how to clear cache on mac

3 hours ago 6

Nature

To clear cache on a Mac, you can delete system, user, and application cache files manually or use automated tools. Here is a detailed guide:

How to Clear Cache Manually on Mac

1. Clear System Cache

Open Finder.
Click Go in the menu bar.
Hold down the Option key and click Library.
Open the Caches folder.
Delete only relevant cache files inside the folders, not entire folders, to avoid disrupting macOS functionality.
Empty the Trash afterward.
Restart your Mac to rebuild necessary cache files

2. Clear User Cache

Open Finder.
Click Go > Go to Folder.
Type ~/Library/Caches and press Enter.
Select all files inside the folders (not the folders themselves).
Move them to Trash and empty the Trash.
Restart your Mac

3. Clear Application Cache

Navigate to ~/Library/Caches as above.
Find folders related to specific apps (e.g., Spotify, Xcode).
Delete the cache files inside those folders.
Empty Trash and restart your Mac

How to Clear Browser Cache

For Safari: Go to Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data and click Remove All.
Keyboard shortcut for Safari cache clearing: Option + Command + E

Automated Method

Use a trusted app like CleanMyMac to safely and automatically clear outdated cache and temporary files.
Download and run CleanMyMac, go to Cleanup, click Scan, then Clean to remove cache files

Important Notes

Always back up your Mac before clearing system cache.
Deleting cache may cause some apps to load slower initially but can improve overall performance and free disk space.
Avoid deleting critical system files or entire folders to prevent system issues

This method works for macOS versions including Sonoma, Ventura, and earlier releases.