# How to clear caches on a Mac safely > Which cache folders on a Mac are safe to clear, how to check their size, and the rule that keeps you out of trouble: one app at a time, with the app quit. Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/tips/clear-caches-on-mac-safely/ Last updated: 2026-11-04 Published 2026-11-04. Caches are files apps keep so they start faster, and clearing the inside of a single app's cache folder is safe. Quit the app first, then clear one app at a time. Do not select everything in the Caches folder and delete it. The worst outcome of clearing a real cache is that the app is slower once while it rebuilds. ## Check the size first ```bash du -sh ~/Library/Caches du -sh ~/Library/Logs ``` On the Mac used for the blog post, Caches was 43 GB, about two thirds of its Library folder, and Logs was 81 MB. Yours will differ. To see which app folders are largest: ```bash du -sh ~/Library/Caches/* 2>/dev/null | sort -h | tail -10 ``` ## Clear one app 1. Quit the app. 2. In Finder, choose Go, hold Option, and open Library. Open Caches. 3. Open the folder for that app and drag its contents to the Trash. 4. Open the app. It rebuilds what it needs. Move to the Trash rather than deleting, so you can put it back. Wait a day, then empty the Trash. ## What to leave alone - The top level of your Library folder. Never delete whole folders like Application Support, Preferences or Containers. - Anything you cannot name. Search its name first. If that does not make it clear, leave it. - System folders. macOS owns them. Some apps keep state in their cache folder that is not really a cache, which is why you go one app at a time. ## Other safe places from the same list Logs are text files and safe to clear. Xcode DerivedData is safe if you build apps, and the next build is a full build. Homebrew has a dry run, `brew cleanup -n`, that shows what it would remove before you run it for real. ## A restart helps too Restarting the Mac empties several system caches on its own. Apple adds that starting in Safe Mode clears certain system caches and can free space for something like an update. Restart normally to leave it. ## Where it fits If the number you want to shrink is System Data, read [what System Data is](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/what-is-system-data-on-mac/). NotchStar's [Disk tool](https://www.notchstar.com/features/disk/) scans caches, logs and Xcode build data and lets you pick what to move to the Trash. ## Keep reading. - [What is System Data on a Mac, and can you delete it?](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/what-is-system-data-on-mac/): System Data is the catch all in Mac Storage for files that fit no other category. What it holds, why it grows and what is safe to look at. - [How to find large files on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/find-large-files-on-mac/): Find the biggest files and folders on a Mac with Storage settings, Finder size sorting and two Terminal commands. Tested commands, and what not to delete. - [How to empty the Trash on a Mac safely](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/empty-trash-on-mac-safely/): Empty the Trash from the Dock, restore items with Put Back, delete one item, handle locked files, and set the Mac to empty it after 30 days. - [Disk space, duplicates, apps and cleanup](https://www.notchstar.com/features/disk/): See free space, find big folders, duplicates and app leftovers, compress media and clean caches from your Mac notch. Everything goes to the Trash. - [How to find what is filling your Mac, and free space safely](https://www.notchstar.com/blog/free-up-space-on-your-mac-without-a-cleaner/): Find what fills your Mac with Finder and Terminal, learn which folders are safe to clear, and what to leave alone. Commands tested, with a 20 minute routine. ## More in Storage. - [How to check disk space on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/check-disk-space-on-mac/): See how much storage is used and free on a Mac in System Settings, in Finder, and with one Terminal command. Includes why the numbers can disagree. - [What is System Data on a Mac, and can you delete it?](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/what-is-system-data-on-mac/): System Data is the catch all in Mac Storage for files that fit no other category. What it holds, why it grows and what is safe to look at. - [How to find large files on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/find-large-files-on-mac/): Find the biggest files and folders on a Mac with Storage settings, Finder size sorting and two Terminal commands. Tested commands, and what not to delete. - [How to find duplicate files on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/find-duplicate-files-on-mac/): Two files with the same name may differ, and two with different names may match. How to find true duplicates on a Mac by comparing content. - [How to empty the Trash on a Mac safely](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/empty-trash-on-mac-safely/): Empty the Trash from the Dock, restore items with Put Back, delete one item, handle locked files, and set the Mac to empty it after 30 days. - [How to uninstall an app on a Mac and remove its leftover files](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/uninstall-app-and-leftover-files-mac/): Use the app's uninstaller if it has one, otherwise move it to the Trash. Then check the Library folder for the cache, settings and data it left behind.