---
id: freeing-space.what-is-step-1-cache-cleanup
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/what-is-step-1-cache-cleanup
category: "Freeing up space"
subcategory: "Free Up Space wizard and button"
question: "What does the cache cleanup step of Free Up Space look at?"
alt_questions:
  - "Free Up Space step 1 cache cleanup"
  - "Which caches does the Free Up Space wizard clean?"
  - "Can I untick caches in Free Up Space?"
  - "What if Storage Studio crashes while deleting caches?"
  - "Cache checklist in Free Up Space"
short_answer: "Step 1 lists well-known cache locations — developer, browser and container build caches — with sizes. Untick anything you want to keep, then confirm; the deletion is staged so nothing is left half-deleted."
tags: ["caches", "free up space", "wizard"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/which-developer-caches-does-free-up-space-clear", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/does-storage-studio-clear-browser-caches", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/what-is-the-free-up-space-wizard"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What does the cache cleanup step of Free Up Space look at?

Step 1 scans the well-known cache locations on your Mac and shows them as a checklist with sizes: developer build and package caches, browser disk caches, and container build caches. You untick anything you'd rather keep, then confirm.

The deletion is staged, so if something interrupts it — a crash or a power cut — a folder isn't left half-deleted. Caches are data apps rebuild for themselves, so the cost of clearing them is a slightly slower first launch or build, not lost work.

The exact list is in [Which developer caches does Free Up Space clear?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/which-developer-caches-does-free-up-space-clear) and [Does it clear browser caches?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/does-storage-studio-clear-browser-caches)