How to clear cache on a Mac safely

A cache is data an app keeps so it can load faster next time. Because it can be rebuilt, clearing it is usually safe; the cost is that apps feel slower for a while as it refills.

Where caches live

• ~/Library/Caches: per-user app caches (the one you may clear)
• /Library/Caches: system-wide caches (leave these alone)
• Browser caches: cleared from inside the browser instead

Clear a single app’s cache

• Quit the app first.
• Open ~/Library/Caches in Finder (Go → Go to Folder).
• Sort by size, then move only that app’s folder to the Trash.
• Leave com.apple.* folders alone; macOS manages them.

Browsers

In Safari, clear website data under Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data. In Chrome and Firefox, use their “Clear browsing data” options and tick only cached images and files.

What not to do

Don’t wipe all of ~/Library, and don’t delete anything under Application Support or Containers thinking it is a cache. Those hold app data and settings.

Caches are typically 1–4 GB, so they rarely explain a very large System Data figure. Look at the bigger causes first.

Disclosure: this guide is published by the developer of McCleaner. Scanning is free; cleaning is paid, from €1.99. Back up important data before deleting anything. Commands are provided as is.