{"id":"mac-storage-basics.where-are-cache-files-stored-on-a-mac","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/where-are-cache-files-stored-on-a-mac","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"caches-temp-logs","title":"Caches, logs and temporary files"},"question":"Where are cache files stored on a Mac?","alt_questions":["mac cache folder location","library caches mac","where is the cache folder macos","~/library/caches","find app caches mac","user cache folder mac"],"short_answer":"Mostly in ~/Library/Caches (Finder: hold Option, choose Go → Library → Caches). Some apps use Application Support or Containers instead, and there's a shared /Library/Caches.","answer_markdown":"Most app caches live in your user Library at `~/Library/Caches`, with one folder per app (often named like com.company.app). To open it, hold **Option**, click Finder's **Go** menu and choose **Library**, then open **Caches**. Some apps keep caches inside their own folder in `~/Library/Application Support`, or inside `~/Library/Containers`, instead.\n\nThere's also a shared `/Library/Caches` for system-wide items, and macOS keeps per-user temporary and cache areas in a hidden system folder it manages itself.\n\nBefore deleting anything there, read [is it safe to delete caches](/faq/mac-storage-basics/is-it-safe-to-delete-caches-on-a-mac).","answer_html":"

Most app caches live in your user Library at ~/Library/Caches, with one folder per app (often named like com.company.app). To open it, hold Option, click Finder's Go menu and choose Library, then open Caches. Some apps keep caches inside their own folder in ~/Library/Application Support, or inside ~/Library/Containers, instead.

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There's also a shared /Library/Caches for system-wide items, and macOS keeps per-user temporary and cache areas in a hidden system folder it manages itself.

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Before deleting anything there, read is it safe to delete caches.

","answer_text":"Most app caches live in your user Library at ~/Library/Caches, with one folder per app (often named like com.company.app). To open it, hold Option, click Finder's Go menu and choose Library, then open Caches. Some apps keep caches inside their own folder in ~/Library/Application Support, or inside ~/Library/Containers, instead.\n\nThere's also a shared /Library/Caches for system-wide items, and macOS keeps per-user temporary and cache areas in a hidden system folder it manages itself.\n\nBefore deleting anything there, read is it safe to delete caches.","tags":["caches","library","finder"],"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-open-the-library-folder-on-a-mac","question":"How do I open the hidden Library folder on my Mac?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-open-the-library-folder-on-a-mac"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Where are cache files stored on a Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Mostly in ~/Library/Caches (Finder: hold Option, choose Go → Library → Caches). Some apps use Application Support or Containers instead, and there's a shared /Library/Caches.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"Where are cache files stored on a Mac?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/where-are-cache-files-stored-on-a-mac"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/where-are-cache-files-stored-on-a-mac","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Where are cache files stored on a Mac?","alternateName":["mac cache folder location","library caches mac","where is the cache folder macos","~/library/caches","find app caches mac","user cache folder mac"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Most app caches live in your user Library at ~/Library/Caches, with one folder per app (often named like com.company.app). To open it, hold Option, click Finder's Go menu and choose Library, then open Caches. Some apps keep caches inside their own folder in ~/Library/Application Support, or inside ~/Library/Containers, instead.\n\nThere's also a shared /Library/Caches for system-wide items, and macOS keeps per-user temporary and cache areas in a hidden system folder it manages itself.\n\nBefore deleting anything there, read is it safe to delete caches.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/where-are-cache-files-stored-on-a-mac"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Caches, logs and temporary files

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Where are cache files stored on a Mac?

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Short answer: Mostly in ~/Library/Caches (Finder: hold Option, choose Go → Library → Caches). Some apps use Application Support or Containers instead, and there's a shared /Library/Caches.

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Most app caches live in your user Library at ~/Library/Caches, with one folder per app (often named like com.company.app). To open it, hold Option, click Finder's Go menu and choose Library, then open Caches. Some apps keep caches inside their own folder in ~/Library/Application Support, or inside ~/Library/Containers, instead.

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There's also a shared /Library/Caches for system-wide items, and macOS keeps per-user temporary and cache areas in a hidden system folder it manages itself.

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Before deleting anything there, read is it safe to delete caches.

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