---
id: mac-storage-basics.where-are-cache-files-stored-on-a-mac
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/where-are-cache-files-stored-on-a-mac
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "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."
tags: ["caches", "library", "finder"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/is-it-safe-to-delete-caches-on-a-mac", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-open-the-library-folder-on-a-mac"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Where are cache files stored on a Mac?

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.

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.

Before deleting anything there, read [is it safe to delete caches](https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/is-it-safe-to-delete-caches-on-a-mac).