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How to Clear Cache on Mac, Safely

Updated November 2, 2026

Caches are temporary files apps keep so they can load things faster next time: web images, thumbnails, downloaded updates, previews. Clearing them can free space or fix a misbehaving app or website. Deleting the wrong thing, though, can cause real problems. Here's how to do it safely.

Should you clear your cache at all?

Often you don't need to. Apple says that when space is needed, macOS automatically clears caches and logs that are safe to delete, including temporary database files, interrupted downloads, staged macOS and app updates, and Safari website data (Apple Support).

Also keep in mind:

• Caches come back. Apps rebuild them as you use them, so the space you free is often temporary.
• Things may be slower at first. Websites and apps reload what they had cached.

Clearing cache is most useful when:

• A website looks broken or shows old content.
• An app misbehaves and its developer suggests clearing its cache.
• One app's cache has grown unusually large (several GB) and you need the space now.

If your real goal is more disk space, look first at System Settings > General > Storage, your Downloads folder, and large files. Those usually free far more space than caches (Apple Support).

Step 1: Clear your browser cache

This is the safest and most common kind of cache clearing.

Safari

1. Open Safari and choose Safari > Settings.
2. Click Privacy, then Manage Website Data.
3. Select one or more websites, then click Remove, or click Remove All.

Apple notes this may sign you out of websites (Apple Support). To fix one broken site, remove only that site's data.

Google Chrome

1. Open the More menu (three dots) at the top right and choose Delete browsing data.
2. Choose a time range, such as Last hour or All time.
3. Tick Cached images and files. Untick Cookies and other site data if you want to stay signed in.
4. Click Delete data (Google Chrome Help).

Step 2: Clear a specific app's cache (user Library)

Apps store their caches in the Caches folder inside your user Library. To clear one app's cache:

1. Quit the app first. Clearing the cache of a running app can confuse it or simply get recreated immediately.
2. In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder, type ~/Library/Caches, and press Return.
3. Find the folder named after the app (often in reverse-domain style, such as com.example.appname).
4. Move that folder to the Trash rather than deleting it permanently. If the app has problems afterwards, you can put it back.
5. Open the app again and check that it works. Once you're sure, empty the Trash to actually free the space (Apple notes space isn't freed until you do).

What you should NOT delete

This is where cache-cleaning goes wrong. Avoid these:

• The whole ~/Library/Caches folder in one go. Clear individual app folders instead, with apps closed.
• Anything else in ~/Library, such as Application Support, Preferences or Containers. Those hold your app data and settings, not disposable cache.
• System folders like /System, /Library (the top-level one) or /private. Leave system caches to macOS. Apple's own way to clear certain system caches is to start up in safe mode, which clears them and lets macOS recreate them as needed.
• Folders you don't recognize. If you're not sure what it is, leave it.
• Caches for apps that are running.

And never empty the Trash right after a big cleanup. Give it a day or two so you can restore anything you miss.

Step 3: Free more space the built-in way

In System Settings > General > Storage, macOS can:

• Store in iCloud: keep Desktop, Documents and photos in iCloud and only recent files on your Mac.
• Optimize Storage: remove Apple TV movies and shows you've watched, and keep only recent email attachments.
• Empty Trash automatically: erase items that have been in the Trash for more than 30 days.

You can also click a category, such as Applications or Documents, to review and delete large items.

Doing it with an app: TidyCub

TidyCub, our Mac cleaner, has an App caches and logs page built around the safety rules above:

• It only looks at the top level of ~/Library/Caches and ~/Library/Logs in your user account.
• It skips Apple's caches (com.apple.*), skips caches of apps that are running, and skips anything under 1 MB.
• Everything you remove is moved to the Trash, never deleted outright, and you can undo any action from History.
• It shows how much each item takes before you confirm.

TidyCub doesn't clear browser caches through the browser's settings and doesn't touch system folders. For most people, the bigger wins are elsewhere in the app: tidying Downloads and Desktop, removing used installers, and finding large and duplicate files.

Want to compare tools? See the best free Mac cleaners and CleanMyMac alternatives. If your Mac feels slow rather than full, read how to clear RAM on Mac.

Try TidyCub free

TidyCub shows what's taking up space and cleans it up safely, with everything going to the Trash first. Try it free for 7 days with no account; after that it's a one-time purchase of $4.99.