3 Tips on How to Clear Cache on Mac to Free Up Storage on macOS

If you want to free up some disk space on your Mac and bring it back to speed, you can clear the system, browser, and app cache. Know in this article.

It may come as a surprise, but your Mac stores lots of data on top of your regular documents, photos, and videos. In fact, many files under the hood of your macOS are cache files that go back to your apps, browser(s), and operating system. Examples of such may include copies of files you’ve exported via Bluetooth, music files from Spotify, website authorization files, or images from websites you’ve visited, to name a few.

If you're here because you're running out of space on your disk, clearing cache files can help you expand it. Another reason to clear the cache is to improve your Mac's performance and speed. In this post, we have put together safe ways to clear the cache on your Mac, so you only delete unnecessary files.

3 Tips on How to Clear Cache on Mac to Free Up Storage on macOS

1. Web Browser Cache

The steps you need to take are individual for each web browser, given that every browser stores cached files separately. It means that if you're using several browsers, you'll have to clear the cache in each of them individually, as there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for all browsers. Here's how you can clear the cache in your browser without jumping through many hoops:

● Chrome: To clear your Chrome cache, you should go to the three-dot menu in the upper right corner of your browser window. Then, find the More Tools section and click on Clear Browsing Data in the drop-down menu. Here you can follow the on-screen instructions to clear your Chrome cache;

● Safari: Launch the browser and pick Preferences. Go to the Add-Ons tab and then to the Developer section in the menu bar where you’ll be able to clear the cache. 

● Opera: There's also a shortcut for Opera users, but you'll have to take more steps than with Safari. Start by pressing Shift + Command + Delete to open the settings menu and go from there. Note that you should also check off "Cached images and files";

● Mozilla Firefox: Open the main menu - History - Clear Recent History, which will open a window with instructions. Here you can remove all cache files in one go: simply pick "Everything" from the menu. Then, click on the arrow and choose "Cache" to clear only temporary files.

2. System Cache

Working with the system cache takes some tech prowess. You should also take some measures before moving forward with the removal process, as there's a risk of damaging a vital file. If you're unsure if you still need a file, it's best to leave the folder and its files intact. To stay on the safe side, you can clone each folder before removing its contents. Don't worry though, below is a safe way to access the system cache files and clear them:

● Back up your files using Time Machine or an external hard disk;

● Go to Finder - Go - Go to Folder;

● Type in ~/Library/Caches/ in the window to open the storage of temporary system files. If you see an army of folders, you're at the right place.

● Go over each folder and remove cached files by dragging them to the Bin.

● Empty the Bin once you're done.

3. Application Cache

Your apps generate loads of temporary files for one reason - to improve your user experience. Unless you absolutely need to expand space on your hard drive or fix a bug caused by a faulty file, consider leaving your apps' temporary files in their place. If you've decided to move forward, here's how you can erase the application cache:

● Open Finder - Go menu - Go to Folder;

● Type in / Users / [YourUserName] / Library / Caches;

● That will open a window with files that go back to your apps;

● Go over each folder one by one and remove the files by dragging them into the Bin;

● Clear the Bin to finish the process.

In the end, clearing the browser, system, and app cache can save you a big chunk of disk space. On top of that, removing unneeded files from your Mac can speed up your device. Still, you should be very careful so as not to tamper with the files that make your system run. So, if you want to clear more disk space (or speed up your Mac), you should consider other means as well, such as updating your Mac to the most recent operating system version, removing unnecessary files and apps, or adding more RAM. For example, this link has more ways to clear space on your hard drive you can try instead of just going with clearing the cache. Good luck!