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With all this in mind, it is no surprise that your Android device can fill up quickly despite its large storage capacity. While you can quickly identify which photos, videos, files, documents, apps, and games are consuming the storage real estate, some files might be put under the ‘Other’ category by the system.
The system basically puts any unidentified storage files under the ‘Other’ in your Android device’s stock memory analyzer. If you have been looking for a solution to this problem, then you have landed at the right place.
We have compiled this comprehensive guide that will cover all the reasons for your storage filling up, and provide most if not all the solutions that will be applicable to your device. Let’s get started.
What’s in ‘Other’ category in your device storage usage list
Here’s what is filling the storage marked as ‘Other’ on your device.
Private App Data
The most prominent reason for your storage space filling up under the ‘Other’ tag has been identified to be Private app data. This could be additionally downloaded files, failed OTA updates, cloud sync files and much more.
Furthermore, streaming services can often glitch out and fail to delete cache files which can also clog up the storage space on your Android device.
Failed Backups
Google gives you the option to backup your mobile data to the cloud in Google drive. There are also other services that allow you to do the same with attractive pricing options.
Cloud services also offer perks like password vaults, game data backups, free storage space, file hosting and much more. But often these services can glitch out due to regular updates and new features.
Even though most of these issues get fixed instantaneously, there can be failed backups on your device locally that might not be recognized by the backup service itself. There can also be duplicate files on your device that might be taking up extra space which will show up under the ‘Other’ category.
New devices are usually eligible for a few major OS updates in their lifetime and regular security updates as well. Since the past decade, most of these updates have been provided OTA which is easier for the consumer as the device can be updated remotely without the need for a PC.
On the other hand, the drawback of OTA updates is that they can easily fail on a slow network or a network that frequently resets. Higher internet ping can also lead to the failure of OTA updates and not to mention that they are virtually impossible if you are traveling for long hours.
All these half downloaded updates and temporary installer files can also show up as ‘Other’ data in your device and might require you to clean it up manually.
Hidden Cache & Temporary Data
But there are instances when these files get leftover, this is a common occurrence in the case of mobile browsers. If you fail to clear up your website data then your browser’s local storage could end up taking a significant amount of storage on your device.
All of these temporary files and cache files will show up as ‘Other’ when you analyze your filesystem using Android’s stock settings app.
How to free up storage space and clean ‘Other’ section in storage
Here’s how to clear the files and data in the ‘Other’ category of storage.
Use ‘Clean up’ option on your device
Almost all Android devices these days give you an option to clean up the storage of your device in the Settings app itself. Here’s how to use it:
Open the Settings app on your device.
Scroll down and find the Storage option. On Samsung devices, it’s under Device Care. Alternatively, you can also simply search for ‘storage’ by using the search bar at the top.
Under Storage, the UI may be different for different Android phone, but you can tap on any item to find more info about its content, and then can selectively delete stuff.
Use a Storage Analyzer/File manager app
The best way to get a good solution is to understand your problem completely. Having an efficient file manager will help you get a more clear look at the larger files on your local storage.
You would be able to sort them according to their size which will help you identify large files much more easily. Additionally, you can also view system files and hidden files on your local storage which might be the root cause for your huge ‘Other’ data. Here are some recommended file analyzers and file managers.
1. File Manager By Flashlight + ClockA file manager is one of the most popular apps for managing your storage that is currently available on the play store. It provides a comprehensive look at your local storage, SD card and even external storage options that are connected via OTG.
2. Storage Analyzer & Disk Usage By Anton PatapovichThe Storage Analyzer & Disk Usage focuses more on the cleaning aspect of your local storage. It comes with an interactive and detailed UI as well as an inbuilt cache cleaner for your device.
It also has virtualization parameters that will display graphs, pie charts and more according to different variables like storage size, date created, last opened and more. It also comes with a widget that can be directly placed on your home screen as well as a Top 10 feature that will display your largest files for easy cleaning.
3. Disk Usage By Ivan VolosyukDisk usage is a comprehensive file manager that focuses on privacy. It is an open-source code project that displays visual data on all your files for easy cleaning.
It has detailed diagrams to identify the largest files and directories on your filesystem which can then be cleaned manually.
4. Ghost Commander By Ghost SquaredGhost commander is another privacy-focused dual-panel file manager which is also a dropbox client. It allows for easy sorting of files based on name, size, extension, and date.
The file manager has the ability to modify partitions and supports compressing and decompressing of files as well. The ghost commander also has an FTP client built-in and its own text editor and image viewer
5. Amaze File Manager By Team AmazeThe amaze file manager is another open-source file manager that comes with its own basic material design and support for AES encryption. The file manager also has support for major cloud services and its own database reader.
RELATED: Best Android apps to clean up device storage
Check data used by proprietary apps
Android’s in-built stock memory scanner can also be a huge help if your app data is clogging up your local storage. To make use of this feature follow this simple guide.
Open your ‘Settings’ app.
Navigate to ‘Storage Options’ and open it.
If your manufacturer allows, then sort the apps according to their size. If not, then manually scan the apps to find the ones with exorbitant data sizes.
Check Android/obb & Android/data directories
Deleted apps are often leftover in your filesystem due to certain glitches of incompatible updates. These leftover app files are also caused due to third party launchers that have not been optimized for your device.
If you are unable to clear your ‘other’ storage using the above-stated methods then you should resort to this method. There might be leftover app files from your deleted apps in your local storage which you might need to clean manually.
Open your desired File Manager.
Navigate to settings and enable ‘Show System Files & Folders’.
Now Navigate to ‘/Android/obb’ in your file manager.
Most files in this section of your local storage will be named in the following format ‘ chúng tôi ’. ABC being the developer name and XYZ being the App name.
Scan this section for names of deleted apps and delete the ones that you find.
Once you are done in ‘/Android/obb’ navigate to ‘/Android/data’.
Follow the same steps as the previous folder to identify left-over data from deleted apps. Delete the ones that you find and then check your ‘Other’ storage.
Move data to SD card & reset your phone
If the above-mentioned methods fail to help clear the ‘Other’ storage section on your local storage then it might be time to adopt severe solutions to solve this problem.
You should start by using the SD card method as it’s faster, easier and does not require a full backup of your device. Follow these steps.
Insert a high capacity SD card into your device. If your device does not have an SD card slot then consider using an OTG card reader.
Now create a manual local backup of all your important data files.
Locally backup your contacts and saved passwords onto the SD card.
Now reset your device to its factory settings.
Set up your device as new and restore your files and local contacts backup from your SD card.
Your ‘Other’ storage should have cleared up and things should be back to normal by now.
Go back to stock ROM if you are using a Custom ROM
If your device is rooted and you have been using a custom ROM then there is a high chance that your custom ROM has glitched out. A few major custom ROMS including the likes of Lineage OS, Pixel OS and more have experienced bugs where the file system ends up duplicating itself numerous times.
This can clog up the memory on your local storage which could end up as unidentified files in the ‘Other’ section of your memory scanner. A good idea to solve this problem if the above-mentioned methods do not work is to revert back to your Stock latest ROM and wait for an update from your Custom ROM’s developer.
Additionally, you could also raise a help request on the developer’s Github account in case he/she is regularly active and responsive to bug reports.
Clear device cache in Recovery mode
Another method to try and clear your ‘Other’ category in your file system is to clear your UI cache in Recovery Mode.
Note: Recovery mode is a sensitive menu with options that could potentially brick your Android device if they are messed around with. Proceed with caution and if you are not confident about your technical prowess then you should try the next solution.
► How to clear the cache of an Android device
Follow the guide linked right above to reboot into recovery mode and clear the cache of your Android device.
Nuclear option: Factory reset your phone
If nothing else seems to work then it would be a good idea to simply reset your device back to its factory settings and set it up as a new device. It may also speed up the phone a bit, for what it’s worth. This will definitely clear up your storage and give you a fresh start.
Back up your device appropriately. You can force Android to back up your data to Google Drive. And for Samsung devices, using smart switch for backup is a great idea.
Open the ‘Settings’ app.
Use the search bar at the top to search for the ‘Factory reset’ option.
Tap on the ‘Factory reset’ option.
Proceed to perform the factory reset depending on the UI of your phone.
Selectively restore your data back to your device and monitor your device storage.
Alternate method: You can also reset the device using the recovery mode. If you not able to start your phone or use your phone properly, you can power it off, reboot to recovery mode, and perform a factory reset from there. See the link right below for a guide on this.
► How to factory reset from recovery mode
You're reading How To Free Up Internal Storage On Android, Including ‘Other’ Storage
How To Clear Or Free Up Storage On Your Apple Watch
If your Apple Watch’s storage is close to full capacity, you’ll encounter difficulties adding or syncing new content. Other potential issues will be system slowdowns, unresponsive apps, and failing software updates. Thankfully, there are several ways to reclaim space on a watchOS device.
This guide will walk you through pinpointing large apps, uninstalling those you don’t use, regulating your photo storage, clearing the system cache, and other useful tips. Whether your Apple Watch’s storage is maxed out or you aim to prevent that from happening, these methods should help you.
Table of Contents
The following space-saving techniques apply to the Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Ultra, and newer models running watchOS 9 and later.
Check Available Storage on Apple WatchIt’s best to begin by checking what types of data occupy your Apple Watch’s storage space. You’ve got two ways to do that—using the iPhone paired with your watch or directly from the Apple Watch itself.
Check Available Storage via iPhoneOpen the Apple Watch app via the Home Screen or App Library of the paired iOS device.
Switch to the
My Watch
tab and tap
General
.
Scroll down and tap
Storage
.
Check Available Storage via Apple WatchPress the
Digital Crown
and open the
Settings
app.
Tap
General
.
Scroll down and tap
Storage
.
On the Storage screen that shows up, the bar at the top indicates the amount of storage available and a breakdown of used space by type—watchOS, Apps, Media, etc.
Below that, you should see a list of available apps and how much storage they take up on your watchOS device—tap an app to find its installation size (App Size) and the space its contents occupy (Documents & Data). Depending on the app, the latter could be significantly larger than the former—e.g., Apple Music.
Now that you know what’s using up storage, you can follow by removing unused or space-intensive third-party apps. Native watchOS apps, like Photos, Music, and Podcasts (these can be major storage hogs), are not removable, but you can reduce the amount of data they sync locally from the iPhone.
If you notice abnormally high Other usage, it could indicate a bloated system or application cache. You must restart your Apple Watch or re-pair the watchOS device with your iPhone to fix the problem (more on below).
Delete Unused Apps on Apple Watch Delete watchOS Apps via iPhoneOpen the Watch app and switch to the
My Watch
tab.
Scroll down to the
Installed on
Apple Watch
section to view a list of installed apps on your Apple Watch.
Tap the app you want to remove.
Turn off the switch next to
Show App
on
Apple Watch
.
Repeat for other watchOS apps you’d like to remove.
Delete Apps via Apple WatchPress the
Digital Crown
to bring up a list of apps on the Apple Watch.
Long-press a vacant area and select
Edit Apps
.
Tap the
X
symbol over the app you want to remove.
Tap
Delete App
.
Repeat for other apps you’d like to remove.
Note: If your Apple Watch’s Home Screen shows up in List View and not in the default Grid View, swipe an item to the left and tap Delete.
To reinstall an app at a later time:
Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
Under
My Watch
, scroll down to the
Available Apps
section.
Tap
Install
next to the app you want to add back to your Apple Watch.
Alternatively:
Press the
Digital Crown
on your Apple Watch and tap
App Store
.
Search for the app you want to install.
Tap the
Download
icon.
Reduce Number of Photos on the Apple WatchYour Apple Watch is capable of syncing up to 500 images from your iPhone, and that can end up making a sizable dent in models with less storage capacity. The solution is to set a lower limit. To do that:
Open the Watch app on the paired iPhone and switch to the
My Watch
tab.
Scroll down and tap
Photos
.
Select
Photos Limit
and pick a lower sync limit—e.g.,
25
.
Alternatively, turn off the switch next to Photo Syncing to stop syncing photos to your Apple Watch altogether.
Open the Watch app and switch to the
My Watch
tab.
Scroll down and tap
Music
.
Swipe a playlist, album, or song to the right and tap
Delete
.
Optionally, turn off the switch next to Recent Music to stop your Apple Watch from auto-syncing recently added music and recommendations.
Press the
Digital Crown
and open the
Music
app.
Visit the
Playlists
,
Albums
, and
Songs
categories.
Swipe a playlist, album, or song to the left and tap
More
(three dots).
Tap
Remove
.
Delete Audiobooks on Apple WatchAnother way to free up storage on the Apple Watch is to delete audiobooks you no longer listen to.
Delete Audiobooks via iPhoneOpen the Watch app and switch to the
My Watch
tab.
Scroll down and tap
Audiobooks
.
Swipe an audiobook to the left and tap
Delete
.
Additionally, turn off the switches next to Reading Now and Want to Read to stop your Apple Watch from auto-downloading audiobooks you add to those categories through the Books app in iOS.
Delete Audiobooks via Apple WatchPress the
Digital Crown
and tap
Audiobooks
.
Swipe an audiobook you want to delete to the left.
Tap
Delete
.
Delete and Manage Podcasts on Apple WatchIf you subscribe to multiple shows on the Podcasts app, expect your Apple Watch to download new episodes automatically. Remove downloaded podcasts to free up space and manage your auto-download preferences to prevent that from becoming an issue.
Delete and Manage Podcasts via iPhoneOpen the Watch app and select
Podcasts
.
Go back to the previous screen. Under
Shows
, tap a show and pick a lower episode auto-download count—e.g.,
1
. Or, select
Remove Show
to prevent episodes related to the show from downloading.
Delete and Manage Podcasts via Apple WatchPress the
Digital Crown
and tap
Podcasts
.
Tap
Library
.
Scroll down to the
Shows
section and pick a show.
Tap the
More
icon (three dots).
Lower the amount of synced episodes for the show or tap
Off
.
Restart the Apple WatchIf you are facing limited storage issues on your Apple Watch and the previous solutions didn’t do much, the next step is to perform a system reboot. It should help clear out temporary data and free up space occupied by the system cache.
To restart your watchOS device:
Press and hold the
Side
button.
Tap the
Power
icon.
Swipe the
Power
icon to the right.
Wait 30 seconds.
Press and hold the
Side
button until you see the Apple logo.
Unpair and Re-pair the Apple WatchIf you encounter storage-related issues on your Apple Watch (e.g., high “Other” usage within the Storage console), your best bet is to unpair and re-pair the watchOS device. The procedure wipes the internal storage and reverts the system software to factory defaults, resolving persistent problems.
Open the Watch app and switch to the
My Watch
tab.
Tap
All Watches
.
Tap the
Info
icon next to your Apple Watch.
Tap
Unpair Apple Watch
.
Type in your Apple ID password and tap
Unpair [Your Name]’s Apple Watch
to confirm.
Wait until your Apple Watch disconnects from your iPhone.
By default, your Apple Watch creates a fresh backup of its data to the paired iPhone during the unpairing process, so you should be able to use it to restore everything when you set up the smart wearable from scratch.
Manage the Storage on Your Apple WatchFollowing the instructions outlined in this tutorial, you can ensure you have enough space on your Apple Watch for the things that matter. From deleting unused apps to managing synced photos and re-pairing the watch, these techniques will help you maximize storage capacity. Clear the clutter, free up space, and enjoy a seamless experience with Apple’s smartwatch.
What Is Other On Mac Storage And How To Delete It?
When you check the storage on your Mac, you might see a significant percentage of space occupied by something called ‘Other.’ macOS does not go into much detail. You may wonder what is Other storage on Mac, why it eats up so much space, and how can I delete it? Let me help by telling you more about this to free space on your Mac.
How to Check Storage on Mac
What is Other on Mac Storage?
Just like the ‘Other’ on iPhone and iPad, it is home to several files, cached data, and more. This section houses a mix of junk and important files.
In the simplest of terms, the “Other” category is a combination of files that are not recognized as one of the other file types. Here are some examples:-
Common documents and file types, including PDF, doc, PSD, etc.
Any type of archives and disk images, including zips, dmg, iso, tar, etc.
Files in the system folders of macOS, including temporary files, swap, voices, etc.
Application Support files, iCloud files, Screensavers, etc.
Cache items, including browser cache and locally stored message media files.
Fonts, app accessories, application plugins, and app extensions.
Various file and file types not recognized by Spotlight, for example, a virtual machine hard drive, Windows Boot Camp partitions, etc.
How to Delete Other on Mac Storage
Delete Cache Files on Mac
In typical situations, you do not need to worry much about cache. macOS handles them smartly. But if you are too low on storage or believe in having the cache of unused/uninstalled apps, here is how to delete them.
Note: Caches are there to make your Mac experience better and faster. Make sure you remove only the unnecessary ones.
Clearing browser cache and website files for Safari also reduce the Other storage.
Clear Temporary Files Located in Other Storage on Mac
Remove Safari Extensions on Mac
At times, we install a browser extension for a purpose, and then do not reuse them or simply forget that it exists. The extension continues to occupy space (shown differently than the application itself. It is thus categorized under Other)
To remove an extension:
Delete Unnecessary iPhone and iPad BackupsiOS and iPadOS device backups might run into various gigabytes. If you have several archived backups or unnecessary backups of old devices, make sure to delete them.
Note: If you accidentally delete a backup, go ahead and easily create a new one now.
Delete Unused ApplicationsApplications, when combined with their data, folders, etc. might be vast and occupy significant space. If you have several apps that are sitting idle, go ahead and delete them. Additionally, remove macOS install files, if any.
Note: You may also use apps like App Cleaner for perfect uninstallation.
Use Third-Party Software to Free Storage on Your Mac
Apart from the inbuilt solutions, several third-party apps do almost the same thing but in an easier way. You launch them, and in a minute or so, they will help you free significant space. The interface for most is visually pleasing. If you have difficulty following the above methods, you may try one of the apps listed below.
DaisyDisk ($9.99)
Onyx (free)
CleanMyMac (free download with paid version $39.95)
Signing Off…
These are some of the effective ways to delete Other storage on Mac. As stated earlier, it has lots of useful files, too (that are different from listed categories). Thus it is tough to remove Other data entirely. But the above ways, help you declutter it. Next, it would be an excellent idea to know how to use optimized storage on Mac.
You may also read:
Author Profile
Ankur
I have been an Apple user for over seven years now. At iGeeksBlog, I love creating how-tos and troubleshooting guides that help people do more with their iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, and Apple Watch. In my free time, I like to watch stand up comedy videos, tech documentaries, news debates, and political speeches.
Fujitsu Beefs Up Storage Blades
With the recent release of the Fujitsu Primergy SX650 storage blade, now seemed as a good time as any to review the company’s blade offerings and blade strategy as a whole.
First, the SX650 itself. This storage blade provides disk storage to Fujitsu Primergy BX620 S4 server blades. It offers full hardware RAID control (RAID 0, 1, 5, 6) and up to 730GB of dedicated disk storage when up to five 2.5″ SAS/SATA disks are deployed. The blade provides high-performance bandwidth via dual 3Gbit SAS connections. The box itself is 1U wide and roughly 6U in height to fit into the 7U of the Fujitsu BX600 chassis.
According to Richard McCormack, senior vice president of marketing at Fujitsu Computer Systems (Sunnyvale, Calif.), the SX650 can be used only in that specific chassis. Further, it is is currently attachable only to the Xeon-based Primergy BX620 S4 blade. The Primergy SX650 storage blade is currently available.
“The Primergy SX650 storage blade makes it possible to increase blade server storage capacities incrementally without the complexity and costs of SAN-based connectivity,” he said. “The BX650 storage blade is directly attached to a given blade and is therefore not shareable. It offers one less disk than competitive offerings.”
In total, this new release means Fujitsu now offers four blades, three server blades and the new storage blade. The server blades are:
Dual-socket, quad-core Xeon BX620 S4, along with its dual-core predecessor, which is currently still orderable
Dual-socket, quad-core Opteron BX630S2
Quad-socket, quad-core Opteron BX630S2, which occupies two blade slots. This yields a 16-core blade server with 128GB of memory.
McCormack seeks to differentiate the Primergy BX600 family of blade servers by emphasizing its power and cooling strengths.
“Our internal studies, which are backed-up by customer studies, show differences of up to 34 percent, relative to competitive offerings,” he said, adding:
We believe that standardizing on the 1U thickness provides a means to exploit the well-established 1U technologies, and that blade density should not be determined by chassis density metrics (i.e., competitors offer higher chassis density) but is instead determined by rack density. If our Primergy BX600 blades consume 30 percent less power and generate a commensurate reduction in heat, then customers can ultimately add more sockets/cores to a given rack or power density envelope.”
Overall, the company’s strategy appears to be working. Growth rates among its blade segment are outpacing Fujitsu rack and tower servers by a considerable margin, according to McCormack. Whether than will be enough to propel Fujitsu northward from its fifth position in the server standings remains to be seen. At the very least, however, it will probably serve to consolidate that position.
McCormack sees blades playing a very big role moving forward.
“Blades are going to become the dominant form factor in scale-out computing,” he said. “Power/cooling on a per-core basis is superior to any solution except a purpose-built Google rack, and with the integrated management/deployment functions available in blade architectures, the next step in virtualization (i.e., application virtualization that organizes multiple physical servers into a common service pool) is much easier to take.”
This article was first published on chúng tôi
How Much Storage Do You Need On Mac?
When you buy a new Mac, there are just some questions that are more difficult to answer than others. One of these questions is how much storage do you really need. In the case of a new Mac purchase, how you plan to use the computer and what you need it for weigh heavily in your purchase decision. So how do you decide? Here are some of the factors you should be considering.
What Are Your Choices?Before we get into how you make a storage choice, let’s take a look at what your choices are. The November releases of the 13” MacBook Air and MacBook Pro marked a huge leap forward in Apple laptops. With the company’s first in-house processor, the M1, now available for purchase, performance has jumped ahead of the previous generation of Apple laptops across almost every metric. That said, Apple left the storage mostly alone as the MacBook Air arrives with a 256GB SSD standard in the $999 base model. Similar to the previous model, you can upgrade to a 512GB, 1TB or 2TB SSD for $200, $400 and $800 respectively.
The 13” MacBook Pro retains similar sizing as before with a 256GB SSD of storage standard when combined with the M1 chip. Similar to the Air, storage can be upgraded to 512GB, 1TB and 2TB SSD of storage for the same prices as noted above. Things get a little more interesting with the 16” MacBook Pro, which has yet to receive the M1 processor upgrade. Storage starts off with 512GB SSD on the “base” model with upgrades ranging from 1TB to 8TB with the latter costing upwards of $2,400.
Finally, the last consumer Mac hardware is the Mac Mini, which begins at 256GB of base storage. With some upgrades, you can max out memory at 2TB with 512GB and 1TB storage sizes landing in the middle. Like the MacBook models, upgrades max at $200, $400 and $800 respectively.
Where to LookThe best way to get a sense of how much you need is to determine how much you are currently using. On a Mac, it’s super easy:
2. Select “About this Mac,” then “Storage.”
On Windows:
2. Select “File Explorer.”
Getting a look at your existing storage use is a great predictor of how much space you will need for the future. However, adding space to a Mac laptop after purchase is virtually impossible without voiding your warranty, so it’s a good idea to default to the next size up.
Should I Buy 256GB, 512GB or Larger?If you are trying to decide between these two sizes, start by asking yourself some simple questions.
1. Do I plan to keep every photo and video I capture on my Mac hard drive?
2. Do I like to download movies or TV shows and keep them available for watching at any time?
3. Do I not want to worry about having enough space for applications?
4. Do I need more space to edit photos or videos?
The answer to those questions might seem simple, but they are difficult when you remember that you are purchasing something you cannot upgrade. If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, purchase the 512GB. The $200 or so that it costs for the hard drive upgrade is well worth it when you factor in the lifespan of ownership. If you are genuinely concerned about never running out of space, the TB (terabyte) options are available and will serve you well for the whole lifespan of your Mac.
Don’t Forget iCloudWith the introduction of macOS Sierra, Apple introduced a new feature called “Store in iCloud.” Somewhat self explanatory based on the name, this feature does indeed upload files to iCloud when you are running low on storage. The caveat here is that you need additional or enough available storage on iCloud to make room for files, documents, photos, videos and more. Apple offers three options:
50GB – $0.99
200GB – $2.99
2TB – $9.99
Ultimately, this won’t make up for local storage, but adding in cloud storage will allow for additional flexibility by freeing up space on your computer. iCloud storage is first and foremost for cloud backups, especially for iOS and iPadOS, but that you can use this to free up local storage is a great second purpose. The same goes for Dropbox, which also offers a similar feature with “Smart Sync.”
Can You Make It with 256GB?Are you planning to get the base 256GB model? Let’s assume that your Mac is going to be filled with catalogs of music, photos, applications, and likely videos you own, rented or captured. On top of all of that, you also want room for future projects like Mac gaming or video editing. Suddenly, the base 256GB storage doesn’t seem big chúng tôi trick here is to optimize the storage on your Mac. As much as possible, offload all those files you have little use for to the cloud storage or external drive.
A second thought is that you can also get by with less storage on a MacBook or iMac if you have another desktop or primary computer. That won’t be true for most people, but for those who have a second computer, less storage may be feasible. For everyone else, 256GB is more than likely good enough to get by for years to come. If you can pick up the extra storage at 512GB, it definitely provides you with more than enough cushion for well into the future.
ConclusionChoosing the right storage size is never easy. On the plus side, all Mac models come with a base storage of 256GB. Yet on the negative, it doesn’t make the decision any easier. Ultimately, choosing the right storage size depends on whether you have needs for the space. Think about what you really want to do with your computer over the next few years and let the answer be your guide.
David Joz
David is a freelance tech writer with over 15 years of experience in the tech industry. He loves all things Nintendo.
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Dropbox Alternatives: 15 Best Cloud Storage Services (Free And Paid)
Dropbox is one of the best cloud storage services out there, and when you take into account its ease of use and responsiveness, it beats most of the competition. From setting up the service for the first time to using it on a daily basis, it is the simplest cloud storage solution you can use. But, not everything is perfect in the world of Dropbox. The biggest drawback is the absence of end-to-end encryption. Dropbox does not encrypt your files when you are uploading it to their cloud, thereby, creating a major security risk. Also, the free version provides a meager 2GB of cloud storage. If these shortcomings have compelled you to hunt for substitutes, these are the 15 best Dropbox alternatives you can try.
15 Best Dropbox Alternatives for Cloud Storage (2023)There are a number of able cloud storage services and each one of them has different specialities. So, jotting down the things that your needs warrant right off the bat is the way to go.
Which Cloud Storage Service Should You Choose?In this comprehensive roundup of Dropbox rivals, we have taken into account three pivotal aspects: Ease of use, Security, and Affordability. Features like seamless syncing, file organizing tools, and collaboration have got the most attention as they have a major role to play when it comes to storing and managing files. Besides, the enhanced security while sharing files and wide compatibility that can let you manage your data across platforms have got fixed checkboxes.
What if your biggest gripe with Dropbox is the rather limited free storage? Well, we have also covered the top Dropbox alternatives that offer a ton of free storage so that you can store your photos, videos, music, and docs without having to pay any bucks. That all being said, let’s explore the lineup!
1. Google Drive – Better Alternative for G-Suite UsersIn comparison, Dropbox only gives you 2 GB on a free account. However, you should keep in mind that the 15 GB storage is shared between various Google services including Gmail and Photos. Still, it’s a better deal than Dropbox. Also, the paid plans of Google Drive are more flexible than that of Dropbox.
Google Drive goes toe to toe with Dropbox when it comes to the rest of the features like cross-platform availability, instant-sync, ability to share your files, collaborating with other individuals, and so on. In addition, it also provides better free version usage, better pricing plans for individuals, and a plethora of tools that can help a small business grow. It is a cheaper and better alternative in my opinion.
Cross-platform availability
Instant-sync
Integrated with G-Suite
Excellent collaboration
Free Storage Space: 15 GB
Premium Plans & Pricing: 100 GB for $1.99, 1 TB for $9.99, goes up to 30 TB for $299.99 (monthly prices)
Visit: Website
2. pCloud – Flexible Cloud Storage Service with High-End SecuritypCloud is a name that is not so famous in the cloud storage world right now, but it is one of the best cloud storage providers out there. pCloud’s paid subscription plans are very flexible, allowing a user to choose not only the storage sizes but also the different features according to their needs. Considering pCloud is a Swiss company, it comes as no surprise that it focuses a lot on security features.
With both free and premium plans, you get better security options than Dropbox. If you want even more security, you can opt for the pCloud Crypto ($3.99/month), which will encrypt all your data with the key only available to you. You can estimate the quality of its security by the fact that, pCloud has announced a bounty of $100,000 for anyone who can breach it.
Apart from security, one of the best features of pCloud is that you don’t have to manage a separate folder on your device, it can sync anything and everything present on your device. This makes pCloud unique as it doesn’t take any space on your computer. You can work as you used to while pCloud syncs everything you have given it access to in the background. If you still have doubts (as it is not so well known), just look at its customers list. pCloud boasts of serving the top industry leaders such as CocaCola, Pepsi, Snapchat, LinkedIn, and Uber among others.
Key features:
High-end security
Invite users to shared folders
Automatic upload of your camera roll
Flexible plans
Premium Plans & Pricing: 500 GB for $47.88/year and 2 TB for $95.88/year
Visit: Website
3. Tresorit – Zero-Knowledge Authentication Backed by End-to-End EncryptionYou know a product is good if the owner is ready to literally put his money on it. Tresorit is one such product, which is so confident of its security features that it has a $50,000 bounty for anyone who can breach its security. No wonder, it is one of the most secured cloud storage platforms out there. So, if you are a privacy fanatic or just someone who wants to keep his files secured inside an almost impregnable cloud vault, Tresorit was built to keep you in mind.
When you are using popular cloud storage platforms such as Dropbox or Google Drive, your files are not encrypted when you are uploading them. This means that anyone working at these service providers can peek into your files if they want to. Tresorit is different. It has end-to-end encryption with cryptographic key sharing technologies. What this means is that your files are encrypted from the moment you initiate the upload process. .
When you share a file with someone they cannot see it until you give them a secure password which will act as a key to unlock the encryption. Not only that Tresorit also follows Zero-knowledge authentication. That’s just a fancy way of saying that your service provider (Tresorit, in this case) does not save any of the passwords and encryption keys, making it impossible for anyone even the workers at Tresorit to access your file.
Since you have the key which is locally stored on your computer, either you or the people you have chosen to share the files with can view it. Other features include cross-platform support, 1TB storage, unlimited version recovery, and much more. It doesn’t have any free version, however, you can use it for a trial period of 14 days before you decide to purchase.
Key features:
End-to-end encryption
Zero-knowledge authentication
Unlimited version recovery
Cross-platform support
Free Storage Space: Not Applicable, Free 14-day trial
Visit: Website
4. chúng tôi – Designed for Secure File Storage and Smooth CollaborationAlso, living true to its name, the sync is incredibly fast. Of course, sync time will depend upon your network speed, but it also depends on your service providers. If you are on a slow network you can specify the amount of bandwidth you want Sync to access leaving the bandwidth you might want to use for other purposes. It also has a free version which allows 5 GB storage option. All in all, it is a good alternative to Dropbox, if you are looking for something which is closer to it when it comes to usability yet far more secure.
Key features:
Very user-friendly
Easy folder sharing feature
Excels in the collaboration department
Ability to specify the amount of bandwidth
Free Storage Space: 5 GB
Premium Plans & Pricing: 2TB for $8/month (personal) and 1TB for $5/month/user (Business)
5. OneDrive – A Great Asset for Microsoft Office UsersYou knew that this one was coming and here it is. Microsoft’s OneDrive gives the closest competition to Dropbox and Google Drive. It is similar in functionality, has cross-platform app support and the sync is fast and instantaneous. Moreover, it also offers a freemium plan with 5GB of storage.
This is an incredible deal if you are a student or are someone who works a lot on Word and Excel. Google’s own offering has evolved over the years but Microsoft is still the king when it comes to productivity tools such as Excel and Word. Since Office has taken the cloud route now, it also allows you to collaborate with others on the same document on a real-time basis.
Key features:
Ease to access, edit, and share files
Integrated with Microsoft Office apps
Document scanning feature
Personal vault
Free Storage Space: 5 GB
Premium Plans & Pricing: 100 GB for $1.99/month, Microsoft 365 personal $69.99/year or $6.99/month
Visit: Website
6. Box – Cross-Platform Service with Best-in-Class Collaboration ToolsThe difference comes right at the top with the company’s strategy. As mentioned earlier, Box focuses more on businesses rather than individuals. It does that by providing one of the best collaborative tools in the market.
It does that by integrating various third-party apps. For example, Box has inbuilt Microsoft’s Office suite support, which allows you to edit your documents online without even downloading them. Not only that your team can collaborate on a document on a real-time basis. It also adds chat support, meaning you can chat with your teammates from right within the document you are working on.
Office 365 integration is just an example, Box has integrated with numerous third-party service providers, which means that it supports a large number of file types, that you can store, view, and edit online, together with your team. It also saves all the previous iterations of the files you are working on, thereby safeguarding your data against accidental mistakes and deletion.
Key features:
Designed for business users
Top-notch collaboration tools
Integrated with several third-party service providers
Supports a wide range of file formats
Free Storage Space: 10 GB, Free Trial
Premium Plans & Pricing: 100 GB for $5/month/user and Unlimited Storage for $15/month/user.
Visit: Website
7. SpiderOak One – A Reliable Cloud Storage Service for Business UsersIt also focuses more on enterprise solutions and hence it is also priced on a higher side. The sync time is a little bit slower as compared to other apps on this list. Also, the servers are based in the US, which means your privacy is not protected as securely by government laws as in EU countries. Still, the service till now has lived up to its claims, and you can use the basic version for free to check it out.
Key features:
End-to-end encryption
Syncs data across devices
Secure file sharing
Cross-platform
Free Storage Space: Free 21-day Trial, with 250 GB storage
Visit: Website
8. Mega – Plenty of Free Storage and Intuitive Browser Extension Seal the DealIf you are someone who enjoys free services and still needs a little more storage than what’s provided by other cloud storage providers on the list, give Mega a try. The free version of Mega gives you access to a whopping 50 GB of free storage, which way more than what you get with Dropbox. Apart from a juicy free offering, Mega also supports end-to-end encryption.
Like others, it also has cross-platform app support allowing you to access your data from any device. You can share folders and collaborate with other people if you want to. There’s also an inbuilt chat functionality, which helps you chat with other collaborators without leaving the app. It also has browser extensions that give you quick access to your files. There’s a lot to like here, and you should definitely check this one out.
Pretty easy to set up
Supports end-to-end encryption
Inbuilt chat functionality
Browser extension
Free Storage Space: 50 GB
Premium Plans & Pricing: 200 GB for €4.99, 500 GB for €9.99, 2TB for €19.99, and 4TB for €29.99.
Visit: Website
9. Jottacloud – Ideal Choice for Those Hunting for Unlimited Storage at Affordable PriceJottacloud is a Norwegian company that prides itself in providing unlimited storage. There are only two plans, either you can use the free version, which gives you access to a meager 5GB of data or you can go for the paid plans, which give you unlimited storage. The service also provides extra functions like syncing and backing up of all your photos.
You do not have to create any extra folder, the Jottacloud Photos will automatically sync each and every photo present on your device. Being a Norwegian company, it also focuses a lot on privacy. This one is best for someone who doesn’t want to deal with tier pricing. You subscribe once and you have access to unlimited storage and all the tools that come with it.
Key features:
Organize your files as per your needs
Preview and edit Office documents
Put a lot of emphasis on security and privacy
Comparatively affordable
Free Storage Space: 5 GB
Premium Plans & Pricing: Unlimited storage for files and photos for $9.99/month
10. TeamDrive – Productivity-Centric Cloud Storage ServiceTeamDrive is another good Dropbox alternative. Your files are secured using the state-of-the-art 256-AES algorithm. It also supports Zero-knowledge privacy along with encrypted link sharing. One unique feature here is that you can choose your cloud hosting service here.
You can either go for their own secure cloud or you can set up your own servers. Collaboration and sharing of files are inbuilt allowing multiple people to access and work on the same files. The free version only provides 5 GB of storage and you have to go Pro if you want to fully utilize it.
Key features:
Uses 256-AES algorithm
supports Zero-knowledge privacy
Encrypted link sharing
Allows multiple people to work on the same files
Premium Plans & Pricing: Multi-tier (Visit the pricing page for more info)
Visit: Website
11. ZohoIn a nutshell, if you are looking for a file storage platform complete with high-end collaboration tools for your team, give serious consideration to Zoho Docs.
Key features:
Seamless collaboration
Proficient file organizing tools
Built-in Zoho Office editors
Secure and reliable
Free plan: 5GB of free storage
Visit: Website
12. iCloud – Best for Apple EcosystemFor the folks who are part of the Apple ecosystem, iCloud could be a worthy alternative to Dropbox. Though iCloud lacks universal compatibility (available only on iDevice and Windows), Apple cloud storage service has got everything covered to be a highly reliable platform for file storage.
iCloud is deeply integrated into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS so that you can back up your files with ease. The cloud service offers high-end encryption to your files to keep them secure and make it incredibly straightforward to restore your backup or access your stored data across supported platforms.
While Dropbox offers just 2 GB of cloud storage for free, Apple provides up to 5GB of free cloud storage. What’s more, Apple’s offering starts at just $0.99 for 50GB which could easily fit into most personal needs.
Key features:
Seamless integration across iDevices
High-end security
Easy back up and restore process across iDevices
Comparatively affordable plans
Free plan: 5GB of free storage
Premium Plans and Pricing: 50GB for $0.99/month, 200GB for $2.99/month, and 2TB for $9.99/month
13. CloudUp – A Notable Free Dropbox AlternativeShould you wish to have a ton of free storage (up to 200GB) for your files including photos, videos, and music, CloudUp can be a better choice. While it’s nowhere near as versatile and efficient as Dropbox, the ability to store up to 1000 items (just by dragging and dropping) without having to dole out any bucks is worth taking note of.
One of the highlights of this cloud storage service is the hassle-free file sharing process. You can use secure URL links to share your files via email or even social networking services like Facebook and WhatsApp. For an additional layer of protection, CloudUp lets you password-protect your files. Overall, CloudUp is one of the better free Dropbox alternatives for storing photos, videos, docs, and URLs.
Key features:
Plenty of free storage
Easy upload
Fast sharing using links
Password protection
Visit: Website
14. Mediafire – Fast and Secure File Storage/SharingFor fast and secure file storage and sharing, you can count on Mediafire to live up to your expectation. Just like Dropbox, it also supports a wide range of formats including photos, videos, audio, and docs so that you can easily store all of your files and access them from anywhere. Moreover, Mediafire also provides the option to share your files through links to make file sharing safe.
Key features:
The straightforward file storing and sharing
up to 10/50GB of free storage
Universal compatibility
Free plan: Up to 10/50GB free storage (Extra 40GB free storage is conditional and you will get it only when you check off the requirements like installing mobile/desktop clients or sharing on Facebook and Twitter)
Premium plan and pricing: $3.75/month/user for 1TB (billed annually), $40/month/100 users (billed quarterly)
Visit: Website
15. Nextcloud – A Reliable Open-Source/Self-Hosted PlatformBy offering you the flexibility to run your own Nextcloud server, it ensures you remain in complete control of your data. And it’s this flexibility that makes it a better choice than Dropbox; especially for the folks who wish to have better security. Moreover, the open-source platform also promises the enhanced privacy to your files. Considering the reliable track record, you can bank on it to keep the privacy of your files intact.
Beyond file storage, Nextcloud features a productivity-defining dashboard that provides an overview of your urgent emails, upcoming appointments, chat messages, and even your latest tweets. So, you can keep a track of things, which matter to you, right from one spot. The self-hosted platform can also have a key role to play in boosting your collaboration.
Features like private audio/video conferencing, fast text chat, and screen sharing can help you remain in sync with your colleagues and work in tandem. In a nutshell, if you are looking for a Dropbox alternative that can let you store your files at your preferred server and also bolster collaboration, Nextcloud would be a pretty solid option.
Open-source platform
Option to choose your own server
Private audio/video conferencing
Productivity-defining dashboard
Efficient collaboration
Free plan: Entirely depends on your hosting plan
Premium plan and pricing: It depends on your hosting plan
Visit: Website
Bonus: Boxcryptor – A Useful Tool for Managing Your Files SecurelyWe have covered the best Dropbox alternatives in this article, but what if you don’t want to switch from Dropbox and yet want to secure your files. That’s where Boxcryptor comes to your help. Whether you use Dropbox or other popular cloud storage services such as Box or Google Drive, it integrates and encrypts your files.
The best part is that it is free to use if you are using it for non-commercial uses. When you use it, all your files are end-to-end encrypted with Zero-knowledge privacy. The free version allows you to use only one device and one cloud service provider. For using multiple service providers and devices, you will have to buy premium plans which are not exactly cheap. Still, it’s best for someone who either doesn’t want to lose on the simplicity of Dropbox or doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of moving to another cloud service provider.
Key Features:
Offers integration with Dropbox and other cloud storage services
Provides end-to-end encryption
Maintains Zero-knowledge privacy
Free Plan: Encrypt 1 Device and 1 Cloud Storage
Premium Plans & Pricing: Unlimited Personal for $48/year, Unlimited Business for $96/year, and Company Package For $8/user/month.
Use The Best Cloud Storage Services Instead of DropboxDropbox is the first service that made cloud storage services a mainstream tool, but this doesn’t mean it is flawless. The main concern is around its security features which frankly aren’t very good. There are also cheaper options out there, which give Dropbox a run for its money. Before you decide to lock yourself up in a cloud ecosystem, try our best picks. Do let us know if you think we missed a good one. We appreciate user engagement and love to read our reader’s responses.
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