How to Get Rid of Cache on Mac
Almost all applications on a Mac, for one reason or another, cache some part of their data in the local disk. This often leads to complications in the system because the data can get corrupted, the application will start running slowly or take up more space on your hard drive. The good news is that the cache files can be removed without fear of the app getting stuck. Since it will be recreated when you first start the application (it will be smaller and without errors).
It is normal for macOS devices to use some hard disk space for daily operations. Your web browser constantly downloads new data, which it keeps to speed up your browsing sessions in the future. Apps, such as video editing apps and iTunes, maintain a media cache of exported files and album art details.
It's amazing how much storage space you can recover by deleting unwanted files, provided you know where to look. There's also good reason to approach your drive space repair options with caution.
Today we will be looking at why and how to clear cache on macOS, as well as some apps that make it super easy.
What is a cache and why should you delete it?
Caches are primarily temporary files that are created by the operating system and applications that you use periodically. They can be temporary Internet files such as images and HTML documents, created by a web browser such as Safari or Chrome.
If you edit a lot of photos and videos, you will find that your favorite editor keeps temporary data on the drive. Video editing apps that display clips and effects while editing have to store this data somewhere, but they don't always remove these files afterward.
Many apps keep a very small cache which is nothing to worry about. System components like Spotlight, Contacts, and Maps create a relatively small cache that doesn't save you much space if you delete it.
Which brings us to an important point: you don't need to delete the cache. Unless you're looking for a quick and easy way to reclaim some storage, and you're always running apps and files so that your Mac runs normally, it's best to leave it.
Many applications run their own cleaning procedures to prevent the cache from reaching unmanageable sizes. There are some other valid reasons why the cache may be deleted regardless of wanting more space:
- Fix problems with web pages displaying outdated data.
- Remove personal data stored by websites and applications.
- Force an app to discard old cached information.
Important: Create a backup first!
You should have already backed up your Mac, whether that's using Apple's Time Machine, using a third-party backup tool, or even through an online backup. When you start messing around with the Library folder, you run the risk of corrupting something.
Although most applications generally do not cache important information, deleting something necessary can certainly lead to unwanted data loss and unexpected behavior. With a recent backup, you can simply restore the cache folder if something goes wrong.
How to Clear Safari Cache on Mac
Clearing the web cache is easy, but if you don't use Safari as your primary web browser, this won't work for you:
- Launch Safari and tap
Safari -> تفضيلاتat the top of the screen. - Click "Advanced OptionsThen enable MenuDevelopmentin the menu bar at the bottom.
- close window Preferences then select Development at the top of the screen.
- from list"Development" , Choose "Empty the cache.
note: This is a bit more steep than simply clearing browsing history, which can be accessed under Safari -> Clear History. Clearing the cache in development mode will not remove any personal information other than that stored in temporary files (browsing history, bookmarks, downloads folder, etc. will not be affected).
How to clear macOS cache
To clear your user account cache:
- Launch Finder, then tap
"انتقال" -> الانتقال إلى مجلدin the menu bar at the top of the screen. - In the box that appears, type
~/Library/Cachesand press OK. - Choose the files and folders you want to delete and drag them to the Trash.
- You can restore storage space by right-clicking on Trash In the Dock and choose Empty Trash.
If you want to delete the cache associated with another user account, you will need to head to the cache directory for that particular user. You can do this by changing the folder location in the second step to /Users/username/Library/Caches – replacing usernameaccount of the respective user.
To clear the system cache shared between user accounts, head over to /System/Library/Caches Instead of that.
Apps can do all this for you
You can waste your time deleting the spool manually, or you can just get an app to do it for you. The beauty of these apps is that they generally work well, and they're particularly good at saving space you didn't know you had.
OnyX is a free tool that offers one-click cache deletion. Download the version for your operating system, and run the application. Let it analyze your startup disk, then head over to the tab cleaning. Click on the tabs and select what to delete, then click on "Delete cache.
CCleaner is another tool that gets rid of caching, although it doesn't offer as much control as OnyX. Download and install the app, then tap analysis Allows CCleaner to find as much space as possible to recover (including cache). You can then press Run Cleaner To arrange the selected items.
Finally, CleanMyMac 3 is a one-click cleaning app that costs $40 per year. The only reason I use it routinely is because it's included in the subscription service SetApp. It will get rid of cache, find redundant macOS data, old backups, and huge files you forgot in just a few clicks.
I've never had any trouble clearing the cache with any of these apps, but it's still worth running regular backups for peace of mind.
Reminder: You don't usually need to do this
Unless you're taking up an incredibly large amount of space or are looking to target a specific app by deleting its cache, your Mac's cache is best left in good condition. There are many ways to free up storage space on macOS without ever touching the cache.
You can move your libraries and backups elsewhere, delete unnecessary large files, or even add more storage to your MacBook to give you more space.
How to Get Rid of Cache on Mac
Source: https://alltechskills.net/how-to-get-rid-of-system-cache-and-internet-browser-on-macos/