What cache is and why you might want to delete it

Cache is temporary data that your Mac stores to make programs run faster. When you visit a website, your browser saves images and code. When you use an app, it stores settings and fragments of data. The next time you open that website or app, your Mac loads from the cache instead of downloading everything fresh — which is faster.

The problem is that cache accumulates. A browser cache from two years of web browsing can take up several gigabytes. App caches can do the same. If your Mac is running low on storage or you want to troubleshoot a program that is behaving strangely, clearing cache is one of the first things to try. It is also worth doing if you are selling or giving away your Mac, because cache can contain fragments of passwords, search history, and other data you may not want to leave behind.

Clearing cache does not hurt your Mac. The worst that happens is that websites and apps load slightly slower the next time you use them, because your Mac has to read fresh data instead of using stored copies. That slowness lasts only until the cache rebuilds itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Browser cache lives in your browser's settings and can be cleared from within Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge without affecting your bookmarks or passwords.
  • System cache (used by macOS itself) lives in hidden folders and is safest to clear using the Finder's "Empty Trash" after moving cache folders, or by using a third-party tool designed for this purpose.
  • App cache is stored in the Library folder and can be cleared by finding the app's folder there and deleting its cache subfolder, though most apps rebuild it automatically.
  • Clearing cache typically frees between 500 MB and several gigabytes depending on how long it has been since you last cleared it.
  • You do not need to restart your Mac after clearing cache, though restarting can help if an app was behaving oddly before you cleared it.

How to clear browser cache in Safari

Safari stores cache in a folder on your Mac, but the easiest way to clear it is through the Safari menu. Open Safari, then click Safari in the top menu bar and select Settings (or Preferences on older versions of macOS). Click the Privacy tab.

At the bottom of the Privacy window, you will see a button that says Manage Website Data. Click it. A list of websites appears — this is all the data Safari has stored from sites you have visited. You can select individual sites and click Remove, or click Remove All to clear everything at once. Click Done when you are finished.

If you want to clear cache automatically every time you close Safari, go back to the Privacy tab and check the box that says Remove all website data when quitting Safari. This is useful if you share your Mac or want to keep your browsing private, but it means Safari will be slightly slower to load pages the first time you visit them after closing the browser.

How to clear browser cache in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge

Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all use the same basic method. Open the browser and press Command + Shift + Delete on your keyboard. A window opens asking what time range you want to clear — choose All time to clear everything. Make sure the box next to Cached images and files is checked, then click Clear data (Chrome and Edge) or Clear History (Firefox).

If the keyboard shortcut does not work, you can do it manually. In Chrome or Edge, click the three-dot menu in the top right, select Settings, click Privacy and security on the left, then Clear browsing data. In Firefox, click the menu button (three horizontal lines), select Settings, click Privacy & Security on the left, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and click Clear Data.

How to clear app cache from the Library folder

Individual apps store their cache in a hidden folder called Library. To access it, open Finder and press Command + Shift + G. A box appears asking you to type a path. Type ~/Library/Caches and press Enter. A folder opens showing cache folders for every app on your Mac.

Find the app whose cache you want to clear — the folder names usually match the app name or the company that made it. For example, Google Chrome's cache is in a folder called Google/Chrome. Click the folder and press Command + Delete to move it to Trash. The app will rebuild its cache the next time you open it. If you want to clear cache for all apps at once, select all the folders in the Caches directory (press Command + A) and delete them, but be aware that this can cause some apps to behave oddly until they rebuild their cache.

After you delete cache folders, open Finder and click Trash in the sidebar, then click Empty in the top right to permanently delete the files. If you skip this step, the cache is still taking up space on your Mac.

How to clear system cache safely

macOS itself stores system cache in hidden folders. These are harder to access and riskier to delete by hand, because deleting the wrong file can cause problems. The safest approach is to use a tool designed for this purpose.

CleanMyMac X and AppCleaner are two popular third-party tools that can clear system cache without requiring you to navigate hidden folders. Both have free versions with limited features and paid versions that do more. If you prefer not to install a third-party tool, you can also restart your Mac in Safe Mode, which clears some system cache automatically — hold Shift while your Mac is starting up until you see the login window, then log in and restart normally.

If you are comfortable with the command line, you can also clear system cache by opening Terminal (in Applications > Utilities) and typing rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/*, then pressing Enter. This deletes all cache in your user Library at once. Do not do this unless you are certain you understand what you are doing, because the command line does not ask for confirmation before deleting.

How much space clearing cache will free up

The amount of space you will recover depends on how long it has been since you last cleared cache and how much you use your Mac. A browser cache can easily be 1 to 3 gigabytes if you have not cleared it in a year. App caches are usually smaller — typically 100 MB to 500 MB per app — but they add up if you have many apps installed. System cache is usually under 1 gigabyte unless your Mac is very old or has been running for months without a restart.

To see how much space cache is taking up before you delete it, open Finder, click Applications in the sidebar, right-click any app, and select Get Info. The window shows how much space the app and its cache are using together. For a more detailed breakdown, you can use a tool like Disk Diag or the built-in Storage tool in System Settings — click General, then Storage, and macOS will show you what is taking up the most space on your Mac.

What to do if clearing cache does not solve your problem

If you cleared cache because an app was crashing or behaving strangely, and the problem continues after you clear cache, the issue is probably not cache. Try restarting the app, or if that does not work, restart your Mac. If the problem persists, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app — this clears not just cache but also any corrupted settings files.

If you cleared cache to free up space and you did not recover as much as you expected, the problem is probably not cache. Use the Storage tool in System Settings to see what is actually taking up space — it is usually old backups, large video files, or duplicate photos. Clearing those will free up much more space than cache ever could.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my passwords or bookmarks?

No. Passwords and bookmarks are stored separately from cache. When you clear cache in your browser, you are only deleting temporary copies of web pages and images. If you want to keep passwords and bookmarks but clear everything else, most browsers let you choose what to delete — uncheck the boxes for passwords and autofill data before you click clear.

How often should I clear cache?

There is no set schedule. If your Mac is running low on storage, clear cache monthly. If you have plenty of space, clearing cache once or twice a year is fine. If you are troubleshooting an app that is misbehaving, clear its cache when ready and see if that fixes the problem.

Is it safe to delete everything in the Caches folder at once?

It is safe, but not always necessary. Deleting everything at once will clear cache for all your apps, but some apps may behave oddly or load slowly the next time you open them until they rebuild their cache. If you only want to clear cache for one app, delete only that app's folder instead.

What is the difference between cache and cookies?

Cache stores images, code, and other files to make websites load faster. Cookies store information about you — like login status or items in your shopping cart — so websites remember you when you return. Browsers let you clear them separately. Clearing cookies will log you out of websites, but clearing cache will not.

Do I need to restart my Mac after clearing cache?

No. Restarting is not necessary, though it can help if an app was crashing before you cleared its cache. If you want to see the space freed up when ready, you can restart, but it is not required.