{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-free-space-from-vs-code-and-jetbrains-ides","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-free-space-from-vs-code-and-jetbrains-ides","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"developer-space","title":"Developer tools"},"question":"How do I free space used by VS Code or JetBrains IDEs?","alt_questions":["vscode taking up space mac","jetbrains caches mac","intellij system folder size","cursor editor cache huge","clear vscode cache mac"],"short_answer":"Remove unused extensions and clear editor caches with the editor quit; in JetBrains use Invalidate Caches and remove old IDE versions' data.","answer_markdown":"Editors keep caches, extension data, logs and indexes:\n\n- **VS Code and editors based on it** keep caches and workspace storage under your Library's Application Support; uninstalling unused extensions and clearing their cache folders (with the editor quit) frees space.\n- **JetBrains IDEs** offer **File → Invalidate Caches…**, and old IDE versions' caches and logs can be removed with the Toolbox app or by deleting old version folders.\n\nStorage Studio's Free Up Space and What's Using Space recognise common editor data (for example VS Code and Cursor) and clear only rebuildable parts with a review first.","answer_html":"

Editors keep caches, extension data, logs and indexes:

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Storage Studio's Free Up Space and What's Using Space recognise common editor data (for example VS Code and Cursor) and clear only rebuildable parts with a review first.

","answer_text":"Editors keep caches, extension data, logs and indexes:\n\n- VS Code and editors based on it keep caches and workspace storage under your Library's Application Support; uninstalling unused extensions and clearing their cache folders (with the editor quit) frees space.\n- JetBrains IDEs offer File → Invalidate Caches…, and old IDE versions' caches and logs can be removed with the Toolbox app or by deleting old version folders.\n\nStorage Studio's Free Up Space and What's Using Space recognise common editor data (for example VS Code and Cursor) and clear only rebuildable parts with a review first.","tags":["vs code","jetbrains","editors","caches"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.is-it-safe-to-delete-caches-on-a-mac","question":"Is it safe to delete cache files on a Mac?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/is-it-safe-to-delete-caches-on-a-mac"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-clean-npm-yarn-and-pip-caches","question":"How do I clear npm, Yarn and pip caches on a Mac?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-clean-npm-yarn-and-pip-caches"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I free space used by VS Code or JetBrains IDEs? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Remove unused extensions and clear editor caches with the editor quit; in JetBrains use Invalidate Caches and remove old IDE versions' data.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"How do I free space used by VS Code or JetBrains IDEs?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-free-space-from-vs-code-and-jetbrains-ides"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-free-space-from-vs-code-and-jetbrains-ides","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I free space used by VS Code or JetBrains IDEs?","alternateName":["vscode taking up space mac","jetbrains caches mac","intellij system folder size","cursor editor cache huge","clear vscode cache mac"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Editors keep caches, extension data, logs and indexes:\n\n- VS Code and editors based on it keep caches and workspace storage under your Library's Application Support; uninstalling unused extensions and clearing their cache folders (with the editor quit) frees space.\n- JetBrains IDEs offer File → Invalidate Caches…, and old IDE versions' caches and logs can be removed with the Toolbox app or by deleting old version folders.\n\nStorage Studio's Free Up Space and What's Using Space recognise common editor data (for example VS Code and Cursor) and clear only rebuildable parts with a review first.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-free-space-from-vs-code-and-jetbrains-ides"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Developer tools

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How do I free space used by VS Code or JetBrains IDEs?

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Short answer: Remove unused extensions and clear editor caches with the editor quit; in JetBrains use Invalidate Caches and remove old IDE versions' data.

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Editors keep caches, extension data, logs and indexes:

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  • VS Code and editors based on it keep caches and workspace storage under your Library's Application Support; uninstalling unused extensions and clearing their cache folders (with the editor quit) frees space.
  • JetBrains IDEs offer File → Invalidate Caches…, and old IDE versions' caches and logs can be removed with the Toolbox app or by deleting old version folders.
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Storage Studio's Free Up Space and What's Using Space recognise common editor data (for example VS Code and Cursor) and clear only rebuildable parts with a review first.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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Also available as Markdown and JSON.

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