How to Clear Cache on a Mac: A Comprehensive Guide

Clearing the cache on your Mac is essential for optimizing its performance.

The cache consists of temporary files that your computer stores to enhance the speed of your programs, such as preferences and images.

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However, if not managed properly, the cache can accumulate and take up significant storage space.

This guide will walk you through the process of clearing the cache on various Mac devices, including MacBook Pro M1, MacBook Air, iMac, and more.

How to Clear Cache on a Mac

1. Using CleanMyMac X

CleanMyMac X is a third-party application that simplifies the process of clearing cache and optimizing your Mac.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Download and Install CleanMyMac X

• Visit the official CleanMyMac X website.
• Download and install the application.

Step 2: Open CleanMyMac X

• Launch CleanMyMac X on your Mac.

Step 3: Navigate to System Junk

• In the left sidebar, select “System Junk.”

Step 4: Scan for Junk Files

• Click on the “Scan” button to allow CleanMyMac X to analyze your system for junk files, including cache.

Step 5: Review and Clean

• Once the scan is complete, review the list of files to be cleaned.
• Click on the “Clean” button to remove the identified junk files, including cache.

Step 6: Confirm Action

8. Confirm the action if prompted.

CleanMyMac X provides a user-friendly interface and automates the process of identifying and clearing various types of unnecessary files, including cache, logs, and more.

Note:

• CleanMyMac X is a paid application, but it offers a free trial.
• Ensure you download the application from the official website to avoid potential security risks.

 

2. Using Disk Utility

Disk Utility is a native macOS tool that can be utilized to clear cache files and optimize your storage.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Disk Utility

• Open “Finder” on your Mac.
• Navigate to “Applications” > “Utilities” > “Disk Utility.”

Step 2: Select Your Disk

• In Disk Utility, select your main disk (usually named “Macintosh HD”) from the list on the left.

Step 3: Run First Aid

• Click on the “First Aid” tab at the top.
• Click “Run” to perform a First Aid check on your disk.
• This process may identify and repair any issues, including some related to cache.

Step 4: Verify Disk

• After running First Aid, click on “Verify Disk” to further check for any potential disk-related problems.

Step 5: Clear System Cache (Advanced)

• For advanced users, you can use Terminal to clear system cache.
• Open Terminal and enter the following command:
  sudo periodic daily weekly monthly
• This command runs the system’s periodic maintenance scripts, which includes clearing some caches.

Note:

• Running First Aid and Verify Disk are generally safe operations but avoid using Terminal commands unless you are comfortable with the command line.

 

3. Using Finder

Step 1: Open Finder

• Begin by ensuring you are on the desktop.
• Open the Finder window, which is usually located in the taskbar.

Step 2: Access “Go to Folder”

• Click on “Go” in the top menu bar and select “Go to Folder.”

Step 3: Enter Cache Directory

• Type the following command in the search box: ~/Library/Caches and press Enter.
• This command directs you to the folder containing your Mac’s cached files.

Step 4: Delete Cache Files

• Select all the folders in the cache directory by pressing Command + A.
• Delete them by pressing Command + Delete or by going to “File” and selecting “Move to Trash.“

Step 5: Empty Trash

• To completely remove the cache files, empty the Trash by right-clicking on the Trash icon and selecting “Empty Bin.“
• This method allows you to clear out unnecessary cache files, freeing up valuable storage space on your Mac.

 

4. Using the “Purge” Command

The “purge” command in Terminal is designed to force the disk and memory caches to be emptied.

This can be particularly useful if you are experiencing slowdowns or if you want to free up memory resources.

Step 1: Open Terminal

• Open the “Terminal” application. You can find it in “Applications” > “Utilities” > “Terminal” or search for it using Spotlight (Command + Space, then type “Terminal”).

Step 2: Run the “Purge” Command

• In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter:  sudo purge
• Enter your admin password when prompted.

Step 3: Allow Purge to Complete

• The “purge” command will clear inactive memory and potentially free up cache.
• Allow the command to complete its process.

Note:

• The “purge” command can be helpful in situations where you want to optimize memory usage, but it doesn’t specifically target cache files stored on the disk.
• Running the “purge” command may cause temporary slowdowns as the system rebuilds caches.
• It’s generally recommended to use it when the system is not heavily in use.

 

5. Additional Steps for MacBook Pro M1

Step 1: Click on “Go”

• On your MacBook Pro M1, click on “Go” at the top of the screen.

Step 2: Choose Computer

• Scroll down and select “Computer.”

Step 3: Navigate to Library

• Choose your main disk (e.g., My Contos HD), navigate to the “Library” folder, and find the “Caches” folder.

Step 4: Clear Caches

• Delete the contents of the “Caches” folder by selecting all items and moving them to the Trash.

Step 5: Clear Startup Items

• Navigate to the “Startup Items” folder.
• If there are files or folders present, delete them to further optimize your MacBook Pro’s performance.

Step 6: Empty Bin

• After completing these steps, empty the Trash to permanently delete the cache files.

6. Clearing Hidden Cache

Step 1: Open “Go” with Option Key

• Click on “Go” while holding the Option key to reveal the “Library” option.

Step 2: Access Hidden Files

• Enter the same cache directory (~/Library/Caches) and delete any additional hidden files or folders.

Step 3: Clearing Cache Files

• Select all relevant folders and delete them to ensure a thorough cache cleanup.

Step 4: Empty Trash

• Finally, empty the Trash to completely remove the hidden cache files.

 

7. Clearing Browser Caches

Web browsers store temporary files and data to improve loading times.

Manually clearing these caches can help free up space and resolve issues related to website loading.

Below are instructions for clearing caches in three popular web browsers:

Clearing Cache in Google Chrome:

• Open Google Chrome.
• In the top-right corner, click on the three vertical dots to open the menu.
• Hover over “More tools” and select “Clear browsing data.”
• Choose a time range or select “All time” to clear all cached data.
• Check the box next to “Cached images and files.”
• Click on “Clear data.”

Clearing Cache in Mozilla Firefox:

• Open Mozilla Firefox.
• Click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner to open the menu.
• Select “Options.”
• In the left sidebar, choose “Privacy & Security.”
• Scroll down to the “Cookies and Site Data” section.
• Click on “Clear Data.”
• Check the box next to “Cached Web Content.”
• Click on “Clear.”

Clearing Cache in Safari:

• Open Safari.
• In the top menu, click on “History.”
• Select “Clear History.”
• Choose a time range or select “all history” to clear all cached data.
• Click on “Clear History.”

Note:

• Clearing browser caches may log you out of websites, and some data may need to be reloaded.
• Regularly clearing browser caches can help maintain optimal browser performance.
• Check browser extensions or settings for additional cache-clearing options.

 

8. Using OnyX for System Maintenance

OnyX is a third-party maintenance and optimization tool for macOS. It provides a range of features, including cache cleaning, system optimization, and more.

Step 1: Download and Install OnyX

• Visit the OnyX website.
• Download the version of OnyX that corresponds to your macOS version.
• Install OnyX following the provided instructions.

Step 2: Open OnyX and Perform Tasks

• Open OnyX.
• In OnyX, you’ll find various tabs representing different maintenance tasks. Explore tabs such as “Cleaning,” “Automation,” and “Parameters.”
• Check options related to cleaning caches and other temporary files.

Step 3: Execute Tasks

• Click on the “Execute” button to initiate the selected tasks.

Note:

• OnyX provides a user-friendly interface for various maintenance tasks, including cache cleaning.
• Read through the available options in OnyX to understand the tasks it performs.
• Use caution when selecting options to avoid unintended consequences.

 

9. Using the Guest User Account

The Guest User account is a temporary account on macOS that allows users to access the system without creating a user profile. You can use this account to perform basic tasks and clear temporary files:

Step 1: Enable the Guest User Account

• Open “System Preferences.”
• Go to “Users & Groups.”
• Click on the lock icon and enter your administrator password.
• Check the box next to “Allow guests to log in to this computer.”

Step 2: Log in as Guest User

• Log out of your current user account.
• On the login screen, select “Guest User.”

Step 3: Perform Cleanup

• While logged in as the Guest User, you can perform basic tasks like clearing the Downloads folder, emptying the Trash, and removing temporary files.
• After performing the cleanup, log out of the Guest User account.

Note:

• The Guest User account is temporary, and any changes made will not affect the primary user account.
• This method is useful for performing basic cleanup tasks without affecting your primary user account.
• Use this cautiously, and be aware that files saved on the Guest User account will be deleted upon logout.

 

10. Clearing System Caches in Safe Boot Mode

Booting your Mac into Safe Boot mode can help clear certain system caches and perform basic system maintenance.

Step 1: Restart in Safe Boot Mode

• Restart your Mac.
• Press and hold the “Shift” key immediately after you hear the startup chime.
• Keep holding the “Shift” key until you see the Apple logo and the progress bar.

Step 2: Login in Safe Boot

• Once the system has booted into Safe Boot mode, log in to your account.

Step 3: Restart Normally

• Restart your Mac normally without holding any keys.

Note:

• Safe Boot disables certain system caches and performs checks, potentially clearing cached data.
• Safe Boot is a diagnostic mode, and some features may be limited.
• It’s primarily used for troubleshooting.

 

11. Clearing System Log Files via Terminal

Clearing system log files can help free up disk space and potentially improve system performance. Here’s how you can do it using the Terminal:

Step 1: Open Terminal

• Open the “Terminal” application. You can find it in “Applications” > “Utilities” > “Terminal” or search for it using Spotlight (Command + Space, then type “Terminal”).

Step 2: Navigate to Log Files

• In the Terminal window, type the following command to navigate to the system logs directory: cd /var/log

• Press Enter.

Step 3: View Log Sizes

• To see the sizes of the log files, you can use the ls -lh command.
• Type: ls -lh
• Press Enter.

Step 4: Clear Logs

• To clear specific log files, you can use the sudo truncate command.
• For example, to clear the system log, type: sudo truncate -s 0 system.log

• Press Enter.

Note:

• Be cautious when clearing log files, as they can contain important diagnostic information.
• You can selectively clear logs based on your needs, focusing on larger log files that are taking up significant space.
• Regularly check log files for any unusual errors or issues.

 

Additional Tips

• Be cautious not to delete essential folders like “Startup Items” and “Cache,” as they play a crucial role in your Mac’s functionality.
• If you encounter permission issues, use the appropriate credentials to delete the files.
• Regularly clearing your cache contributes to maintaining optimal system performance.

Cached Files: Understanding Stored Data

Cached files, in the realm of computing, represent temporary data that your computer acquires and preserves to expedite future access to apps and programs.

When you revisit these applications, your computer draws upon these cached files, swiftly loading the data from the cache rather than initiating a new download or scouring your system’s enduring storage.

These cached files encompass various types:

1. Web Browser Cache

• This cache category encompasses files downloaded by your browser, including images, videos, scripts, and multimedia elements encountered during web browsing.
• These caches find a home in your Mac’s cached files memory, optimizing subsequent page loads for a quicker browsing experience.

2. User Application Cache (Application Cache)

• Also referred to as the user cache, this cache category stores files generated by all user applications.
• Whether it’s Apple’s proprietary apps like Spotlight and Maps or third-party software like photo and video editing programs, the application cache enhances the efficiency of these applications.

3. System Cache

• Beyond individual applications, macOS itself maintains cached files to facilitate swift access to Mac RAM.
• This enables system services to operate with increased speed and smoothness.
• In essence, the system cache contributes to a more responsive and efficient overall performance.

Understanding Cached Files and Their Impact on Mac Performance

In the broader scope of Mac systems, cache assumes a crucial role in optimizing performance and responsiveness.

As a dynamic, high-speed storage reservoir for frequently accessed data, cache expedites information retrieval processes.

Exploring the Multifaceted Aspects of Cache in Mac

Definition

• Cached files, within the computing domain, signify transient data stored by a computer to streamline future access to applications and programs.
• This method aims to enhance efficiency by enabling the system to quickly retrieve data from the cache rather than initiating a fresh download or searching in the system’s permanent storage.

Purpose

• The principal objective of cache is to expedite data retrieval by maintaining duplicates of frequently accessed information in close proximity to the CPU.
• This minimizes the duration needed to fetch data from the comparatively slower main memory, ultimately bolstering the overall performance and responsiveness of the system.

Historical Context

• The evolution of cache technology has been marked by advancements in both hardware and software. In the early stages of computing, caches were characterized by their modest size and simplicity.
• However, the acceleration of processor speeds necessitated larger and more sophisticated caches.
• The integration of cache into contemporary computing systems has become integral to the optimization of performance.

Types of Cache in Mac

The diverse types of cache in Mac encompass:

L1 Cache: The smallest and fastest cache directly embedded within the CPU core.

L2 Cache: A larger cache often shared among multiple CPU cores, serving as a secondary layer.

L3 Cache: A shared cache among all CPU cores, providing a collective resource for efficient data sharing.

Disk Cache: In addition to CPU caches, macOS incorporates disk cache, temporarily storing recently read or written data for quicker access.

Cache Management in macOS

Efficient cache management in macOS involves:

System Preferences: User-configurable settings related to browser cache can be adjusted for optimal performance.

Terminal Commands: Advanced users can utilize commands like dscacheutil and sudo purge for granular cache management.

Third-Party Tools: Various third-party tools offer user-friendly interfaces for comprehensive cache management, optimizing system performance and resource utilization.

Final Tips

Periodically clearing the cache on your Mac is a simple yet effective way to ensure your device runs smoothly.

Whether you own a MacBook Pro M1, MacBook Air, or any other Mac device, following these steps will help you reclaim valuable storage space and keep your Mac operating at its best.