{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-clean-npm-yarn-and-pip-caches","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-clean-npm-yarn-and-pip-caches","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"developer-space","title":"Developer tools"},"question":"How do I clear npm, Yarn and pip caches on a Mac?","alt_questions":["npm cache clean mac","pip cache purge","yarn cache clean","package manager cache taking space","node cache mac storage"],"short_answer":"Run npm cache clean --force, yarn cache clean, pnpm store prune or pip cache purge. They only slow the next install while packages re-download.","answer_markdown":"Each package manager has its own command:\n\n- **npm**: `npm cache clean --force`\n- **Yarn**: `yarn cache clean`\n- **pnpm**: `pnpm store prune`\n- **pip**: `pip cache purge`\n\nThese caches only speed up future installs; clearing them means the next install downloads packages again. Your projects aren't affected.\n\nStorage Studio's Free Up Space includes a developer and package caches step that clears caches like these with a review first. See [freeing up space](/faq/freeing-space/).","answer_html":"

Each package manager has its own command:

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These caches only speed up future installs; clearing them means the next install downloads packages again. Your projects aren't affected.

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Storage Studio's Free Up Space includes a developer and package caches step that clears caches like these with a review first. See freeing up space.

","answer_text":"Each package manager has its own command:\n\n- npm: npm cache clean --force\n- Yarn: yarn cache clean\n- pnpm: pnpm store prune\n- pip: pip cache purge\n\nThese caches only speed up future installs; clearing them means the next install downloads packages again. Your projects aren't affected.\n\nStorage Studio's Free Up Space includes a developer and package caches step that clears caches like these with a review first. See freeing up space.","tags":["npm","pip","yarn","developer"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-clean-up-node-modules-folders","question":"How do I find and remove old node_modules folders?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-clean-up-node-modules-folders"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-clean-up-homebrew","question":"How do I free up space used by Homebrew?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-clean-up-homebrew"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I clear npm, Yarn and pip caches on a Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Run npm cache clean --force, yarn cache clean, pnpm store prune or pip cache purge. They only slow the next install while packages re-download.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"How do I clear npm, Yarn and pip caches on a Mac?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-clean-npm-yarn-and-pip-caches"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-clean-npm-yarn-and-pip-caches","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I clear npm, Yarn and pip caches on a Mac?","alternateName":["npm cache clean mac","pip cache purge","yarn cache clean","package manager cache taking space","node cache mac storage"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Each package manager has its own command:\n\n- npm: npm cache clean --force\n- Yarn: yarn cache clean\n- pnpm: pnpm store prune\n- pip: pip cache purge\n\nThese caches only speed up future installs; clearing them means the next install downloads packages again. Your projects aren't affected.\n\nStorage Studio's Free Up Space includes a developer and package caches step that clears caches like these with a review first. See freeing up space.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-clean-npm-yarn-and-pip-caches"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Developer tools

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How do I clear npm, Yarn and pip caches on a Mac?

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Short answer: Run npm cache clean --force, yarn cache clean, pnpm store prune or pip cache purge. They only slow the next install while packages re-download.

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Each package manager has its own command:

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  • npm: npm cache clean --force
  • Yarn: yarn cache clean
  • pnpm: pnpm store prune
  • pip: pip cache purge
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These caches only speed up future installs; clearing them means the next install downloads packages again. Your projects aren't affected.

\n

Storage Studio's Free Up Space includes a developer and package caches step that clears caches like these with a review first. See freeing up space.

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Last reviewed

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