What cache is and why you might clear it
Cache is temporary data your Mac stores to make things load faster. When you visit a website, your browser saves images, text, and code so it doesn't have to read them again. When you use an app, it stores settings and fragments of data the same way. This speeds things up — but over time, cache can take up gigabytes of storage, cause apps to behave oddly, or show you outdated information.
Clearing cache won't break anything. Your Mac will straightforward re-read what it needs the next time you use those apps or websites. The trade-off is that things may load slightly slower for a few minutes until the cache rebuilds itself.
Most people clear cache when their Mac is running slowly, when a website looks wrong, when an app keeps crashing, or when they want to free up disk space. You can clear all cache at once or target specific apps and browsers.
Key Takeaways
- Browser cache lives in your web browser's settings and can be cleared in a few clicks without affecting anything else on your Mac.
- System cache is spread across your Mac's storage and requires either a third-party tool or manual deletion of specific folders.
- Clearing cache frees up storage space and can fix apps that are crashing or showing stale data, but won't speed up your Mac permanently.
- You can clear cache on a schedule using built-in Mac tools, or clear it manually whenever you notice problems.
Clearing browser cache in Safari, Chrome, and Firefox
Browser cache is the easiest to clear and the most common reason people do it. Each browser stores its cache separately, so you'll need to clear each one you use.
In Safari: Open Safari, then click Safari in the menu bar at the top. Click "Clear History" and a window will appear. In the dropdown that says "Clear", select "all history". This clears your browsing history and cache together. Click "Clear History" to confirm.
In Chrome: Open Chrome, then press Command + Shift + Delete on your keyboard. A window titled "Clear browsing data" will open. Make sure the time range at the top says "All time". Check the boxes next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files". Click "Clear data".
In Firefox: Open Firefox, then press Command + Shift + Delete. A window titled "Clear Recent History" will open. In the dropdown that says "Time range to clear", select "Everything". Check the boxes next to "Cache" and "Cookies". Click "Clear Now".
Clearing system cache manually
System cache is data stored by macOS itself and by your apps. It's harder to access than browser cache, but you can delete it by navigating to hidden folders on your Mac.
First, open Finder. Press Command + Shift + Period (the period key). This shows hidden files and folders — they'll appear slightly faded. Now press Command + G to open the "Go to Folder" dialog. Type this path exactly: ~/Library/Caches and press Enter. You're now in your cache folder.
Inside, you'll see folders named after apps and services. You can delete any of these folders without breaking anything — the app will recreate them the next time it runs. To delete a folder, right-click it and click "Move to Bin". If a folder is locked or won't delete, skip it and move to the next one.
After you're done deleting, press Command + Shift + Period again to hide the hidden files. Then empty your Trash by right-clicking the Trash icon in your Dock and clicking "Empty Trash".
Using Disk Utility to clear cache safely
If you're uncomfortable navigating hidden folders, macOS includes a built-in tool called Disk Utility that can clear cache for you. Open Finder, go to Applications, then Utilities, and double-click Disk Utility.
Click your Mac's hard drive name in the left sidebar — usually "Macintosh HD". Then click the "Info" button at the top. You'll see how much space is used and available. Click "Manage" to see what's taking up the most space. macOS will show you large old files, cache, language files, and duplicate files. You can click "Review Files" next to "Cache Files" to see what's there, then click "Delete" to remove them.
This is safer than manual deletion because Disk Utility won't let you delete cache that your Mac needs right now. It will only remove cache that's truly temporary.
Clearing cache from individual apps
Some apps have their own cache-clearing option built in. This is the safest way to clear cache for that specific app without touching anything else.
Open the app, then look in its menu bar (the top menu, not the Dock). Click the app's name — for example, "Mail" or "Photos" — and look for a menu item that says "Preferences", "Settings", or "Clear Cache". Not every app has this option, but many do. If you find it, click it and confirm.
If the app doesn't have a built-in option, you can still delete its cache manually. Go to ~/Library/Caches as described above, find the folder with the app's name, and delete it.
When to clear cache and how often
You don't need to clear cache on a schedule. Clear it when you notice a problem: an app crashing repeatedly, a website showing outdated information, or your Mac running low on storage space. Most people clear cache once every few months, or when they're troubleshooting a specific issue.
If you want to clear cache automatically, you can set up a scheduled task using macOS's built-in automation. Open System Preferences, click "General", then look for "Storage" settings. Some versions of macOS include an option to automatically delete old cache files. If you see it, you can turn it on and set how old files need to be before they're deleted.
Clearing cache won't slow down your Mac in the long run, but it also won't speed it up permanently. If your Mac is slow, cache is rarely the cause — it's usually a full hard drive, too many apps running at once, or a hardware problem. Clearing cache is worth trying, but don't expect it to be a cure-all.
What not to delete when clearing cache
When you're in the ~/Library/Caches folder, you'll see many folders. It's safe to delete almost all of them, but a few are worth leaving alone. Don't delete folders named after system services like "com.apple.nsurlsessiond" or "com.apple.bird" unless you're specifically trying to fix a problem with that service.
If you're unsure about a folder, you can always leave it. Clearing some cache is better than clearing none, and you won't break anything by being conservative. The worst that happens is an app takes a few seconds longer to load the next time you use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my passwords or saved information?
No. Cache is temporary data only. Passwords, bookmarks, and saved form information are stored separately and won't be affected. If you want to delete those too, you can do it in your browser settings, but clearing cache alone won't touch them.
How much storage space will I free up by clearing cache?
It depends on how long it's been since you last cleared cache and how much you browse. Browser cache is usually 100 megabytes to a few gigabytes. System cache can be larger. If your Mac is running low on storage, clearing cache might free up 5 to 20 gigabytes, but it's not a permanent solution — cache will rebuild over time.
Why is my Mac still slow after clearing cache?
Cache is rarely the cause of slowness. If clearing cache didn't help, the problem is usually a full hard drive, too many apps running at startup, or a hardware issue like a failing drive. Check your storage in System Preferences under "General" and see what's taking up the most space.
Can I clear cache without restarting my Mac?
Yes. You don't need to restart your Mac to clear cache. Some apps might behave oddly for a moment after you clear their cache, but restarting isn't necessary. If an app seems stuck after you clear its cache, you can force-quit it by pressing Command + Option + Escape, then open it again.
What's the difference between clearing cache and clearing cookies?
Cache is files and data that make things load faster. Cookies are small text files that websites use to remember you — your login information, preferences, and browsing history. Clearing cookies will log you out of websites and reset your preferences. Clearing cache won't. You can clear one without the other in your browser settings.