the user accounts
Sometimes, apps will create their own user accounts, or malware can do that, too. So it makes sense to assess the user accounts and see who has access to the computer. Who knows, maybe there might be some maleficent situations where you are dealing with problems. Finding the problem and addressing it properly can help a lot, and it’s totally something you need to take into consideration here.
Delete any of the Time Machine snapshots
It also makes sense to delete Time Machine snapshots. The reason why this helps is because those usually require quite a bit of space. So it definitely makes sense to delete those snapshots or even older backups. The more space you can save using these methods, the better it will be. That’s why you want to approach that wisely and not worry about any problems.
Delete unwanted apps
Another way to clear up storage on your device is to delete unnecessary, unused apps. Let’s face it, many of us have those, and it just makes lots of sense to delete them, when possible. You save space, not to mention some apps could have malware. So it always helps to assess what apps you have installed and see if you actually need them or not.
Compress files
If you want to save space, but also not delete files, compressing them can be a good idea. You won’t save a lot of space, sure, but it might help. And the fact that you get to keep the files there is great too. In the end, that’s what matters, and it’s one of those approaches you do not want to miss at all.
Remove downloaded files
Another reason why you might be lacking space in the Other Users section is due to downloads. Ask all the users to remove downloaded files, and you can see the section reduce drastically. That’s because most people rarely delete the files they download. And while that might seem like a lot at first, the truth is that you want to approach this with the utmost attention and focus. It will certainly lead to better results if you delete any downloaded files that are not in use.
We recommend using all these tips if you want to reduce the size of the Other Users section. Reducing that might seem difficult at first, but approaching it wisely and knowing how to tackle the problem effectively will improve your workflow. And on top of that, it will make working on projects a whole lot easier. These tips are crucial if you want to save space on your device, so avail the opportunity and use them to your advantage.