Why Is Other Users So Big On Mac? | Storage Fixes That Work

A swollen Other Users reading can make a Mac feel full for no clear reason. The label does not point to one single folder. It is a storage bucket for data tied to accounts, shared files, and local records that are not part of the account you are using right now.

The fix is not to delete random folders. Start by finding which user folder or shared folder holds the space, then remove only files you recognize, old account data you no longer need, or backups you have already copied elsewhere. That keeps your Mac clean without putting apps, settings, or personal files at risk.

Why Other Users Gets So Large On A Mac

On many Macs, the storage screen may show this area as Other Users or Other Users & Shared. It counts files connected to another login on the same Mac, items placed in the Shared folder, and leftovers from accounts that were removed but whose home folders were kept.

That number can climb after a family member stops using the Mac, after a work account is removed, or after a migration from an older Mac. It can also grow when a second account stores Photos libraries, iPhone backups, downloads, video projects, or browser caches.

Where The Space Often Hides

• Old home folders: Folders inside Macintosh HD > Users for accounts that no longer appear at login.
• Shared files: Large installers, exported videos, game data, or app files kept in Users > Shared.
• Saved account images: A deleted account may leave a disk image or archived home folder.
• Second-account app data: Caches, downloads, mail, messages, and app containers owned by another login.
• Local snapshots: Time Machine may keep temporary backup records on the startup disk.

Check The Size Before You Delete Anything

Open System Settings > General > Storage to confirm the category. Then open Finder, choose Go > Computer, open Macintosh HD, and open Users. Use Get Info on each folder to see which one is heavy.

Apple tells Mac owners to check the Users folder for data from removed users and shared files that no longer need to be shared. The same page also points to Trash, Mail junk, old device backups, and unused apps as storage areas worth checking. Apple’s Mac storage steps are a solid place to verify the safe order.

Use A Careful Order

Work from the plain folders toward the risky ones. Files in Downloads, Movies, Desktop, and Shared are easier to judge than files buried inside Library folders. If another person still uses the Mac, ask them to log in and clean their own files so permissions stay intact.

Storage Clue	Likely Cause	Safer Action
Old username folder in Users	A removed account left its home folder behind	Copy needed files, then delete the folder only after backup
Large Shared folder	Installers, media exports, game files, or team files were left there	Move wanted files elsewhere and delete duplicates
Huge Movies folder in another account	Video projects or screen recordings are stored under that login	Sign in to that account and clear finished projects
Old account disk image	macOS saved a removed user as an archive	Mount it, check contents, then remove it if no longer needed
Large Library in another account	App caches, mail, photos, or messages belong to that user	Clean from inside the related app when possible
Storage drops after restart	The storage graph needed time to refresh	Restart, empty Trash, then check Storage again
Space returns after a backup	Local Time Machine records were removed by macOS	Reconnect the backup disk and let Time Machine finish
Permission errors while deleting	Files belong to another user or are locked	Use an admin account and avoid changing system-owned files

Taking Other Users Storage Down Without Breaking macOS

If the space belongs to an account that no one uses, remove the account through System Settings > Users & Groups instead of dragging random folders to Trash. Apple’s account removal page explains that an admin can delete a user and choose what happens to that user’s home folder. Apple’s user removal steps are the safer route.

Clean Old Account Folders

Before deletion, open the old folder and check Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Movies, and Music. Those folders are where most personal files sit. If you find items worth saving, copy them to an external drive or the active account before removing the old folder.

Do not delete another person’s home folder unless you are sure it is yours to remove. A Mac used for school, work, or family sharing can hold files that still matter to someone else.

Clear The Shared Folder

The Shared folder exists so accounts on the same Mac can exchange files. It is also a common dumping spot for app installers, exported videos, old ZIP files, and large downloads. Sort it by size and start with items you can identify.

If an app placed a folder there, open the app first and see whether it has its own removal option. Games, virtual machines, audio tools, and design apps can store large files there. Removing those from inside the app lowers the chance of broken links or missing assets.

Leave Protected Folders Alone

Root-level System and Library folders are not good targets for manual cleanup. Some files may look oversized but are tied to macOS, fonts, device drivers, app licensing, or login items. Deleting the wrong file can cause errors that take more time to fix than the storage problem itself.

Area	Delete?	Better Move
Downloads in old account	Often safe after checking	Remove duplicate installers and archives
Users > Shared	Safe when files are recognized	Sort by size and remove known leftovers
Old user disk image	Safe after backup and inspection	Mount it, copy needed files, then delete
Root Library	No	Use app uninstallers or storage settings
System folder	No	Leave macOS-owned files alone
Time Machine snapshots	Let macOS manage them	Reconnect the backup disk and allow cleanup

When The Number Still Looks Wrong

Storage readings can lag after a large delete. Empty Trash, restart, and check again. If the space still sits in the same category, the cause may be a local snapshot, a second-account Library, or an old archive you missed in the Users folder.

Time Machine can store local snapshots on the Mac when the backup disk is not available. Apple says these snapshots are kept so you can restore files from the startup disk, and macOS removes them when space is needed. Apple’s local snapshot notes explain how that feature behaves.

A Clean Order For A Roomier Mac

1. Back up the Mac before deleting old account data.
2. Check Macintosh HD > Users and measure each folder.
3. Clean the Shared folder of files you recognize.
4. Sign in to any active second account and clear large personal files there.
5. Remove dead accounts through Users & Groups, not by guessing in Finder.
6. Empty Trash, restart, and let the storage screen refresh.

The safest answer is boring, but it works: find the folder, confirm the owner, back up anything that matters, then delete only known leftovers. Other Users gets large for plain reasons, and a calm pass through the Users and Shared folders often brings the number back down without harming macOS.