What is Cache?
Before we talk about how to clear cache in Mac, let’s first understand what cache is. Cache is a temporary storage space that stores data from frequently visited websites, apps, and other sources. Cache is stored on your computer’s hard drive or SSD, and it helps to speed up the performance of your system. When you visit a website or use an app, the data is stored in the cache, and the next time you visit the same website or use the same app, the data is retrieved from the cache instead of downloading it again.
Why Clear Cache in Mac?
While cache is helpful in speeding up your system, it can also slow down your system if it accumulates too much. The cache takes up a significant amount of space on your hard drive or SSD, which can lead to slower performance. Clearing the cache can help to free up space on your computer and improve its performance. Moreover, clearing the cache can also solve some issues related to websites or apps not working correctly.
How to Clear Cache in Mac?
Now that we have understood what cache is and why we need to clear it let’s move on to how to clear cache in Mac. There are different ways to clear the cache on your Mac, depending on what cache you want to clear.
Clearing Browser Cache
The browser cache is the cache created by your web browser. Clearing the browser cache can help to improve the performance of your browser and solve issues related to website loading. Here’s how to clear cache in Mac for different browsers:
For Safari:
1. Open Safari. 2. Click on Safari from the menu bar. 3. Click on Preferences. 4. Click on the Privacy tab. 5. Click on Manage Website Data. 6. Select the websites whose cache you want to clear. 7. Click on Remove.
For Chrome:
1. Open Chrome. 2. Click on Chrome from the menu bar. 3. Click on Clear Browsing Data. 4. Select the time range for which you want to clear the cache. 5. Select the types of data you want to clear. 6. Click on Clear Data.
For Firefox:
1. Open Firefox. 2. Click on Firefox from the menu bar. 3. Click on Preferences. 4. Click on Privacy & Security. 5. Click on Clear Data. 6. Select the types of data you want to clear. 7. Click on Clear.
Clearing System Cache
System cache is the cache created by your operating system and other applications on your Mac. Clearing the system cache can help to free up space on your computer and improve its performance. Here’s how to clear cache in Mac for system cache:
For MacOS Sierra or Later:
1. Click on the Apple icon from the menu bar. 2. Click on About This Mac. 3. Click on Storage. 4. Click on Manage. 5. Click on the Optimize Storage option. 6. Click on the Review Files option. 7. Select the types of files you want to delete. 8. Click on Delete.
For MacOS X El Capitan or Earlier:
1. Open Finder. 2. Click on Go from the menu bar. 3. Click on Go to Folder. 4. Type ~/Library/Caches in the search box. 5. Select the cache folders you want to delete. 6. Drag them to the Trash.
FAQs Related to How to Clear Cache in Mac
Q. What happens when I clear cache in Mac?
A. When you clear cache in Mac, the cached data is deleted from your computer, freeing up space on your hard drive or SSD. This can help to improve the performance of your system.
Q. Will clearing cache delete my saved passwords and login information?
A. No, clearing cache will not delete your saved passwords and login information. However, clearing cookies along with cache will delete your saved login information.
Q. How often should I clear cache in Mac?
A. It is recommended to clear cache in Mac periodically, depending on your usage. If you use your computer extensively, you can clear cache once every month.
Conclusion
Clearing cache in Mac is an essential task that can help to improve the performance of your system. In this article, we discussed how to clear cache in Mac for different types of cache, including browser cache and system cache. We also answered some FAQs related to clearing cache in Mac. By following the steps mentioned in this article, you can easily clear cache in Mac and enjoy a faster and smoother performance of your system.