---
id: mac-storage-basics.what-is-the-users-shared-folder
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-is-the-users-shared-folder
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "Library folders explained"
question: "What is the Shared folder in Users, and can I clean it out?"
alt_questions:
  - "users shared folder mac"
  - "Macintosh HD › Users › Shared large"
  - "what is shared folder mac"
  - "can i delete users shared"
  - "shared folder taking space"
  - "files in users shared"
short_answer: "It's a folder all accounts on the Mac share, and some installers store big content there. Check it via Go → Go to Folder, and remove only items you recognise as no longer needed."
tags: ["shared folder", "users", "cleanup"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-is-other-users-and-shared", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-find-large-files-on-my-mac"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What is the Shared folder in Users, and can I clean it out?

**Users → Shared** is a folder every account on the Mac can read and write, used to pass files between users. Some apps and installers also park content there — for example large sample libraries or downloaded installers.

It's worth a look when space is tight: open it from Finder with **Go → Go to Folder…** and type Macintosh HD › Users › Shared. Delete what you recognise as no longer needed, but leave folders that belong to apps you still use, since their content may live only there.