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'key takeaways

• Clearing browser and app cache can fix a slow Mac and free up space.
• Safari, Chrome, and your apps all stash temporary data in different places.
• MacOS lets you manage storage, so you won't need risky 'cleaner' apps.

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If you use your Mac for work or school, I bet you have 17 Safari tabs open at any given time. Or maybe you use a different browser, or all the browsers. You probably also have a ton of apps installed, some of which you haven't launched since the last Olympics. Either way, you definitely have an ever-growing pile of cached data on your machine.

That's because every time you open a website or app, your Mac quietly saves bits of information -- like images, scripts, and temporary files -- so things can load faster next time. When it's working well, everything feels instant and snappy.

Also: How to free up your Mac's storage space - 3 easy ways

But you should think of cache as sticky notes. At first, they're super helpful. They can serve as reminders or little shortcuts, making everything you do easier and faster. Over time, however, if you do not throw them out, your sticky notes can start to take over.

Your desk vanishes under neon squares. Some notes might contradict each other or refer to projects you finished months ago. A few are even stuck to the bottom of your coffee mug or your shoes. They are everywhere, and they're slowing you down.

Similar to sticky notes, cache is useful until it's not. Clearing your Mac cache is like peeling all those notes off and throwing them away. Your workspace now has more storage space, your browsers stop acting weird, and your apps are less likely to beach-ball.

So, let's walk through every way to clear the cache on a Mac running MacOS 26, and why you should make it a habit.

How to clear cache on your Mac

What you'll need: A Mac running MacOS 26, your admin password, the latest Safari or Chrome, and a few minutes of time.

1. Clear Safari history, cookies, and website data

Or try the 'Empty Caches' dev option

If Safari is your main browser, know that it's probably one of the biggest cache collectors on your Mac.

Safari stores history, cookies, website data, and temporary files like images, scripts, and logins to speed up browsing, but too much of this data can slow things down and cause the app or webpages to misbehave.

1. Open Safari.
2. In the menu bar, click History > Clear History.
3. In the pop-up, choose All history, then click Clear History.
4. Now go to Safari > Settings.
5. Click the Privacy tab.
6. Select Manage Website Data.
7. Choose Remove All to delete everything, or select specific sites and click Remove.

You may be signed out of some sites, but pages usually reload faster and behave better afterward. Doing this regularly can fix glitches or speed up browsing without affecting your bookmarks or saved passwords.

Also: How to clear your iPhone cache (and why it makes such a big difference)

Now, if you want to purge cache without deleting your browsing history or website data, then do the following:

1. Go to Safari > Settings > Advanced.
2. Enable Show features for web developers (or Show Develop menu in menu bar).
3. A new Develop menu will appear in the menu bar.
4. Click Develop > Empty Caches.

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2. Clear Chrome cache and browsing data

Experienced users can do an 'advanced' cleanup

Like Safari, Chrome stores cached data to speed up your browsing, which is great until too much of it builds up on your device. Suddenly all those images, files, cookies, and temporary files can slow your browsing sessions.

Whether you use Chrome as your default browser or only occasionally, you should remember to clean it up.

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
3. Choose Delete browsing data. (Alternatively, enter chrome://settings/clearBrowserData in your browser.)
4. Set the Time range to All time.
5. Make sure Cached images and files are selected.
6. Optional: Check Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Download history.
7. Click Delete data.

Going forward, you should feel a noticeable speed bump in Chrome. Clearing the cache forces Chrome to reload sites from a clean slate, which can help fix slow or glitchy browsing sessions. You may be logged out of some services if you also clear your cookies in Safari, but your bookmarks and passwords will remain intact.

Also: How to clear your iPad cache (and fix slow performance for good)

If you're an experienced user who wants to really make sure all Chrome cache is purged from your Mac, you can try a more advanced cleanup method:

1. Close Google Chrome completely.
2. Open a new Finder window.
3. Click Go in the menu bar, then select Go to Folder (or press Shift + Command + G).
4. Type ~/Library/Caches/Google/Chrome into the folder path and click Go.
5. Once inside the Chrome folder, you will see a Default subfolder with its own Cache folder.
6. Delete the contents of the Cache folder. Only delete files inside, not the folder itself.
7. Empty your Trash to permanently delete the files.

Warning: Only use the above method if you're comfortable navigating Library folders.

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3. Manage your app storage

And clear cache folders - but be careful

Apps accumulate cache too, not just browsers. Think about your favorite video editor, chat app, creative tool, or dedicated streaming app. They all store cached data locally, and some grow to several gigabytes.

Thankfully, MacOS 26 makes it easy to see which apps are taking up the most space on your Mac.

1. Click the Apple menu.
2. Open System Settings.
3. Go to General > Storage.
4. Wait while MacOS scans your storage and loads Applications.
5. Review recommendations like Optimize Storage and Empty Trash Automatically. These can help you save space by removing shows and movies you've already watched, for example, or by automatically erasing files that have been in your Trash for more than 30 days.
6. When Applications is loaded, click to open it.
7. You will see a list of all your apps sorted by size. Consider deleting rarely used apps that are taking up large amounts of storage. For example, I never use Edge, and it's taking up nearly 2GB of space on my Mac.
8. From this same pane (Settings > General > Storage > Applications), you can easily select an app, click the Delete button, and then Done to remove it from your machine.

Also: 9 essential Mac apps I can't live without - and why

If you want more control, this next tip is for you. Just be careful. I recommend that only experienced users try it.

1. In Finder, click Go in the menu bar.
2. Hold Option, then click Library (this opens your user Library).
3. Open the Caches folder.
4. Look for apps or folders you recognize, such as video calling apps like Zoom or Teams, creative apps like Adobe, Final Cut, or DaVinci, or browser apps like Microsoft Edge.
5. When you find one you'd like to clear, click to open it and look for the cache folder.
6. Before deleting anything, quit the app.
7. Now, delete the contents of the cache folder. Only delete files inside, not the folder itself.

If this feels too nerve-wracking, leave it alone.

Some apps, such as Safari and Chrome, include built-in features to clear their cached data. You can always perform a quick Google search to find support pages on how to manually clear the cache from your favorite apps. However, keep in mind that many apps do not offer this option, which is why the method above might come in handy.

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4. Restart your Mac

Flush system cache

Last but not least, this is one of the easiest tricks you can try: a simple restart.

Your Mac uses system caches, snapshot data, and in-memory files that will be wiped or rebuilt with every restart. This can speed things up, fix background bugs, and clear temporary system clutter.

1. Click the Apple menu.
2. Choose Restart.
3. For a deeper reset: Shut down, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then power back on.

Also: New to MacOS? 8 beginner tips and tricks to try first - and why

Once you've tried steps 1 through 3 above, I definitely recommend restarting your Mac.

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FAQs

What is cache on my Mac?

Cache is temporary data your Mac stores to speed up browsing and app performance. Safari might save images and scripts so pages load fast, while Chrome can keep cached copies of site assets, and your favorite apps store logs and workspace files. 

Also: My 6 favorite Spotlight actions in MacOS Tahoe so far - and how to add your own

Over time, cache data can become outdated or corrupted, slowing down your Mac. Clearing cache will remove these temporary files -- not your bookmarks, messages, photos, documents, or passwords -- and can give you a major performance boost.

Is cache the same as cookies?

No. They're different.

Also: How to set up and use passkeys across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Cache data is locally saved files (images, scripts, and thumbnails) that help webpages and apps load faster, while cookies store small bits of personal data, like your preferences and shopping carts. Clearing cache removes temporary files stored on your Mac, but clearing cookies will log you out of sites, services, and apps. Your passwords and bookmarks will still be available to use.

How often should I clear the cache on my Mac?

Here's my routine, which I recommend:

• Browser cache: once a month, or when pages act slow or glitchy.
• App caches: every few months, especially for video or photo editors or large apps.
• System restart: every day, ideally, or every week at the very least.
• When storage is low: use System Settings > General > Storage to remove unwanted apps and reduce clutter.

Can I clear cache in other browsers or apps on Mac?

Yes. For example, in Firefox, you can go to Settings > Privacy and Security and click Clear Data under Cookies and Site Data. In Microsoft Edge, open the three-dot menu, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services, and select Choose what to clear under Clear browsing data. Other apps may vary, so look for a "clear cache" setting, or delete cache files manually in ~/Library/Caches.

Also: How to make any MacOS app start at login - to save you time and clicks

But I'd avoid the manual route if you're inexperienced. You definitely shouldn't touch anything if you're unsure.

Should I use cleaner apps to clear cache on my Mac?

Honestly? No. You can use the steps above to clear your cache and avoid installing janky third-party software that might accidentally delete important files. If you do want to use a cleaner app, just make sure it's reputable and transparent about what it's deleting.

How to check your Mac's storage

You can see app sizes, system data, and recommendations right in Settings:

1. Go to System Settings.
2. Click General.
3. Select Storage.
4. Wait for the breakdown to appear.
5. Select Applications to view your installed apps by size.

What is DNS cache on my Mac and how do I clear it?

A DNS cache on your Mac is a small database of website lookups your computer saves locally so that pages will load faster the next time you visit them. However, things happen. For example, if a site changes servers, your network settings become corrupted, or something tries to redirect you incorrectly, old DNS entries can cause pages to load slowly, load the wrong content, or not load at all.

Also: 6 note-taking apps for Mac and PC I swear by after trying them all

In those instances, clearing your DNS cache is a quick fix to all these problems. And with MacOS 26, it's easy to do. 

Just open the Terminal app, and type:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache;sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Now press Enter. 

The DNS cache will be wiped instantly, forcing your system to fetch new, accurate information the next time you browse.

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