How to Clear the Cache on Mac

The cache files are temporary files designed to be stored on a computer to be reused whenever needed, resulting in faster and more efficient performance. There are several different cache files including browser cache, system cache, and user cache. Although individual cache files are incredibly small by the current standard, their sheer number could result in large chunks of disk space being taken up. Not to mention that cache files often become corrupted. As a result, the whole computer could start experiencing slowdowns or becoming unstable.

The methods for clearing the browser cache on your Mac computer differ between the different Web browsers. Let's start with the most popular browser - Google Chrome. TO clear the cache, go to the Chrome menu and open 'Preferences.' Scroll down until you've reached 'Advanced' and click on it. Navigate through the Privacy and Security section and click on the 'Clear browsing data.' Check the options that suit your needs such as Cached images and files, Time range, and when you are ready click on the 'Clear Data' button.

To clear the cache of the official Mac browser - Safari, open it and go to 'Preferences' in the Safari menu. Go to the 'Advanced' section and check the 'Show Develop' menu. Now, go to the 'Develop' menu and select the 'Empty Caches' option. To finish the process, close the Safari browser.

For Firefox, open the browser, go to the Firefox menu, and open 'Preferences.' Open the 'Privacy & Security' section. Navigate to the 'Cookies and Site data' section, and click on the 'Clear Data' button.

Mac users need to know how to clear the iTunes cache files. The process begins by opening the application, going to 'Preferences, and selecting the 'Advanced' tab. Once there, simply click on the 'Reset Cache' button followed by 'OK.'

The system and user cache files are kept in a dedicated Cache subfolder located in your Mac's Library. Before you begin clearing these cache files, make sure to close any active applications. Then open Finder, select the 'Go' menu, and click on 'Go to Folder.' In the window, type ~/Library/Caches and click on 'Go.' Now, users will have to go to the individual folders of each application and delete the associated cache files by selecting them and moving them to the Trash. While removing the entire Cache folder for the specific application may be a faster method, it could potentially cause problems so it is not recommended.