How to Clear and Reset Your Mac’s Browser, App, and System Caches

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Give your Mac a performance boost by deleting temporary files
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Is your Mac not running as well as it used to? If your MacBook or Mac desktop computer is low on space, running slow, or you're having trouble with certain apps, clearing your cache can resolve these issues. You can also delete other caches on your Mac, including your web browsing cache in Safari or other browsers, and, in some cases, the system cache (although this can be risky if not performed properly). This wikiHow guide will teach you how to safely clear the cache on your Mac.

Quick Steps to Clear Your Mac’s Browser Cache

  1. In Safari, go to Safari > Settings > Advanced.
  2. Check the "Show features for web developers" box.
  3. Click Develop in the top menu bar.
  4. Select Empty Caches .
Section 1 of 6:

Clear the Safari Cache

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  1. If you want to clear your web browsing cache in Safari, you'll need to enable the Develop menu first. Start by clicking the Safari menu at the top of the screen.
    • If you already see a Develop menu item in the bar at the top of the screen, skip to Step 5.
  2. It's near the top of the Safari drop-down menu. [1]
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  3. Here you'll find several more Safari settings , including Reading List settings and the option to enable the Develop menu. [2]
  4. 4
    Check the "Show features for web developers" box. It's at the bottom of the Settings window. This adds the Develop tab to the menu bar for Safari.
    • You can now close the Advanced window.
  5. You'll see it in the menu bar at the top of the screen. [3]
  6. This clears your web browsing cache in Safari. [4]
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Section 2 of 6:

Clear the Chrome Cache

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  1. 1
    Click the ⋮ button. You’ll find this button at the top right corner of the Chrome browser window. Click it to expand a menu. [5]
    • This method will allow you to clear your browser cache and cookies in Chrome.
  2. 2
    Select Delete Browsing Data . This option is about halfway down the menu. A window will pop up.
  3. 3
    Choose a time range. Use the dropdown menu at the top of the window to choose the timeframe for the data you want to delete. Your options range from the last hour to all time.
  4. 4
    Click the boxes next to the data you want to delete. If you’re only interested in clearing out cached data, just click the box next to “Cached images and files.” You can also delete your browsing history, cookies, and other stored site data if you like.
  5. 5
    Click Delete data . It may take a moment for the process to complete. The window will close once the cache is deleted.
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Section 3 of 6:

Clear the Firefox Cache

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  1. 1
    Select Preferences in the Firefox menu. If Firefox is running slowly on your Mac, it can help to occasionally clear out cached images, scripts, and other site data. To get started, open Firefox and click the Firefox menu at the top left side of the screen, then select Preferences . [6]
  2. 2
    Click Privacy & Security . It’s in the menu panel on the left side of the page.
  3. 3
    Scroll down and click Clear Data… . It’s next to the Cookies and Site Data header. A window will pop up.
  4. 4
    Choose a time range. To delete all your cached data, leave the dropdown menu at the top of the window set to “Everything.” You can also select from various time ranges if you just want to delete more recent data.
  5. 5
    Check the boxes next to any data you want to delete. If you’re only interested in clearing cached images and files, select Temporary cached files and pages . You can also delete things like cookies, your browsing and download history, and site settings.
  6. 6
    Click Clear . The window will close when the process is complete.
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Section 4 of 6:

Clear the Application Cache

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  1. Do this by clicking on your Desktop image or on the blue smiley-face icon on the far left in your Dock .
    • Close as many open programs as possible before you delete your application cache (also known as the user cache).
    • Clearing your Mac's application cache is a safe way to reclaim disk space and troubleshoot problematic applications. Your Mac caches files to improve the speed of apps and services on your computer, so you may notice a small lag the first time you re-open certain apps.
  2. This keyboard shortcut opens the Go to Folder window. [7]
    • You can also get here by clicking the Go menu and selecting Go to Folder… .
  4. A quick way to do this is to click one item or folder then press ⌘ Command + A to select all files.
  5. You can also open the File menu and choose Move to Trash . This clears the cache used by applications on your Mac.
    • If you see an error telling you that one or more of the files can't be deleted, they're being used by an application that's open. Skip deleting these files for now, then try deleting them later when the programs in question aren't open.
    • Right-click or Ctrl -click the trash can and select Empty Trash to completely free up the space taken up by the cached files.
    • Check out our Mac optimization guide for more tips and tricks to improve your Mac's performance.
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Section 5 of 6:

Clear the System Cache in Safe Mode

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  1. Your system cache is temporary data stored by your Mac to perform system functions. You shouldn't need to worry about system cache—it's cleared automatically as needed. But if your Mac is still running slow, you're experiencing startup problems, or an application developer has recommended doing so for a certain app, you can easily clear the system cache by booting your Mac into Safe Mode , and then rebooting normally.
    • Booting into Safe Mode clears the font cache, kernel cache, and other system caches. Your Mac then rebuilds these caches automatically.
    • The steps to boot into Safe Mode are different depending on whether your Mac has an Apple silicon (M1-M4) or an Intel processor. To find out your processor type, click the Apple menu and select About This Mac . [8]
  2. If your Mac has an Apple silicon processor, use these steps to access Safe Mode and clear your system cache:
    • Turn off your Mac.
    • Press and hold the power button until you see the Startup Options window. [9]
    • Select your startup disk.
    • Press and hold the Shift key as you click Continue in Safe Mode .
    • Sign in to your Mac.
    • Reboot your Mac normally when you're finished, and your system will start caching again as needed.
  3. To boot into Safe Mode:
    • Turn off your Mac.
    • Press and hold the Shift key as you turn your Mac back on.
    • Release Shift when you see the login window.
    • Sign in to your Mac (you may have to do this twice). Once signed in, you'll see the Safe Boot menu at the top-right corner of the window.
    • Restart your Mac to clear your system cache.
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Section 6 of 6:

Clear the System Cache Manually

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  1. Do this by clicking on your Desktop image or on the blue smiley-face icon on the far left in your Dock .
    • Clearing your Mac's system cache manually is not recommended, as it could cause your Mac to freeze . If you want to clear the system cache safely, you should do so in Safe Mode .
    • If you want to delete files from the system cache manually anyway, use this method to do so. You will need to be an administrator to clear the system cache files.
  2. This keyboard shortcut opens the Go to Folder window. [10]
    • You can also get here by clicking the Go menu and selecting Go to Folder… .
  3. This path is a little different than the one you use to clear the application cache , as there's no tilde (~). That's because the files you'll be clearing are system-wide, and not just for the applications you use while signed in with your user account.
  4. In the Caches folder, you'll see several other folders, each of which contains cache files. Rather than deleting everything like you would when clearing the application cache, you'll need to open each folder to delete its files inside. Do not delete these folders.
  5. Only delete the files that you know are safe to delete. If you're not sure what a file is, don't risk crashing your Mac by deleting it.
    • When you’re done, right-click or Ctrl -click the trash can in your Dock and select Empty Trash .
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I clean up my Mac?
    Gonzalo Martinez
    Computer & Phone Repair Specialist
    Gonzalo Martinez is the President of CleverTech, a tech repair business in San Jose, California founded in 2014. CleverTech LLC specializes in repairing Apple products. CleverTech pursues environmental responsibility by recycling aluminum, display assemblies, and the micro components on motherboards to reuse for future repairs. On average, they save 2 lbs - 3 lbs more electronic waste daily than the average computer repair store.
    Gonzalo Martinez
    Computer & Phone Repair Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Shutting down your Mac completely clears your cache. It's a good idea to completely shut down your computer routinely to make sure there aren't applications that you quit but are still taking up some RAM space.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 1
  • Question
    How do I speed up a MacBook Pro?
    Margaret Althea Elvenshadow
    Community Answer
    If you're using Google Chrome as your browser, look at the top right corner, at the end of the search bar. You should see three dots in a vertical line. Click on them. A list should pop up. Mouse over the option that says "More Tools," and click "Clear Browsing Data." If you're using Safari as your browser, look up at the Apple menu bar at the top, that has "File" and "Edit" and all that jazz. If you see an option that says "Develop," click on it. Near the bottom of the list, there is an option that says "Empty cache." Select it. If you don't see "Develop," click "Safari>Preferences>Advanced Settings>Show Develop Menu in menu bar."
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 13
  • Question
    The operation Empty Trash cant be completed because the item "Cache.db" is in use. How can I solve this issue?
    Community Answer
    Open the Terminal app and type: sudo rm -r ~/.Trash
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Warnings

      • Clearing the system cache may cause your Mac to crash. While your Mac should restart and begin working again without any problems, make sure that your work is saved and that you've exited any open programs before clearing the system cache.
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        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/change-safari-settings-ibrwcd8bc28e/mac
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/advanced-ibrw1075/16.1/mac/13.0
      3. ↑ https://oit.colorado.edu/tutorial/clear-web-browser-cache-safari
      4. ↑ https://oit.colorado.edu/tutorial/clear-web-browser-cache-safari
      5. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/32050?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop
      6. ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-clear-firefox-cache
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102650
      8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/116943
      9. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/start-up-your-mac-in-safe-mode-mh21245/mac
      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102650

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Close open programs.
      2. Open Finder .
      3. Click Go .
      4. Click Go to Folder...
      5. Type “Library” for the folder path.
      6. Click Go .
      7. Double-click Caches .
      8. Delete all files in the folder.
      9. Click the Finder menu.
      10. Click Empty Trash .

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