What clearing cache actually does

Cache is temporary data that Apple Music stores on your device to make the app run faster. When you play a song, the app saves pieces of it so it doesn't have to read the same data twice. Over time, this cache builds up and takes up storage space on your phone or computer — sometimes gigabytes of it.

Clearing the cache deletes all that stored data. Your playlists, saved songs, and account information stay intact. The app will straightforward re-read and re-cache songs the next time you play them. Think of it like emptying a junk drawer: you're throwing out things you don't need right now, but you can get them back whenever you want.

Key Takeaways

  • Clearing cache removes temporary song data from your device but keeps your playlists, downloads, and account settings unchanged.
  • On iPhone and iPad, you clear cache by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, finding Apple Music, and selecting Offload App.
  • On Mac, you delete the cache folder at ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.music, which requires opening Finder and enabling hidden files.
  • You should clear cache when your device is running low on storage or the app is behaving slowly or crashing.

Clearing cache on iPhone and iPad

Open Settings on your device. Tap General, then iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage). Scroll down until you see Apple Music in the list of apps. Tap on it.

You will see two options: Offload App and Delete App. Choose Offload App. This removes the app and its cache but keeps your account data and settings. When you reinstall Apple Music from the App Store, you will log back in and everything will be there — your playlists, your library, your preferences.

After you tap Offload App, the system will ask you to confirm. Tap Offload again. The app will disappear from your home screen. Then go to the App Store, search for Apple Music, and tap the cloud icon to reinstall it. This usually takes a few minutes depending on your internet speed.

Clearing cache on Mac

On a Mac, the cache folder is hidden by default. Open Finder and click the menu bar at the top. Select Finder, then Preferences. In the Advanced tab, check the box next to Show all filename. Close Preferences.

Now open Finder again and click Go in the menu bar. Select Go to Folder. Type this path exactly: ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.music and press Enter. A folder will open. Select all the files inside (Command+A), then delete them (Command+Delete). Empty your Trash to complete the process.

Apple Music will rebuild this cache the next time you open the app and play music. Your library and settings will not be affected.

When you should clear the cache

Clear cache if your device is running low on storage space and you need to free up room. Apple Music cache can easily take up 500 MB to 2 GB depending on how much you stream. If your device has less than a few gigabytes free, clearing cache is a quick way to get space back.

Also clear cache if the app is crashing, freezing, or playing songs slowly. Corrupted cache files can sometimes cause these problems. Clearing and rebuilding the cache often fixes them.

You do not need to clear cache regularly just to keep the app healthy. Apple Music manages its own cache reasonably well. Only clear it when you have a specific reason — storage pressure or performance problems.

What happens to your music after clearing cache

Any songs you have downloaded for offline listening will remain on your device. Downloaded songs are stored separately from cache. Clearing cache only removes the temporary streaming data, not your offline library.

Your playlists, liked songs, and listening history all stay in your account. They are stored on Apple's servers, not on your device. When you log back into Apple Music, everything will be exactly as you left it.

The only thing you might notice is that the app will take slightly longer to load songs the first time you play them after clearing cache, because it has to read that data fresh. After that, performance returns to normal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my playlists if I clear the cache?

No. Your playlists are stored in your Apple Music account on Apple's servers, not in the cache on your device. Clearing cache only removes temporary song data. When you log back in, all your playlists will be there.

How much space will clearing cache actually free up?

That depends on how much you stream. Most users see between 500 MB and 2 GB freed up. You can check exactly how much space Apple Music is using before you clear it by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and tapping Apple Music.

Do I have to reinstall the app on iPhone to clear the cache?

Yes, on iPhone the only way to clear Apple Music cache is to offload the app and reinstall it. On Mac you can delete the cache folder directly without reinstalling. The process is different because of how iOS and macOS handle app storage.

What if clearing the cache doesn't fix the app crashing?

If the app still crashes after you clear cache and reinstall, try restarting your device. If it continues, check that you have the latest version of Apple Music from the App Store. You can also sign out of your Apple Music account, restart your device, and sign back in.

Is it safe to delete files in the Mac cache folder?

Yes, it is safe to delete files in the com.apple.music cache folder. These are temporary files only. The app will recreate them automatically. Do not delete anything outside this specific folder, as other cache folders belong to different apps.