“Your Disk is Almost Full” This warning message surprised a lot of Mac users after they updated to macOS 10.13 High Sierra. And if you scroll through your Disk Utility, you will find an unfamiliar category called "Other Volumes in Container", this thing might be the cause of your Mac running in a slow speed.
And if you go ahead and check further, this category has used up a huge chunk of your storage without your knowledge of what this classification holds and if you can delete them to reclaim some space.
Let’s all find out how to remove the files in it and get more space.
Part #1: What are the Other Volumes in Container?Part #2: How to Delete Other Volumes in Container to Save Up SpacePart #3: Create A New User Account on MacPart #4: Delete Extra APFS Volume to Free Up SpacePart #5: Reinstall macOS Summary
Part #1: What are the Other Volumes in Container?
There is a new APFS or Apple File System container that was recently introduced in MacOS 10.13. Note that a container can include numerous virtual volumes just like your physical disk that can have multiple containers. All of them share the storage space of your device.
1.1 Can You Delete Other Volumes in Container?
“Other volumes in container” represents the volumes Preboot, Recovery, and VM or Virtual Machine. These volumes contain important data for MacOS to function well and it is not advisable to delete this category.
You may, however, reduce the space that this volume accumulates.
Part #2: How to Delete Other Volumes in Container to Save Up Space
Over time, your Mac is filled with lots of data. Most of them are clutters and junk files that hog your system and later on, cause latencies and other issues such as storage concerns. And when the struggle to look for space is challenging, you may look into your system and discover that the “Other Volumes in Container” has eaten the largest bite.
Since it plays an important role in running your MacOS, you cannot delete this category but you can still reclaim your storage space by cleaning out unimportant data inside this system.
Here is an easy method to reduce the file size and regain storage.
Use Mac Cleaner
If you are looking for ways to clean up your Mac, the most efficient method is to use TechyCub Mac Cleaner. Searching for clutters takes time and might require technical expertise especially when you are unfamiliar with how your system works.
Mac Cleaner Scan your Mac quickly and clean junk files easily. Check the primary status of your Mac including the disk usage, CPU status, memory usage, etc. Speed up your Mac with simple clicks. Free Download
Mac cleaner is a professional all-in-one solution that helps you quickly reclaim space by automatically identifying junk files, duplicates, unused apps, old and large files, and more.
You can regain storage space with just a click or selectively choose what files to remove. And since Mac cleaner only highlights the files that are safe for deletion, it is guaranteed to be beginner-friendly.
Select from 9 different modules of Mac cleaner to get rid of all space-hoggers on your system. Here’s a brief guide on how to clean up “Other Volumes in Container”:
- Install and launch Mac cleaner.
- Select from the menu. CPU Load, Network, Macintosh HD (shows the total and current available space), and RAM (contains the total and currently used space).
- Click the Trash icon beside the Macintosh HD to auto-launch the junk cleaner and selectively choose the files you want to remove.
- You may also click RAM to delete the data in just a click.
Other features include Junk Cleaner, Shredder, App Uninstaller, Duplicates Finder, Large & Old Files, Extensions, Similar Image Finder, Privacy, and Optimization.
Part #3: Create A New User Account on Mac
Another option to reduce the size of the “Other Volumes in Container” is to create a new user account. You will be using this new account upon signing into your Mac.
Once you have created a new user account, you will notice that the space that the issue consume is reduced.
Follow these steps on how to create a new user account on Mac:
- Click the Apple Menu.
- Go to System Preferences.
- Find and click Users & Groups.
- Select the lock icon. If needed, enter the device passcode.
- Under Login Options, click the Add + button.
- Fill up the details to add a new admin account.
- Click Create User after.
- Use this new user account upon signing into Mac.
Part #4: Delete Extra APFS Volume to Free Up Space
Note that when you remove “Other Volumes in Container”, all the data in it is also perpetually erased, and the volume is terminated from the container.
Follow this guide on how to delete extra APFS volume on your Mac:
- Launch the Disk Utility app.
- Click View on the left sidebar and select Show All Devices.
- Find and choose the APFS volume you want to erase in the sidebar.
- Right-click on the desired APFS volume and select Delete APFS Volume.
- Choose Delete from the pop-up window for confirmation.
To avoid data loss, make sure to create a backup of your content before deleting it.
Part #5: Reinstall macOS
Erasing a disk and reinstalling macOS definitely give you a clean slate. However, it needs you to back up your content first before doing this method to avoid data loss.
Check out these steps to reinstall your macOS clean up “Other Volumes in Container”:
- Open Recovery Mode. Press and hold Command + R.
- From the Utilities Window selects Disk Utility. Select Continue.
- Click on Macintosh HD.
- Click Erase.
- Use Macintosh HD as the name and select APFS/Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Click Erase.
- Remove all the volumes left in the sidebar except for the Macintosh HD volume.
- Quit Disk Utility.
- Click Reinstall macOS when you see the Utilities Window again.
Reinstalling the macOS is actually being used in many kinds of troubleshooting scenarios. However, it is usually recommended as a last resort because it will wipe out all the data on your Mac.
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Summary
You have just learned what is “Other Volumes in Container” means and how it works. Since this is an essential part of your mac, you cannot just delete this category. Fortunately, you can get rid of the junk files that may have been cluttering your system and eating your storage.
In this post, we have listed 4 different ways to free up and reduce storage space. Of all the methods given, using Mac cleaner is definitely the most convenient and efficient since it automatically scans your device and shows you all the useless data that have been sitting around.
There is an option to erase them with just a click or you can selectively remove these unimportant files. Mac cleaner supports freeing up your device from Junk Files, Finder, Duplicate, App Uninstaller, Shredder, Large & Old Files, and more.