How to Clear Cache on Mac: Easy Guide 2 Speed Up Your System Instantly
Understanding Cache on Mac
Your Mac stores cache files to improve performance and make apps run faster. These stored files help your computer load things quickly, but they can use up storage and sometimes cause problems when not managed.
What Is Cache and Why Is It Stored
How to Clear Cache on Mac: Cache is temporary data that your Mac saves to speed up tasks and reduce loading times. For example, browsers keep cache files of websites you visit, so those sites load faster next time.
macOS and apps use cached data to avoid downloading or creating the same content over and over. This reduces wait times for you and lowers the strain on your system.
However, over time, cached data can grow large and may cause slowdowns. Clearing cache on Mac helps free up space and can fix some glitches with apps or websites.
Types of Cache on macOS
How to Clear Cache on Mac, Your Mac stores different types of cache. Some of the main types include:
- User Cache: Files saved by apps you use, like Safari or Photos.
- System Cache: Data created by macOS to help the system run smoothly.
- Browser Cache: Information from websites, such as images and scripts.
- App Cache: Temporary files specific to installed software.
Each type of cache serves a purpose, but not all are equally important. User and browser cache can usually be safely deleted for more storage. System cache should be cleared with care because it is managed by macOS.
App cache can help apps run faster but may become outdated or cause issues if it gets too large.
Common Cache Locations on Mac
Cache files are stored in specific folders on your Mac. Here are some common places to look:
| Cache Type | Common Location |
|---|---|
| User cache | ~/Library/Caches |
| System cache | /Library/Caches |
| Browser cache | Within app folders, like ~/Library/Safari or ~/Library/Caches |
| App cache | Inside ~/Library/Application Support or ~/Library/Caches |
To access these folders, you can open Finder, click on “Go” in the menu bar, and select “Go to Folder…” Then, type in the folder path and press Enter.
Be careful when deleting files from the Library folders. Removing the wrong file can affect how apps or macOS work. Always make sure the app in question is closed before clearing its cache.
How to Clear Cache on Mac
There are different types of cache files on your Mac, including system cache and application cache. Each can be cleared in a few steps using either the Finder or keyboard shortcuts.
Manually Clearing System Cache
System cache files are created by macOS to help your computer run smoothly, but over time, they can take up a lot of space. To clear them:
- Open Finder.
- In the menu bar, click Go > Go to Folder.
- Type
~/Library/Cachesand press Enter. - Inside, you will see folders for different system processes.
- To delete system cache, open each folder and move the files to the Trash.
How to Clear Cache on Mac, Be careful not to delete important system folders—focus on the files inside the cache folders. Deleting these files will not harm your computer, but you may lose some temporary data. Empty the Trash to fully delete the cache files and free up space.
Manually Clearing Application Cache
How to Clear Cache on Mac, Application cache files help apps open faster and remember your preferences, but sometimes they get too large or cause problems. You can delete them the same way as system cache but from the specific app folders.
- Go to Finder and then Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter
~/Library/Cachesagain. - Look for folders with the names of your apps.
- Open these folders and move unwanted cache files to the Trash.
Popular apps like Safari, Chrome, and Photoshop keep their cache here. If you use Safari, you can also clear the browser cache through Safari > Settings > Advanced and enable the Show Develop menu. Then, click Develop > Empty Caches in the menu bar.
Deleting Cache Files Using Finder
Finder makes deleting cache files simple if you want to clear both system and application cache at once.
- Open Finder.
- Press Shift + Command + G to open the “Go to Folder” box.
- Type
~/Library/Cachesand press Enter. - You can now select multiple folders or files within the Caches folder and move them all to the Trash.
How to Clear Cache on Mac, Empty the Trash after deleting cache files. If you are unsure about a folder, make a backup before deleting. This approach is useful if you want to quickly clear out old cache data without opening each folder one by one. Use Finder for more control and to avoid removing important files by accident.
Clearing Browser Cache and Website Data
How to Clear Cache on Mac, Web browsers like Safari, Chrome, and Firefox save data to make websites load faster. This can take up space and hold onto old website data, cookies, and your browsing history, which may affect privacy and website performance.
Clear Safari Cache and Website Data
To clear Safari’s cache and website data on your Mac, start by opening the Safari app. Click on Safari in the menu bar, then choose Settings.
Go to the Privacy tab and click Manage Website Data. A window will show all stored website information such as cookies, local storage, and cache.
You can remove individual sites by selecting them and clicking Remove, or clear everything by pressing Remove All. Confirm your choice if prompted.
For a deeper clean, you can also enable the Develop menu. Go to Safari > Settings > Advanced, then check Show Develop menu in menu bar. From the Develop menu, choose Empty Caches.
Manage Cached Data in Other Browsers
How to Clear Cache on Mac, In browsers like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, managing cached data is slightly different.
For Chrome, open the browser and choose the three-dot menu at the top right. Select Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. Pick the time range and check Cached images and files. Click Clear data.
Firefox users should click on the three-bar menu, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, and scroll down to Cookies and Site Data. Click Clear Data, choose Cached Web Content, and confirm.
Most browsers have shortcuts, too. For example:
- Chrome/Firefox: Press Shift + Command + Delete to open the clear browsing data window quickly.
Remove Browsing History and Cookies
How to Clear Cache on Mac, Removing your browsing history and cookies can help protect your privacy and free up space. In Safari, go to History > Clear History. Choose a time frame, such as the last hour, today, or all history, then click Clear History.
In Chrome and Firefox, go to the Clear browsing data menu as mentioned above. Make sure to select options like Cookies and other site data and Browsing history.
Keep in mind that clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites. Only remove what you need if you want to stay logged in to certain sites. If you want more control, review website data before deleting everything.
Using Third-Party Tools to Clear Cache on Mac
How to Clear Cache on Mac, Some apps make removing cache files from your Mac much easier. They can automate the process, giving you more control and saving time compared to clearing cache manually.
CleanMyMac for Automated Cache Removal
CleanMyMac is a popular tool for cleaning and maintaining Macs. You can use it to find and delete cache files with just a few clicks.
After installing CleanMyMac, use the System Junk or Cleanup features to scan your Mac. The app shows a list of cache files it finds, including system, user, and app caches.
Steps to use CleanMyMac:
- Open CleanMyMac.
- Click on System Junk.
- Press Scan to look for cache files.
- Review the results and click Clean.
CleanMyMac also lets you choose which files to delete, so you can avoid removing anything important. It can schedule regular cleanups, which keeps your Mac running smoothly. Keep in mind that CleanMyMac is a paid app, though it offers a free trial with limited features.
Clearing Cache with CCleaner
How to Clear Cache on Mac, CCleaner is another tool that helps clear cache and other junk files from your Mac. It’s known for being easy to use and having a straightforward layout.
Once you download and open CCleaner, use the Cleaner menu to scan for cache files. You can usually select specific apps or system areas to clean.
To clear cache with CCleaner:
- Open CCleaner.
- Go to the Cleaner tab.
- Choose areas or apps to scan.
- Click Analyze to review results.
- Hit Run Cleaner to delete selected cache files.
CCleaner is available as a free app with basic features. You can pay for extra options, like scheduled cleaning or more detailed reports. CCleaner works across both Windows and Mac, but always download it directly from the official website.
Benefits and Considerations of Cache Cleaners
How to Clear Cache on Mac, Using third-party cache cleaners like CleanMyMac and CCleaner can save time and make the process less confusing. You don’t need to search through folders or worry about accidentally deleting important files.
Main benefits:
- Easy, automated cleaning
- Customizable options for what to delete
- Scheduling for regular cleanups
However, there are things to keep in mind. Some cleaners cost money or may have ads in the free version. Not all tools are equally reliable—use well-known software to avoid security risks.
Always check which files are being removed before you delete them. Cache cleaners can help, but it’s smart to review their results to make sure nothing important is lost.
Tips for Effective Cache Management
Clearing cache on macOS saves storage space and can fix issues with slow apps. However, it’s important to know when to clear cache, watch for problems after clearing, and understand how to clear cache in specific apps like Excel.
When and How Often to Clear Cache
Cache files help your Mac run faster by saving temporary data. However, over time, these files can grow large and slow down your device.
You should clear cache when you notice your Mac is slow, if apps aren’t working correctly, or if you need to free up storage space. For most users, clearing cache once every few months is enough. If you use your Mac heavily or have limited storage, you may want to do this more often.
To clear cache on macOS, open the Finder. From the main menu, select Go > Go to Folder, then type ~/Library/Caches/. Delete the folders for apps you want to clear. Always be careful not to delete important system files.
Potential Issues After Clearing Cache
How to Clear Cache on Mac, When you clear cache, some apps may take longer to start the next time because they have to rebuild needed files. You might also get logged out of websites since some login data can be stored in cache.
It’s rare, but sometimes deleting cache can cause settings or preferences to reset in certain apps. If an app acts strangely, restarting the Mac usually fixes the problem.
Before deleting cache, make sure important documents are saved and closed. Some software may store unsaved work in the cache, which could be lost if you clear it.
Clearing Cache in Specific Applications Like Excel
How to Clear Cache on Mac, Microsoft Excel on macOS stores temporary files and cached data. If Excel is running slow or freezing, clearing its cache may help.
To do this, close Excel completely. Then, open Finder, click Go > Go to Folder, and type ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/. Delete the contents of the Cache folder inside. Empty the Trash when finished.
You can also clear cache using Excel’s built-in features. Go to the main menu in Excel, select Tools if available, then look for an option related to “Clear Cache” or “Reset.” If you don’t see this, manually deleting cache files usually works. If problems continue after clearing cache, updating Excel or restarting your Mac can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Clear Cache on Mac, Clearing cache on your Mac can help speed up your system and fix some performance issues. It’s important to know the right steps for each type of cache and the effects this can have on your computer.