Moreover, older backups will also tend to fall under this category. If you download a lot of plugins or extensions, all of the files associated with those should be contained there. With that said, what macOS stores under system data will depend on how you’ve been using your computer so far. Some of these files also help you easily access your account and other important information and settings. It refers to these files to access your app preferences, allowing you to keep certain app settings running. Why is my Mac system data so high? How much system data is normal on Mac? Moreover, what is system data storage on Mac supposed to do for you?įirstly, you must know that macOS uses this category to store various files it needs to run your computer. However, you might find that your Mac system data is 100GB (or any high number) and feel shocked.

Now you know how to check your Mac’s system data. That’s why macOS lumps them all together as system data – files that help your system run smoothly. For example, you can find temporary files, app plugins or extensions, cache files, disk archives, and backups inside system data.Īs you can see, these files don’t exactly neatly fit into the other categories like Photos or Apps. Now, what is system data on Mac? Simply put, it refers to the category that houses all the miscellaneous files on your device. The label will remain as “Other” if you’re on macOS Big Sur or older iterations of macOS. It’s just that Apple renamed “Other” to “System Data” in macOS Monterey. Just what is Other in Mac storage and what is System Data on Mac storage? Firstly, let’s clear up a misunderstanding: both “Other” and “System Data” refer to the same category. Some will be labeled “Photos” while others are called “Apps” or “Mail.” However, the most peculiar labeling for most people would probably be the “Other” or “System Data” category.

When you check your Mac’s available storage, you’ll likely find different categories taking up varying amounts of storage.

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