Sometimes your Mac doesn’t work properly or some apps behave strangely. You may be running low on disk space or worried about your privacy. Well, this is where clearing cache on Mac comes in handy. If you’re not sure, this article will show you how to clear the cache on your Mac.
But before that, find out if it’s safe to delete cache files. Well, the short answer is yes. Clearing the cache from the places mentioned in the article will not cause any problems with your Mac. Note, however, that some applications store the necessary files in cache folders. So making a copy before deleting the app would be helpful.
Quick Tip: If you don’t want to go through the tedious step-by-step process of clearing cache from your Mac, we recommend you jump right to the last method and complete the process using a third-party app .
How to Clear All System Cache on Mac
Clearing the system cache is easy and fairly straightforward. Although the steps may look complicated, they are not complicated at all.
Step 1: Minimize all windows and click Go from the toolbar.
Alternatively, open Finder and click Go from the toolbar.
Step 2: Select ‘Go to Folder.’
Note: Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut ‘Shift+Command+G’ to open ‘Go to Folder’.
Step 3: Enter the command below in the text box and click Go.
~/Library/Cache
This will take you to the folder where your Mac’s cached files are located.
Step 4: Now press ‘Command + A’ on your keyboard to select all cache files.
Note: All caches of all installed apps on your Mac will be cleared.
Step 5: Once there, right click and select ‘Move to Trash/Trash.’
Note: Enter your Mac’s password if a pop-up appears to complete the task.
Step 6: Go to Trash from the toolbar, right click and select Empty Bin.
Your go. You have successfully cleared your system cache without any difficulty. However, that’s not the case. On a Mac, your browser also accumulates a significant amount of cache. Continue reading to understand how to delete it.
How to Clear Browser Cache on Mac
Caching files speeds up your browsing experience, but on the other hand, it also uses up a lot of disk space unnecessarily. This method varies based on the browser you are using. You can use Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Opera or another browser.
Note: Keeping Mac users in mind, we will demonstrate this method using Safari. However, clearing the cache in Google Chrome or Firefox is relatively easy.
Step 1: Open Safari with Launchpad or Spotlight Search.
Tip: To open Spotlight Search, press ‘Command + Spacebar’ on your keyboard.
Step 2: Click Safari from the menu bar.
Step 3: Select Settings.
Step 4: Go to the Advanced tab.
Step 5: Check the ‘Show Develop menu in menu bar’ box and close Safari’s preferences window.
Step 6: Now, go to Development and select Empty Cache.
Note: Alternatively, you can press ‘Option + Command + E’ to clear the cache.
That’s it. You have successfully cleared the cache in your Mac browser. If you want to clear the cache from a specific application that you think is consuming disk space, keep reading.
How to Empty the Application Cache on Mac
Sometimes apps are so cached that they load slowly, putting a strain on your Mac’s overall performance. Therefore, it is advisable to clean the cache from time to time. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to do so.
Step 1: Minimize all windows and click Go from the top toolbar.
Alternatively, open Finder and click Go from the toolbar.
Step 2: Select ‘Go to Folder’ from the drop-down menu.
Note: Alternatively, you can press ‘Shift+Command+G’ on your keyboard to open ‘Go to Folder’.
Step 3: Enter the command below in the text box and click Go.
~/Library/Cache
This will take you to the folder where your Mac’s cached files are located.
Step 4: Now, select the application folder you want to delete.
Step 5: Right click and select ‘Move to Bin’.
Step 6: Go to Trash from the toolbar, right click and select Empty Bin.
There you have it. Simple. If you don’t want to take the steps to clear the cache but instead want to clear the cache on your Mac quickly and efficiently, move on to the following method.
How to clear the cache from a Mac using a third-party tool
Many cleaning apps for Mac are available in the market to help you quickly clear your cache. For the demonstration, we will be using CleanMyMac X, but you can also try CCleaner.
Note: CleanMyMac X and CCleaner are both freemium apps, which means they have a free tier with limited features and a premium tier with more features that require a subscription. For most users, a free version is enough.
Step 1: Download and install CleanMyMac X from the App Store.
Step 2: Once done, open CleanMyMac X and go to System Junk.
Step 3: Click the Scan button to analyze your system for cache files.
Step 4: Once the scan is complete, the app will let you know how much space can be freed. Finally, click Clean.
Note: You can click Review details to view the details of the cache files, based on which you can select or deselect any cache files that you do not want to delete.
That’s it. You have successfully cleared all caches from your Mac. But please note, there is a limitation with CleanMyMac X. You can only delete 500 MB of junk files. If you want more cleaning, you’ll need a paid subscription. Alternatively you can try Ccleaner.
FAQ about clearing cache on Mac
1. Is it okay to clear cached data on a Mac?
Yes, it’s generally safe to clear cached data on a Mac. Cache data is temporary data stored on your computer, and clearing the cache regularly can help free up space and improve its performance.
2. When to clear cache on mac?
You should clear the cache regularly to keep your Mac running smoothly. However, if you don’t mind saving a few GB of disk space, you can also keep the cache files.
3. How to view all cache files?
Just navigate to the ‘/Library/Caches’ folder. This folder contains cache files for all installed apps and services on your Mac.
Free up your Mac
You should clear the cache once a month to remove junk and free up disk space. Any of the methods described in this article can be used to clear the cache on a Mac. As an add-on, if you don’t use an app for a while, it’s better to uninstall it from your Mac and save disk space. And now that you know, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and clean up your Mac.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/