What cache is and why you might want to clear it

Cache is temporary data that your Mac stores to make things load faster. When you visit a website, your browser saves images, scripts, and other files so it doesn't have to download them again. Your Mac's system also caches data from programs you use regularly. Over time, this cache can take up gigabytes of storage, slow down your computer, or cause websites to display outdated versions of pages.

Clearing cache won't break anything — your Mac and your programs will simply rebuild it as you use them. The tradeoff is that websites may load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing, because your browser has to download everything fresh. For most people, the storage space you free up and the performance boost make this worthwhile.

There are three main places cache lives on a Mac: your web browser, your system, and individual applications. Each one clears differently, and you may want to clear some but not others depending on what problem you're trying to solve.

Key Takeaways

  • Browser cache clears from Safari, Chrome, or Firefox through each app's settings menu, usually under History or Privacy, and takes less than a minute.
  • System cache in ~/Library/Caches can be cleared by opening Finder, pressing Command+Shift+G, typing that path, and moving folders to Trash — but only delete folders you recognize.
  • Application cache is stored inside individual app folders and clears automatically when you restart most programs, or you can delete it manually through ~/Library/Caches.
  • Clearing cache frees storage space and can fix slow browsing or outdated page displays, but websites will load slightly slower the first time you visit after clearing.

Clearing cache in Safari

Safari stores cache in its own folder, separate from your system cache. Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top left, then select Settings. Click the Privacy tab, then click Manage Website Data. You'll see a list of every website that has stored data on your Mac. You can select individual sites and click Remove, or click Remove All to clear everything at once.

If you want Safari to clear cache automatically when you close the browser, stay in Settings, click the General tab, and look for the option that says Remove history items. Set it to After one day or Manually depending on how often you want clearing to happen. This doesn't affect your browsing history — it only clears cached files.

Clearing cache in Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy and security in the left sidebar. Click Clear browsing data. A window will pop up with several checkboxes. Make sure Cached images and files is checked, set the time range to All time if you want to clear everything, then click Clear data.

You can also set Chrome to clear cache automatically. In the same Privacy and security menu, toggle on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. This clears cache every time you close the browser completely, though it won't affect your saved passwords or autofill data unless you check those boxes too.

Clearing cache in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy & Security in the left sidebar. Scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section and click Clear Data. Make sure Cached Web Content is checked, then click Clear.

To clear cache automatically, stay in Privacy & Security and look for the section labeled History. Click the dropdown next to Firefox will and select Use custom settings for history. Check the box for Clear history when Firefox closes, then click the Settings button next to it and make sure Cache is checked.

Clearing system cache on your Mac

Your Mac's operating system stores cache in a hidden folder called ~/Library/Caches. To access it, open Finder and click Finder in the menu bar, then select Settings. Click the Advanced tab and check the box that says Show all filename extensions. Close Settings and go back to Finder.

Click Finder in the menu bar again and select Go, then Go to Folder. Type ~/Library/Caches and press Enter. You'll see folders for individual applications and services. Only delete folders you recognize — for example, you can safely delete Google (Chrome cache), Firefox, or com.apple.Safari (Safari cache). Do not delete system folders you don't recognize, as they may contain data your Mac needs to run properly.

Select the folders you want to delete, press Command+Delete, and they'll move to Trash. Empty your Trash to permanently remove them. Your Mac will recreate these folders as needed.

Clearing cache for individual applications

Many Mac applications store their own cache separately. For example, Slack, Discord, and Spotify all maintain cache folders. The fastest way to clear app cache is usually to restart the application — most programs rebuild cache from scratch when they launch. If that doesn't work, you can delete the cache manually by going to ~/Library/Caches, finding the folder for that app (it's usually named after the company or app), and moving it to Trash.

Some applications have their own cache-clearing option built into Settings or Preferences. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences in the menu bar, and search for options like Clear Cache, Storage, or Data. This is safer than deleting folders manually because the app knows exactly what it's safe to remove.

When to clear cache and what to expect

Clear browser cache if websites are loading slowly, displaying outdated content, or if you're having login problems. Clear system cache if your Mac is running slowly or you need to free up storage space — you can check how much space cache is using by opening Finder, clicking Finder in the menu bar, selecting About This Mac, and clicking Storage. The Other category often includes cache.

After clearing cache, expect your Mac to run slightly faster initially, and websites to load a bit slower the first time you visit them. This slowdown is temporary — once your browser downloads and caches the files again, speed returns to normal. If clearing cache doesn't fix the problem you were trying to solve, the issue is likely something else, like a slow internet connection or a problem with a specific website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my passwords or saved information?

No. Cache is only temporary files like images and scripts. Your passwords, bookmarks, and autofill data are stored separately. When you clear cache in your browser settings, you can choose exactly what to delete — passwords are not included by default.

How much storage space does cache usually take up?

It varies widely depending on how much you browse and which apps you use. Browser cache typically ranges from 100 MB to 2 GB. System cache can be larger, sometimes several gigabytes, especially if you use video or photo editing software. Check your Mac's storage by opening Finder, clicking About This Mac, and selecting Storage.

Is it safe to delete everything in the Caches folder?

It's safe to delete folders for applications you recognize, but risky to delete system folders you don't know. Stick to deleting specific app folders like Chrome, Firefox, or Slack. If you're unsure about a folder, leave it alone — your Mac needs some cache to run smoothly.

Do I need to clear cache regularly?

Not necessarily. Clearing cache is only useful if you're running low on storage, experiencing slow performance, or having problems with a specific website. If your Mac has plenty of free space and runs fine, you can clear cache once or twice a year or not at all.

Why does my Mac still feel slow after clearing cache?

Cache is usually not the main cause of slowness. If clearing it doesn't help, check whether you have too many browser tabs open, too many apps running at startup, or a full hard drive. You can see what's using your storage by opening Finder, clicking About This Mac, and selecting Storage.