TL;DR
To clear cache on your Mac:
- Clear System Cache: In Finder, go to ~/Library/Caches, delete the system cache folders, and empty the Bin.
- Clear App Cache: In Finder, go to ~/Library/Caches, remove the app cache folders, and empty the Bin.
- Clear Browser Cache:
- Safari: Enable the Develop menu in Safari settings and use Empty Caches to clear.
- Chrome: Open Clear browsing data, select cached images and files, then clear the data.
- Firefox: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security, and use Clear Data to remove cache.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
A few weeks ago, I noticed my Mac was taking forever to load apps, and even simple tasks started to lag. After some digging, I found that cache buildup was the main issue—and clearing it made all the difference. In this post, I’ll show you the steps I used to clear the system, app, and browser cache to speed up your Mac!
Before We Begin:
Clearing the cache is essential when it comes to keeping your Mac computer running smoothly and efficiently. MacKeeper offers an easy way to do this with its Safe Cleanup feature. Safe Cleanup helps you clean internet browsing history, clear caches, remove short-term memory-stored files, and delete leftover files. With Safe Cleanup, you’ll have complete control over what information is stored on your Mac―so you can keep it running like new.
Clear All Cache on Your Mac With MacKeeper In One Click
Keeping your systems clean and tidy can be a bit of a headache. That’s why I always use MacKeeper to clear my Mac’s cache. MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup feature can quickly detect and delete all those pesky files clogging up your Mac’s system.
Here’s how to clear the cache on your Mac using MacKeeper:
- Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
- Once done, open MacKeeper and select Safe Cleanup in the left sidebar.
- Click Start Scan.
- Select files from the scan results to remove unnecessary cache items from your system. You can also click the Check All checkbox.
- Click Clean Junk Files.
- You will receive confirmation that the cleaning process has been completed successfully. Click Rescan to scan your Mac again.
Types of Cache on a Mac
Did you know that your Mac has not just one, not two, but several different types of cache? Knowing these different types is essential for clearing cache on your Mac.
Here are a few examples of cache types on Mac:
- 💻 System Cache: Files created by macOS to help the system and software run smoothly.
- 📱 User/App Cache: Files generated by apps to reduce load times and improve performance.
- 🌐 Browser Cache: Stored data (images, scripts) from websites to speed up loading during future visits.
Did You Know? Cached files help your Mac and apps load faster by storing temporary data. However, over time, they can build up and slow down your system. Clearing the cache periodically can free up space and keep your Mac running efficiently.
How to Clear System Cache on Mac
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Clearing system cache can free up space and boost your Mac’s performance. Here are the steps to clear the system cache on Mac:
Be careful when manually deleting cache files. Deleting system-critical cache folders can cause apps or the OS to malfunction. Always double-check the folders you’re clearing.
- Open Finder, click Go in the top menu bar, and select Go to Folder.
- A pop-up box will appear with an empty search bar. Type the following path into the search bar and press Enter:
~/Library/Caches/
- This will open the Caches folder. Here, select the folder for the system data you want to clear.
- Right-click the files and select Move to Bin.
- Permanently delete the cache from your Mac by right-clicking the Bin icon and selecting Empty the Bin.
How to Clear App Cache on Mac
Removing app cache improves your Mac’s speed and frees up memory space easily. Here’s how to clear your app cache on Mac:
- Open Finder, click Go in the top menu bar, and select Go to Folder from the options.
- Paste this exact path into the folder field:
~/Library/Caches
- Select the folder for the application you want to clear. Right-click it and select Move to Bin.
- Open the Bin and empty it as well.
- Restart your Mac for the changes to take effect.
How to Clear Browser Cache on Mac
Clearing the cache may log you out of websites or apps temporarily. Ensure you remember passwords or save any work before proceeding with the steps.
a. Clearing Browser Cache on Safari
Here are the steps for clearing Safari cache on your Mac:
- Open Safari and click the Safari menu item at the top left of your screen. From the drop-down menu, select Settings.
- Select the Advanced tab and check the box next to the Show Develop menu in menu bar option if it is unchecked.
- Go to your menu bar, click Develop, and select Empty Caches from this drop-down list.
- Congratulations! You have successfully cleared your browser cache on Safari.
b. Clearing Browser Cache on Chrome
If you’re a Google Chrome user, follow these steps to clear your cache:
- Open Chrome and click the three dots at your display’s top right corner.
- Select More tools from the drop-down menu, followed by Clear browsing data…
- A pop-up window will appear. Select the Cached images and files option and other data you want to clear. Also, select a Time range at the top.
- Now click Clear data to remove these items from your browser.
- This will successfully clear your browser cache on Chrome.
c. Clearing Browser Cache on Firefox
Follow these steps to clear browser cache on Firefox on Mac:
- Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner.
- Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
- In the Settings window, click Privacy & Security in the left sidebar, scroll down the right pane, and click Clear Data… under Cookies and Site Data.
- Check the boxes next to Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content, and tap the Clear button.
- Your Firefox browser cache will now be cleared.
After clearing the cache, restart your Mac to ensure that all temporary files are removed and the system runs smoothly.
Clear Cache on Your Mac Like a Pro
Only cache files are not the culprit behind a slow system. Other factors, like outdated software, malware, full hard drive, can also affect your Mac’s speed. Consider the following tips to optimize your Mac’s performance further:
- Keep macOS updated to avoid slowdowns.
- Run regular virus scans to protect against malware, a common cause of slow systems.
- Back up files to iCloud and free up hard drive space to prevent slowness.