Did you know that each application you install has only one file in your Applications, but potentially hundreds elsewhere on your Mac scattered around in different folders? Those are app cache files, logs, temporary files, and similar items. Today, we'll speak about application cache files. Removing them is a good starting point when the app misbehaves, or you need to free up space. But how do you clear application cache on Mac? Read on to find out. By the way, the tips outlined below are the same for all Macs: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, MacBook Neo, Mac mini, and all other MacBooks.
Here’s a glance at the Caches folder in the Library. This is just one of the locations where cache files are stored.
What are application cache files?
Cache files have three main varieties:
- User cache files (generated by the apps)
- System cache files (created by macOS)
- Browser cache (produced by browsers)
If you need to find these items in macOS Library, they will have 2 locations:
~/Library (for user cache files)
/Library (for system caches)
The user cache folder contains temporary files of all the applications you have installed. The System category includes the files of the macOS itself.
To find the folder with caches, click on Finder > Go > Go to Folder and paste the paths above one by one.
How to find out the size of your application cache
Cache folders can quickly grow to an enormous size, and you wouldn’t even know. For example, when you simply rotate a photo, the Photos will make a copy of that modified image and save it as a cached item.
As we are doing the detective work, we’ll use an app to help us find out the size of your cache.
At this point, you can get your free CleanMyMac trial. This is a popular Mac cleaner/disk analyzer that helps you clarify, declutter, and protect your Mac. It’s notarized by Apple, so it’s safe to use.
If you download and launch CleanMyMac, there is a Cleanup tool in the sidebar.
Let it scan your drive, and you’ll get the result.
User cache usually takes up gigabytes worth of useless data. You can discover a lot of interesting things about your MacBook using this app.
If you want to find out the size of the Caches folders manually, go to the paths mentioned above once again. Now, press Command + I or right-click Caches at the bottom of the window and choose Get Info. Look at the number next to the name of the folder or next to Size under General.
But why does macOS create cache?
When you download an application that accesses data over a network, it usually downloads some of that data, such as image files, to a local folder on your Mac so that it doesn’t have to download it every time you use your Mac. That means it uses less bandwidth and runs faster, but it also means your Mac can become cluttered with cache files.
One example of this is Spotify. When you listen to Spotify on your Mac, the songs you stream are cached in a folder in your User Library. That cache should clear automatically each time you quit Spotify, but it doesn’t always work out that way. And if you never quit Spotify, for example if you have a MacBook and you just keep it running all the time and rarely restart your Mac, it won’t clear. You can imagine that caching high-quality songs takes up quite a bit of room on your Mac — typically, it is between 3 and 10 GB, but sometimes, it may expand to 30+ GB!
In my case, it is 125 MB, but I’ve just installed Spotify on my Mac and haven’t even started streaming songs.
Similarly, web browsers download images and videos from websites you visit and store them in cache so you don’t have to reload them over the internet each time you visit that web page during a session. Normally, browser cache is under 1 GB, but some users reported that Chrome cache ballooned to 20+ GB.
Now, let's proceed with clearing app cache. There are two ways to do it: via the Finder or with the help of a cleaner app. Here's a quick comparison of these two methods:
| Speed | Time | Safety | Control | |
| Clearing app cache manually | Slow | 30+ minutes | Risk of removing vital app or system files | 100% |
| Using a Mac cleaner app | Fast | 2 minutes max | Safe | 100%* |
* App cleaners allow selecting files for deletion if you want to, or you can remove preselected items.
Now, here is the detailed description of both methods.
How to clear app cache manually
Cache items should delete automatically when you quit the application that has placed them on your Mac. But that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, you have to do it yourself. The difficulty with that is that apps don’t all store their cache files in the same place. Some apps store them in the Cache folder in your user folder. Others store them in the Application Support folder. There are also Cache and Application Support folders in the main user library.
To delete application cache, if you know the application whose cached files you want to delete, navigate to the following folders by clicking the Go menu in the Finder, choosing Go to Folder and then pasting the path below into the window. Paste each path in turn and look in the folder for cache files for the application. If you find them, drag them to the Trash.
~/Library/Caches
~/Library/Application Support
/Library/Caches
/Library/Application Support
For instance, Spotify's folder is within ~/Library/Caches and is named com.spotify.client
For other apps, the folder name is either the app’s name as is as is or after "com.[app name]"
Important: Do not forget to empty Trash after removing all unneeded cached items. Also, restart your MacBook.
How to delete application cache easily
The mentioned CleanMyMac can quickly and easily remove application cache files using its Cleanup tool. Here’s how to do it.
- Choose Cleanup in the sidebar and click Scan.
- When it’s done, click Review All Junk and then click User Cache Files.
You’ll see application cache files on the right, and you can sort cache by size using the dropdown at the top right of the list. You can select files for deletion and click Clean Up. Or you can return to the scan results and click Clean there — this way, CleanMyMac will remove files that were preselected automatically. Worry not, only those files that are safe to remove will be deleted.
The benefits of using CleanMyMac
- A fast way to delete app cache: on average, the scan/clean process using the Cleanup feature is just 12 seconds (given that you remove preselected files)
- Secure junk files deletion: on average, users find and remove 10 GB of safe-to-delete junk files (including app cache) after the first Cleanup scan
- Helps keep your Mac clutter-free: with the help of the My Clutter feature, on average, users find and remove 84 unneeded items (similar images, duplicates, or large and forgotten files)
Try CleanMyMac for free — see how easy it is to get rid of unnecessary stuff with a few clicks.
Key takeaways
- Application cache comprises files downloaded by applications to make them quicker to access and avoid having to load them over a network each time they are needed.
- It should be deleted each time you quit the app, but this doesn’t always happen, so you have to remove it either via the Finder or by using a Mac cleaner app.
- Deleting cache files manually to free up space can be time-consuming, but using CleanMyMac’s Cleanup tool makes it much quicker.
- A few reasons to delete app cache: the app is broken or misbehaving, you need to free up space, or you want to completely uninstall an app.
- If you want to reclaim more storage, check out this article from Apple support for the most effective ways to do it.
- Do not forget to empty Trash and restart your Mac after the cleanup.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to clear application cache on a Mac?
Yes. As long as you double-check what you send to the Trash and remove only individual files within folders. If you are concerned that you may remove something important, use a Mac cleaner instead. To stay on the safe side, back up your MacBook first.
Will clearing app cache delete important data or break my apps?
No. It will neither break the app nor remove important data. For instance, logins, preferences, saved games, or photos will remain intact. However, it will remove temporary files (like thumbnails or intermediate items). Sometimes, it may seem like the app is broken because it will load longer. Just wait for the app to re-create cache, and it will feel snappy again. If it does break, try restarting your Mac. If the issue persists, reinstall the app.
Can I lose work in progress if I clear app cache while an app is open?
It might happen. So, it is better to first quit the app completely and only then remove its caches.
How often should I clear the application cache on my Mac?
There's no right or wrong answer here. Do it if the app misbehaves. If all works just fine, you can do it every few months just to free up some space.
Do Mac cleaners cause more harm than good?
It all depends on which tool you use. If you choose an app from a trusted developer and download it from their official website, Mac cleaners are absolutely safe as they are designed to remove only safe-to-delete items.
