How to Clear Cache on Mac | Learn to Clear System, Browser, and Applications Cache in 2022

Want to remove cache on your Mac? Learn how to clear cache on Mac in this guide. 

Cache is data that Mac collects and stores that speeds up processes like opening apps, loading assets, etc. Not just Macs, iPhones, iPads, and apps collect cache data so that they can load apps and webpages faster.

However, older cache data can take up unnecessary space and as a result affect storage performance. Sometimes cache data will prevent websites from displaying up-to-date information at launch. And cache data can also lead to bugs and glitches in some cases. 

These are some reasons why people recommend clearing the cache when something goes wrong with an app or browser. Even we recommend clearing the cache on your mac and other devices every few months. 

Learn how to cache on Mac in this guide. We will explain how to clear the system cache, browser cache, and application cache in this article. 

Related: How to Clear System Storage

How to Clear Cache on Mac

How to delete System Cache on Mac

The system cache contains information that lets Mac perform tasks quickly. Processes like searching files, opening folders, loading thumbnails, and more require the system cache to run efficiently. 

However, with time some of this can be useless and just take up space on your computer. So, deleting the older cache folders can be useful and can even improve performance. 

Note: System cache can be important and if you end up deleting something important it can harm your computer. So we recommend backing up the files before deleting them. Check if your Mac performs well without the cache file and then delete them permanently. 

Follow these steps to clear the system cache, 

Step 1 Open Finder on your Mac.

Step 2 Click on Go and then click on Go to Folder…

Step 3 Type Library/Caches/ in the Search bar.

Step 4 Click on Go.

Step 5 Open the folders and select what you want to delete. 

Step 6 You can sort by Data Modified to see what was/wasn’t added recently.

Step 7 Now, drag the caches to the Trash to delete them.

Step 8 Make sure you clear your Trash too.

This process is not easy or simple as you have to decide on which folders to delete and you might accidentally delete important ones. And for this reason, we recommend using apps to clear cache on your Mac. Keep reading to know how to clear cache on Mac using apps. 

How to Remove Application Cache on Mac

Like system cache, application cache is needed for the smooth operation of the application. However, older application cache might still be present on your Mac taking up unnecessary space. 

Clearing the cache can also help with bugs or glitches in the application. So make sure to clear the cache of applications every now and then. Just follow these steps, as usual, make a backup first,

Step 1 Open Finder on your Mac.

Step 2 Click on Go and then click on Go to Folder…

Step 3 Enter ~/Library/Caches/ in the search bar.

Step 4 Click on Go or press Enter.

Step 5 Now, select the folders you want to delete. Sort by Date Modified to see folders of older apps.

Step 6 Drag caches into the Trash to delete them.

Step 7 Empty your Trash too.

Even in this case, we recommend using apps so that it is easier and more streamlined for you. A later section will explain how to clear cache on Mac using apps. 

How to Clear Browser Cache on Mac

Browser cache helps in loading pages faster. However, clearing them will free up space and also make sure you get the most up-to-date information on the launch. 

Follow these steps to clear the browser cache of popular browsers on Mac,

Clear Cache on Safari

Step 1 Click on the Safari option in the Menu Bar.

Step 2 Click on Clear History.

Step 3 Select the time period during which you want to cache and browsing data in the Clear drop-down menu.

Step 4 Click on the Clear History button to delete cache and browsing data.

Learn more about clearing your cache from Apple Support.

Clear Cache on Chrome

Step 1 Click on the Chrome menu icon in the browser toolbar.

Step 2 Select Clear browsing data.

Step 3 Select the time period during which you want to cache and browsing data in the Data drop-down menu.

Step 4 Check the Cookies and other site and plug-in data and Cached images and files checkboxes.

Step 5 Click on the Clear Browsing Data button.

Learn more about clearing your cache from Google Support.

Clear Cache on Firefox

Step 1 Click on the Firefox option in the Firefox menu bar.

Step 2 Select Preferences.

Step 3 Click on the Privacy tab.

Step 4 Under History, click on clear your recent history.

Step 5 Select the Cache checkbox.

Step 6 Click Clear Now.

Learn more about clearing your cache from Firefox Support.

How to Clear Cache on Mac using Third-Party Apps

There are apps that can remove cache, browser history, cookies, and other unwanted data from your Mac. These apps make the process easy and simple for anyone who wants to rid their Mac of bloat.

Check out popular apps to clear the cache on Mac. We will explain how to use them in this section. 

Use CCleaner to remove cache on Mac

CCleaner is one of the oldest and most popular cleaner apps. It is free to download and use however you use some features require you to buy the premium version. The free version is still great for most users that need to clear cache and other data on their Macs.

Follow these steps to use CCleaner to clear cache on your Mac,

Step 1 Download and Open CCleaner.

Step 2 Go to the Applications tab.

Step 3 You can see which apps have files you can remove.

Step 4 Click on Analyze. The app will examine what you can delete.

Step 5 You will see a list of files that are safe for removal. Click on Run Cleaner to delete the files.

Step 6 The files will be deleted permanently from your Mac, so Confirm if you are OK with it.

Step 7 The app might install a Helper tool, if so, enter your password.

Step 8 Wait for the app to remove the cache files on your Mac.

CCleaner can remove cache, cookies, and saved data like browsing history, passwords, cookies, and more. You can select which files you want to delete. So check before running the app. 

Use CleanMyMac X to Clear Cache on Mac

CleanMyMac X from MacPaw can also clear your cache and other unnecessary data on your Mac safely. It costs £34.95/$34.95 per year or £93.95/$89.95 as a one-time fee. YOu can download the app for free on your Mac, but you cant use it to clean unless you pay. 

This is why we prefer CCleaner, but CleanMyMac X offers more features. However, if you have or plan on buying this software, follow these steps to clear cache on your Mac using it,

Step 1 Open CleanMyMac X on your Mac.

Step 2 Now, click on System Junk.

Step 3 Click on the Scan button. The app will analyze your Mac.

Step 4 After the scan, you will receive a message showing how much space can be freed up from deleting data like User Cache Files, System Log Files, Language Files, Document Versions, User Log Files, and System Cache Files.

Step 5 Click on Review Details to see more information on the files. You can check and select/deselect files that you want/don’t want to delete. 

Step 6 Click on Clean once you are ready. The app might install a Helper tool, if so, enter your password. Wait for CleanMyMac X to clean your system.

How to Clear Cache on Mac – Conclusion

Clearing the cache will free up space on your Mac and even fix bugs and glitches. We recommend clearing the cache on your Mac every few months for an optimal experience. We have explained how to clear cache on Mac in this guide. 

We have included instructions for clearing the system cache, applications cache, and browser cache. Hope this guide was helpful.

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