How to Clean ~/Library/Caches on macOS and Reclaim Gigabytes
If your Mac is running low on storage but you can't figure out where it went, ~/Library/Caches is one of the biggest hidden culprits. This single folder can balloon to tens of gigabytes over months of normal use — browser data, app downloads, game assets, and temporary files all pile up here. The good news: most of it is safe to delete, and you can reclaim space in minutes.
What Is ~/Library/Caches?
~/Library/Caches is macOS's user-level cache directory. Apps store temporary files here so they can load faster next time — things like thumbnails, downloaded images, update packages, and web content. Unlike the system-level /Library/Caches, this folder sits in your home directory and only affects your user account.
- App caches — Spotify offline songs, Slack avatars, VS Code extensions
- Browser caches — stored web pages, images, and scripts from Safari, Chrome, and Firefox
- Game caches — textures, shaders, and downloaded content from Steam or Epic Games
- Update caches — partial or completed software update packages
The folder is meant to be self-cleaning, but macOS rarely deletes old cache files automatically. Over time, stale data from uninstalled apps or old browser sessions can stick around forever.
How Big Is It?
Check the total size
du -sh ~/Library/CachesThis prints the total size of your user caches. On a developer machine that's been active for a year, don't be surprised to see 20 GB to 60 GB.
See what's eating the most space
du -sh ~/Library/Caches/* 2>/dev/null | sort -rh | head -20This lists the 20 largest cache subfolders sorted by size. Look for familiar app names — you'll probably see browsers, messaging apps, IDEs, and game launchers near the top.
Method 1: The Manual Way
Step 1 — Open the folder
In Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G, type ~/Library/Caches, and hit Return. You'll see a list of folders, most named after apps or companies.
Step 2 — Delete specific app caches
Select folders you recognize and drag them to Trash. Good candidates:
com.apple.Safari— old web page datacom.google.Chrome— browser cache and media filescom.spotify.client— cached album art and offline datacom.docker.docker— leftover Docker Desktop filescom.valvesoftware.steam— game download caches
Rule of thumb: if you still use the app, deleting its cache is safe — the app will rebuild it on next launch. If the app is uninstalled, the folder is almost certainly dead weight.
Step 3 — Empty the Trash
Right-click the Trash icon in the Dock and choose Empty Trash. Space isn't freed until you do this.
⚠️ Warning
Do not delete the entire ~/Library/Caches folder itself — only delete contents inside it. Removing the root folder can cause permission issues and confuse macOS. Also avoid anything labeled com.apple that you don't recognize; some Apple caches (like com.apple.desktoppicture) are tiny and tied to active system features.
Method 2: One-Click with Bytegone
Manually browsing 50+ cache folders is tedious and error-prone. Bytegone automates the scan, shows you exactly what it found, and moves everything to Trash — safely skipping your work files and system paths.
| Method | Scope | Safety | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual Finder | One folder at a time | Medium | ~10 min |
Terminal (rm -rf) |
Everything at once | Low | ~30 sec |
| Bytegone | 13 categories incl. caches | Moves to Trash | ~10 sec |
Reclaim disk space the safe way
Bytegone scans 13 reclaimable locations — including ~/Library/Caches, browser caches, Xcode DerivedData, and more — and moves them to Trash with your confirmation. Never your work, never system files.
How Much Space Will I Get Back?
It depends on what you use your Mac for:
- Casual user (Safari, Messages, Photos): 1–3 GB
- Web developer (Chrome, npm, Node): 5–15 GB
- iOS / macOS developer (Xcode, Simulator, CocoaPods): 10–30 GB
- Gamer (Steam, Epic, Blizzard): 10–40 GB
FAQ
Will deleting caches slow down my apps?
Only temporarily. The first launch after clearing a cache might feel slightly slower as the app re-downloads or rebuilds its data. After that, performance returns to normal — often better, because bloated caches can slow lookups.
Is it safe to delete all folders inside ~/Library/Caches?
Generally yes, with two caveats: (1) leave the ~/Library/Caches folder itself intact, and (2) avoid aggressively clearing caches for apps you currently have open — save your work and quit the app first to prevent conflicts.
Do I need to restart my Mac afterward?
No, but it's a good idea. Restarting clears additional temporary files in /var/folders and ensures no running processes hold onto deleted cache handles.
Why does the cache come back so quickly?
That's normal. Caches are designed to refill. If you're tight on space, make cache cleaning a monthly habit or use a tool like Bytegone to automate it.