Ableton Live Decoding & Undo Cache (Ableton/Cache)
Ableton Live caches decoded MP3/FLAC samples and undo history files in Ableton/Cache. Clearing Ableton cache is safe.
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Your computer is full of files and folders you didn't create — system caches, update leftovers, hidden config files, and temporary data that quietly eats up your storage. Before you delete anything, check here first. We've researched over 399 common files across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and rated each one with a clear safety verdict so you can free up disk space without breaking anything.
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Affinity Photo Working Raster Cache (%LocalAppData%\Affinity\Photo\2.0\Temp)
Affinity Photo stores temporary raster layer caches and undo history. Deleting temp files after closing projects is safe.
The AI Engineer's Model Disk Cleanup Guide: Hugging Face, Ollama & PyTorch
The ultimate 1,200-word field guide for AI developers and local LLM hobbyists to reclaim 200GB+ from Ollama, Hugging Face, PyTorch, and vLLM model weights.
Android Studio System Index Cache (AndroidStudio Cache)
Android Studio caches Gradle project indexes, VFS caches, and compiler artifacts. Invalidate and clear is safe.
How to Clear System Storage & Other Data on Android (Samsung, Pixel, Xiaomi)
The ultimate 1,400-word master guide to clearing hidden Android System Storage bloat, WhatsApp database files, app caches, and hidden thumbnail folders.
Ansible Automation Temp & Fact Cache (~/.ansible/tmp)
Ansible stores temporary playbook execution modules and target host fact JSON caches in ~/.ansible/tmp. Clearing Ansible tmp is safe.
ArchiCAD AutoSave Recovery Directory (ARCHICAD AutoSave)
ArchiCAD stores temporary project recovery backups in the AutoSave directory. Deleting old recovery backups is safe.
Astro Framework Build Output & Asset Cache (.astro)
Astro web framework caches pre-rendered HTML pages and optimized Vite assets in .astro and dist. Learn how to clean Astro build cache.
Audacity Audio Editor Project Temporary Data (audacity_temp)
Audacity stores uncompressed 32-bit float audio editing data in audacity_temp directories. Learn how to safely delete orphaned Audacity temp files.
Linux Audit Framework Log Directory (/var/log/audit)
The Linux auditd service records security events, file access traces, and user commands in /var/log/audit. Learn how to clean auditd log files safely.
AutoCAD Drawing Backup Files (.bak)
AutoCAD automatically creates .bak backup files alongside .dwg drawings. Deleting old .bak backup files is safe.
AutoCAD DrawingHistory Cache (%LocalAppData%\Autodesk\AutoCAD)
AutoCAD caches cloud version history comparison snapshots in DrawingHistory. Clearing the history cache is safe.
AWS CLI Cache (~/.aws/cli/cache)
The AWS CLI cache stores temporary IAM SSO session tokens and API responses. Deleting it is safe.
Azure CLI Log & Token Cache (~/.azure/logs)
The Azure CLI (.azure) stores execution logs and MSAL auth tokens. Deleting old log logs is safe.
Bambu Studio 3D Printer Mesh & G-code Cache (BambuStudio/cache)
Bambu Studio caches 3D model previews, sliced G-code files, and cloud print jobs. Purging Bambu Studio cache is safe.
Battlefield GPU Shader Cache (Battlefield 2042/cache)
Battlefield stores pre-compiled Frostbite engine GPU shaders. Deleting the cache resolves post-patch stuttering.
Bitwarden Desktop Session Cache (%AppData%\Bitwarden\Cache)
Bitwarden Desktop caches GUI rendering bytes and vault state icons. Clearing cache is safe.
BleachBit vs Windows Storage Sense: Which Cleaner Is Best & Safest?
A head-to-head comparison of open-source BleachBit vs native Windows Storage Sense for safe disk cleanup and privacy shredding.
Blender Backup Files (.blend1, .blend2)
Blender automatically creates .blend1 and .blend2 backup files upon saving. Deleting old .blend1 files is safe.
The Ultimate Browser Cache & Privacy Cleanup Guide (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, Safari)
The definitive 1,400-word master guide to clearing hidden web browser cache bloat, GPU shader caches, IndexedDB stores, and LocalStorage across Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, and Safari.
Bun JavaScript Package Cache (~/.bun/install/cache)
The Bun install cache stores downloaded npm tarballs and binary packages. Clearing it is safe and frees disk space.
Call of Duty Warzone Shader Cache (main/shadercache)
Call of Duty Warzone caches compiled DirectX graphics shaders. Resetting shaders in-game or purging cache is safe.
Camtasia Temporary Recordings (Temporary Record Files)
Camtasia stores unrendered raw screen capture recordings (.trec). Deleting temporary recordings for completed projects is safe.
CapCut Video Editor Cache Folder (%LocalAppData%\CapCut\User Data\Cache)
CapCut caches proxy video clips, preview renders, and downloaded effects. Clearing the cache is safe.
Rust Cargo Git Repository Cache (~/.cargo/git/db)
The .cargo/git folder caches bare Git repository checkouts for Rust dependencies. Clearing the Cargo Git cache is safe.
Carthage Compiled Framework Cache (Carthage/Build)
The Carthage/Build folder contains compiled iOS & macOS framework dependencies (.framework / .xcframework). Deleting it is safe.
Chia Blockchain Mainnet Database (~/.chia/mainnet/db)
The Chia mainnet db folder stores full node blockchain blocks (blockchain_v2_mainnet.sqlite). Deleting forces re-sync.
Citra Nintendo 3DS Emulator Shader Cache (Citra/shaders)
Citra caches compiled PICA200 3DS graphics pipeline shaders. Clearing shader cache is safe.
ClamAV Open-Source Antivirus Virus Definition Databases (/var/lib/clamav)
ClamAV stores daily virus definitions (main.cvd, daily.cvd) in /var/lib/clamav. Learn how freshclam updates ClamAV databases.
Clojure REPL & CIDER Session Cache (.cider-repl)
Clojure CIDER and Leiningen cache REPL output history and Maven jar artifacts. Deleting CIDER session cache is safe.
The Cloud & DevOps Storage Playbook: Kubernetes containerd, K3s & Jenkins
The ultimate 1,200-word field guide for DevOps engineers and cluster admins to reclaim 150GB+ from Kubernetes containerd layers, K3s storage, Jenkins workspaces, and Terraform caches.
CocoaPods Master Spec Repository (~/.cocoapods/repos)
The CocoaPods repos directory stores local git clones of the iOS podspec master repository. Clearing repos is safe.
ComfyUI Model Checkpoints Folder (ComfyUI/models/checkpoints)
ComfyUI stores Stable Diffusion and Flux AI model checkpoint weights (.safetensors). Deleting checkpoints deletes AI models.
CryEngine Shader & Asset Build Cache (%LocalAppData%\CryEngine)
CryEngine stores pre-compiled shaders, asset caches, and engine logs in %LocalAppData%\CryEngine. Clearing CryEngine cache is safe.
Steinberg Cubase Waveform Peak Cache (Cubase/Images)
Cubase caches graphical waveform peak image files (.csh) inside Images subfolders. Clearing waveform image cache is safe.
DaVinci Resolve Color Gallery Stills Cache (.gallery)
DaVinci Resolve caches grabbed color grading stills and powergrade previews (.dpx). Deleting old gallery stills is safe.
DeepSpeed Distributed LLM Training Checkpoints (global_step*)
Microsoft DeepSpeed saves distributed model training checkpoint states in global_step directories. Learn how to clean old DeepSpeed checkpoints.
How to Permanently Delete Files Too Large for the Recycle Bin / Trash
How to bypass the Recycle Bin or Trash when deleting multi-gigabyte video files, ISOs, or virtual disk images.
Deno Module Cache (~/.deno/deps & ~/.deno/gen)
The DENO_DIR folder caches remote TypeScript imports and compiled V8 code bytes. Deleting it is safe.
The Software Engineer's Disk Cleanup Field Guide: Reclaim 200GB+ Safely
The ultimate 2,000-word terminal cleanup playbook for software engineers to reclaim 200GB+ from Docker, Xcode, npm, Cargo, and PyTorch.
Discord Code & GPU Cache (%AppData%\discord\Code Cache)
Discord's Electron app caches compiled V8 JavaScript bytes and GPU textures. Clearing the cache is safe.
DuckStation PS1 Emulator Shader Cache (DuckStation/cache)
DuckStation caches pre-compiled Vulkan and Direct3D 11 PlayStation 1 graphics shaders. Deleting shader cache is safe.
EA Desktop Client Download Staging Folder (EA Desktop/Downloads)
The EA Desktop Downloads folder stores temporary patch installer chunks for EA App games. Deleting download staging files is safe.
Elasticsearch Nodes & Indices Cache Directory (data/nodes/0/indices)
Elasticsearch stores Lucene index segments and node cache data in data/nodes. Learn how to safely delete old indices via API.
Elixir Mix Framework Build Directory (_build)
The _build directory in Elixir project root holds compiled BEAM bytecode and Mix app dependencies. Clearing _build is safe.
Epic Games Launcher Manifests (Data/Manifests)
Manifest files (.item) register installed Epic Games titles with the launcher. DO NOT DELETE manually.
Fail2ban Ban History Database (/var/lib/fail2ban/fail2ban.sqlite3)
Fail2ban intrusion prevention daemon logs banned IP addresses and SSH brute-force attempts in fail2ban.sqlite3. Clearing Fail2ban database is safe.
FastAI Training Dataset Cache (~/.fastai/data)
The .fastai data folder caches downloaded computer vision and NLP training datasets. Purging FastAI datasets is safe.
Figma Desktop Font Helper Cache (%AppData%\Figma\FigmaFontHelper)
Figma Font Helper caches installed system fonts for the web and desktop app. Clearing font cache is safe.
FL Studio Stem Separation Render Cache (FL Studio/Stems)
FL Studio 21+ caches AI stem separation extracted audio tracks (vocals, drums, bass). Deleting extracted stem cache is safe.
Flutter SDK Engine Binary Cache (flutter/bin/cache)
The Flutter bin/cache directory stores compiled Flutter engine binaries, Dart SDK tools, and iOS/Android artifacts. Deleting it is safe.
Flutter Desktop Ephemeral Build Cache (build/ephemeral)
Flutter caches engine C++ headers and native desktop platform wrappers in build/ephemeral. Clearing ephemeral cache is safe.
How to Force Delete a Locked File or Folder in Windows 11 / 10
Fix 'The action cannot be completed because the file is open in another program' with Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Task Manager.
Google Cloud SDK Cache (~/.config/gcloud/logs)
The gcloud CLI stores diagnostic logs and component installer caches. Deleting gcloud logs and staging cache is safe.
GitLab CI Runner Pipeline Cache (/var/lib/gitlab-runner/cache)
GitLab CI runners cache build artifacts and dependency archives in /var/lib/gitlab-runner/cache. Clearing runner cache is safe.
GNOME Desktop File Indexer Database (~/.local/share/tracker/data)
GNOME Tracker caches desktop search index databases. Resetting the tracker database is safe.
Godot Game Engine Shader & Editor Cache (.godot)
Godot 4 game engine caches compiled Vulkan/OpenGL shaders and imported textures in .godot. Clearing Godot cache is safe.
GOG Galaxy Temp Installer Cache (GOG.com/Galaxy/temp)
The GOG Galaxy temp directory stores downloaded offline game installer zips. Deleting temp installer chunks is safe.
Gradle Daemon Logs & Process Cache (~/.gradle/daemon)
The .gradle/daemon folder stores log outputs and lock files from background Gradle build daemons. Deleting daemon logs is safe.
Why Is My Hard Drive Full But No Files Are Showing? (Hidden Bloat Solved)
Fix hard drives that appear full despite selecting all files showing low storage. Discover hidden shadow copies, System Volume Information, and pagefiles.
Haskell Cabal Global Package Store (~/.cabal/store)
The Cabal store caches compiled GHC library dependencies. Purging old Cabal store packages is safe.
Autodesk Inventor OldVersions Backup Directory
Autodesk Inventor saves previous part and assembly revisions inside OldVersions subfolders. Deleting OldVersions is safe.
How to Clear System Data Storage on iPhone & iPad Without Erasing Data
The ultimate 1,800-word master guide to clearing hidden iOS System Data storage bloat, Safari offline caches, message attachments, and streaming buffers.
Is CCleaner Safe to Use in 2026? (Registry Risks & Built-in Alternatives)
A detailed security review answering if CCleaner is safe for Windows 11 registry cleaning, its malware history, and built-in safe alternatives.
Is CleanMyMac X Safe & Worth It? (CleanMyMac vs macOS Storage Manager)
Is CleanMyMac X safe for macOS? Read our independent review comparing CleanMyMac vs native Apple Storage Management tools.
iZotope Ozone Mastering Assistant Temp Renders (iZotope/Ozone)
iZotope Ozone caches AI mastering profiles and spectral analysis buffers. Clearing Ozone temp renders is safe.
Jenkins CI Build Workspace Directory (var/jenkins_home/workspace)
Jenkins CI stores extracted git source checkouts and build artifacts in job workspaces. Wiping idle job workspaces is safe.
Julia Language Binary Artifacts Cache (~/.julia/artifacts)
Julia caches downloaded binary dependencies and dataset artifacts in ~/.julia/artifacts. Purging Julia artifacts is safe.
K3s Kubernetes Runtime Cache (/var/lib/rancher/k3s/data)
K3s caches lightweight Kubernetes binary images and container runtime layers in /var/lib/rancher/k3s. Clearing stale data is safe.
KDE Plasma Desktop Service Configuration Cache (~/.cache/ksycoca5)
ksycoca caches KDE Plasma application menu services and mime type databases. Rebuilding ksycoca is safe.
kubectl Kubernetes API Schema Discovery Cache (~/.kube/cache)
kubectl caches Kubernetes cluster API OpenAPI schema definitions in ~/.kube/cache. Clearing kubectl HTTP cache is safe.
Kubernetes containerd Image Layer Storage (/var/lib/containerd)
containerd stores downloaded OCI container image layers in /var/lib/containerd. Pruning unused image layers is safe.
Lerna Monorepo Build & Package Task Cache (.lerna)
Lerna monorepo manager caches package build outputs and task graphs in .lerna and node_modules/.cache/lerna. Clearing Lerna cache is safe.
The Linux Server Disk Cleanup Playbook: Reclaim Root Partition Space
The ultimate sysadmin guide to cleaning root partition bloat on Ubuntu and Debian servers, including journalctl, apt cache, Docker, and systemd coredumps.
LM Studio Local LLM Models Cache (lm-studio/models)
LM Studio stores downloaded GGUF format Large Language Models. Deleting model files removes downloaded LLMs.
Apple Logic Pro Freeze Files & Pre-Renders (Freeze Files)
Logic Pro caches 32-bit float pre-rendered audio files for frozen CPU-heavy tracks. Deleting Logic Freeze Files is safe.
LoRA & QLoRA Fine-Tuned Model Adapter Weights (adapter_model.safetensors)
LoRA (Low-Rank Adaptation) fine-tuning stores low-rank parameter delta weights in adapter_model.safetensors. Learn how to manage LoRA weights.
macOS Background Download Session Cache (com.apple.nsurlsessiond)
nsurlsessiond caches incomplete background file downloads for system apps and iCloud daemon sync. Clearing the cache is safe.
Final Cut Pro Render Files (Render Files)
Final Cut Pro generates temporary background render files for video timelines. Deleting render files is safe and reclaims huge disk space.
macOS Font Server Cache (/var/db/ats)
Apple Type Services (ats) caches font rendering metrics. Resetting the font cache fixes corrupted font glyphs and system text glitches.
macOS System Font Cache Directory (com.apple.fontd)
macOS caches system and user font rendering structures in com.apple.fontd. Learn how to reset macOS font cache to fix garbled text.
GarageBand Sound Library & Loop Cache (/Library/Application Support/GarageBand)
GarageBand stores instrument sound packs, audio lesson files, and Apple Loops. Deleting sound libraries requires re-downloading.
Homebrew Package Cache (~/Library/Caches/Homebrew)
Homebrew caches downloaded bottle binaries (.tar.gz) and source code archives. Purging the cache via brew cleanup is safe.
macOS iCloud Drive Sync Engine Container & Cache (bird)
The macOS background daemon bird manages iCloud Drive file syncing and caches staged cloud downloads in ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.bird. Learn how to clean bird cache.
Logic Pro Sound Library & Project Render Cache
Logic Pro caches downloaded instrument patches, Apple Loops, and temporary project renders. Use caution when purging.
Apple Mail Downloads Cache (Mail Downloads)
The Mail Downloads folder caches copies of email attachments opened in Apple Mail. Deleting old downloads is safe.
Apple Messages Attachment Cache (~/Library/Messages/Attachments)
The Messages Attachments folder stores local copies of all photos, videos, and voice notes received in iMessage. Deleting attachments is safe.
macOS Metal Shader Cache (~/Library/Caches/com.apple.metal)
The com.apple.metal directory caches pre-compiled Metal graphics shaders on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Deleting it is safe.
How to Fix 'Operation Not Permitted' When Deleting Files on macOS
Fix Terminal 'Operation not permitted' errors when deleting files on Mac by granting Full Disk Access or managing SIP permissions.
macOS Photos.app Analysis & Facial Recognition Database (mediaanalysisd)
macOS background process mediaanalysisd stores facial recognition, object detection, and visual search index databases in ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mediaanalysisd. Learn how to manage it.
Apple Photos Preview & Render Cache (resources/renders)
The Photos Library renders directory caches facial recognition thumbnails and edited photo previews. Purging previews is safe.
Safari LocalStorage Web Database (~/Library/Safari/LocalStorage)
The Safari LocalStorage folder caches HTML5 offline data and database files for visited websites. Deleting LocalStorage is safe.
macOS Screen Capture UI Temp Folder (com.apple.screencaptureui)
The screencaptureui temporary directory caches unrendered video frames during Mac screen recordings. Deleting temp files is safe.
macOS System Update Packages (/Library/Updates)
The /Library/Updates folder holds downloaded macOS system installer packages (.pkg). Deleting downloaded update packages is safe.
macOS Spotlight Search Index Database (.Spotlight-V100)
macOS stores Spotlight search metadata index databases in .Spotlight-V100 at the root of every drive. Learn how to rebuild Spotlight index safely.
The 2026 macOS System Data Storage Bible: Reclaim 100GB+ Safely
The ultimate 2026 master guide to finding and deleting hidden macOS System Data bloat, including user caches, Time Machine APFS snapshots, Xcode artifacts, and Docker containers.
Xcode Offline Documentation Cache (DocSets)
Xcode stores downloaded offline developer API documentation sets (.docset). Deleting offline documentation sets is safe.
The iOS Developer's Disk Cleanup Handbook: Purging Xcode, Simulators & CocoaPods
The ultimate 1,400-word master field guide for iOS, macOS, Swift, Flutter, and React Native engineers to reclaim 100GB+ from Xcode DerivedData, simulators, and archives.
Xcode iOS Simulators Folder (~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices)
CoreSimulator stores virtual disk images and cached app data for iOS, watchOS, and tvOS simulators. Deleting old devices is safe.
MariaDB & MySQL InnoDB System Tablespace File (ibdata1)
The ibdata1 file stores the InnoDB system tablespace, undo logs, and change buffers. Learn how to shrink ibdata1 safely.
Marmoset Toolbag Texture Bake & Render Cache (%LocalAppData%\Marmoset)
Marmoset Toolbag 3D rendering and baking software caches high-resolution normal maps and ambient occlusion bakes in %LocalAppData%\Marmoset. Clearing Marmoset temp is safe.
Apache Maven Wrapper Cache (~/.m2/wrapper/dists)
The Maven Wrapper folder caches downloaded Maven zip distribution binaries. Deleting old wrapper dists is safe.
MongoDB Journal Write-Ahead Log Files (data/journal)
MongoDB stores write-ahead journal files in data/journal to ensure write durability. Learn when and how to safely clear MongoDB journals.
Native Instruments Kontakt Sample Index Cache (Native Instruments/Service Center)
Kontakt stores index databases and sample preview caches for virtual instruments. Purging Kontakt cache is safe.
Neo4j Graph Database Transaction Log Files (neostore.transaction.db.*)
Neo4j stores transaction logs for database recovery and cluster replication. Learn how to prune old Neo4j transaction logs safely.
Nim Language C Translation Cache (nimcache)
Nim generates C source files and object binaries inside nimcache folders during compilation. Deleting nimcache is safe.
Node Version Manager Cache (~/.nvm/.cache)
The nvm .cache folder stores downloaded Node.js release tarballs and headers. Purging the nvm cache is completely safe.
Nx Monorepo Local Computation Cache (.nx/cache)
Nx monorepo tool caches task execution outputs in .nx/cache. Learn how to safely reset and clear local Nx computation cache.
OBS Studio Replay Buffer & Temporary Video Cache (%AppData%\obs-studio)
OBS Studio stores live replay buffers, streaming crash logs, and browser source caches in %AppData%\obs-studio. Learn how to clean OBS temp files.
OCaml OPAM Package Manager Download Cache (~/.opam/download-cache)
OPAM caches tarball archives of downloaded OCaml library packages. Clearing OPAM download cache is safe.
Ollama Model Manifests Registry Cache (~/.ollama/models/manifests)
Ollama stores JSON model registry manifests mapping GGUF model layers. Deleting manifest cache is safe.
Oracle Database Diagnostic Trace Files & Alert Logs (diag/rdbms)
Oracle Database stores diagnostic trace files (.trc, .trm) and incident dumps in Automatic Diagnostic Repository (ADR). Clearing old trace files is safe.
Parsec Remote Desktop Logs & Shader Cache (%AppData%\Parsec\log.txt)
Parsec stores low-latency streaming connection logs and host video decode shaders. Clearing Parsec logs is safe.
The PC Gamer's Storage & Performance Guide: Clear Shader Caches & Launcher Bloat
The ultimate 1,800-word guide for PC gamers and streamers to clear NVIDIA DXCache, AMD Shader Cache, Steam Workshop bloat, and emulator disks.
PCSX2 Emulator Shader Cache (PCSX2/shaders)
PCSX2 caches compiled Vulkan and Direct3D PS2 graphics shaders. Deleting the shader cache is safe.
Pipx Application Environments (~/.local/state/pipx)
Pipx creates isolated Python virtual environments for CLI tools. Deleting pipx environments uninstalls those CLI tools.
pnpm Global CLI State (~/.local/share/pnpm/state)
The pnpm state folder logs update checks and global command logs. Deleting pnpm state files is safe.
Python Poetry Artifact Cache (~/.cache/pypoetry)
The pypoetry folder caches downloaded Python wheel package artifacts and virtualenv metadata. Deleting Poetry cache is safe.
Postman API Client Cache (%AppData%\Postman\Partitions)
Postman caches HTTP request responses, workspace logs, and Electron partition data. Clearing Postman cache is safe.
PPSSPP PSP Emulator Shader Cache (SYSTEM/CACHE)
PPSSPP caches compiled PSP GE graphics shaders. Clearing the shader cache resolves visual rendering artifacts.
Prisma ORM Binary Engines Cache (~/.cache/prisma/master)
Prisma downloads Rust query engine and migration engine binaries into this cache. Deleting Prisma engine binaries is safe.
Avid Pro Tools Session File Backups Folder
Pro Tools creates periodic backup session files (.ptx) in Session File Backups. Deleting old session backups is safe.
Pulumi Infrastructure as Code Local State Backups (~/.pulumi/backups)
Pulumi CLI caches historical infrastructure state file backups (.json.bak) in ~/.pulumi/backups. Clearing old state backups is safe.
R Language Package Library Cache (R/win-library)
R language stores downloaded CRAN statistical packages in R/win-library. Cleaning unused R packages is safe.
Cockos REAPER Waveform Peak Files (.reapeaks)
REAPER generates .reapeaks waveform thumbnail files alongside audio imports. Deleting .reapeaks files is safe.
Remix & React Router Framework Build Cache (.cache/remix)
Remix web framework caches route manifests and server-side render assets in .cache/remix. Deleting Remix build cache is safe.
Autodesk Revit Journal Debug Logs (journal.0001.txt)
Revit logs every click and command into text journal files (journal.XXXX.txt). Deleting old journal files is safe.
Is Revo Uninstaller Safe? (Leftover Registry Keys & Driver Cleanup)
Is Revo Uninstaller safe for removing leftover program files and registry keys? Learn how Revo safely purges stubborn software.
Rhino 3D Auto-Save Backup Files (3DM.bak)
Rhinoceros 3D creates auto-save recovery backup files (.3dm.bak). Deleting old Rhino backup files is safe.
RPCS3 PS3 Emulator GPU & SPU Cache (rpcs3/cache)
RPCS3 compiles PlayStation 3 Cell SPU code and Vulkan shaders into local cache files. Deleting cache is safe.
Scala SBT & Ivy Dependency Cache (~/.ivy2/cache)
The Ivy2 cache stores compiled Scala JAR dependencies and SBT build artifacts. Clearing it is safe.
Screen Studio Temporary Recordings Cache (Screen Studio/Temp)
Screen Studio stores unrendered raw screen capture video clips. Deleting temp recordings for exported videos is safe.
SELinux Audit Log Files (/var/log/audit/audit.log)
SELinux security daemon writes security access denial logs to /var/log/audit/audit.log. Learn how to safely rotate SELinux audit logs.
SideFX Houdini VFX Simulation Geometry Cache ($HIP/geo)
SideFX Houdini caches fluid, pyro, and rigid body dynamics simulation geometry (.bgeo.sc) in geo/ and temp folders. Learn how to safely manage Houdini sim caches.
SketchUp Auto Save & Working Recovery Files (working)
SketchUp stores auto-save backup models (.skb) and crash recovery models. Deleting old recovery models is safe.
SketchUp Undo History & Scratch Render Cache (SketchupUndo)
SketchUp caches undo history steps and V-Ray texture scratch files in temporary directories. Clearing scratch files is safe.
Skype Media & Image Cache (%AppData%\Microsoft\Skype for Desktop\Media cache)
Skype for Desktop caches sent and received photos, voice messages, and media. Clearing the media cache is safe.
Solana CLI Ledger & Keypair Cache (~/.config/solana)
The .config/solana folder stores Solana CLI transaction history, test validator ledgers, and keypair files. Use caution.
SolidJS & SolidStart App Build Cache (.solid)
SolidJS and SolidStart frameworks cache compiled reactive components and server route manifests in .solid and dist. Clearing SolidJS build cache is safe.
SolidWorks Backup Recovery Files (.sldbak)
SolidWorks creates .sldbak auto-save recovery copies of assembly and part files. Deleting old .sldbak files is safe.
Microsoft SQL Server Transaction Log Files (.ldf)
SQL Server database transaction logs (.ldf) grow infinitely if full recovery mode backups are not managed. Shrinking LDF logs requires caution.
SQLite Write-Ahead Log (.wal) & Shared Memory (.shm) Files
SQLite database WAL (.wal) and shared memory (.shm) files enable concurrent reads and writes. Learn when it is safe to delete WAL files.
Steam Workshop Downloads Folder (steamapps/workshop/downloads)
The Workshop downloads folder stores temporary mod download chunks. Deleting stale temp downloads is safe.
Steinberg Cubase & Nuendo Audio Waveform Peak Files (.pk)
Steinberg Cubase and Nuendo DAWs generate audio waveform peak files (.pk) for fast graphic display. Learn how to clean Cubase peak files safely.
Storybook UI Component Build Cache (node_modules/.cache/storybook)
Storybook caches webpack/vite component story bundles. Clearing storybook cache is safe.
Streamlabs Desktop Cache & Asset Staging (%AppData%\slobs-client)
Streamlabs Desktop stores stream overlay assets, alert box caches, and webview data in %AppData%\slobs-client. Clearing Streamlabs cache is safe.
PreSonus Studio One Track Render Cache (Studio One/Cache)
Studio One caches pre-rendered audio event transforms and mixdown stems. Clearing Studio One render cache is safe.
Sublime Text Editor Syntax Cache (%AppData%\Sublime Text\Cache)
Sublime Text caches compiled syntax definitions and project workspace indexes. Clearing Sublime Text cache is safe.
SuperSlicer 3D Printing Mesh Render Cache (SuperSlicer)
SuperSlicer caches 3D mesh preview thumbnails and gcode toolpath renders. Clearing cache is safe.
Suricata Network IDS/IPS Capture Logs (/var/log/suricata)
Suricata Intrusion Detection System writes packet capture logs (eve.json, pcap files) to /var/log/suricata. Learn how to clean Suricata logs.
Tailscale VPN State & Daemon Logs (/var/lib/tailscale)
Tailscale stores daemon socket logs and wireguard connection state. Clearing log files is safe.
Tauri Rust Desktop App Build Target (src-tauri/target)
Tauri compiles Rust backend binaries and web view wrappers inside src-tauri/target. Deleting the target directory is safe.
TensorBoard ML Training Metrics Log Files (events.out.tfevents.*)
TensorBoard records loss metrics, learning rate curves, and model graph visualizations in events.out.tfevents files. Clearing TensorBoard logs is safe.
TensorFlow Hub Model Cache (~/.cache/tfhub_modules)
tfhub_modules caches pre-trained neural network weights downloaded via TensorFlow Hub. Deleting it is safe.
Hugging Face Tokenizers Cache (~/.cache/huggingface/tokenizers)
The tokenizers cache stores BPE vocabulary files for LLM models. Deleting tokenizer cache files is safe.
NVIDIA Triton Inference Server Model Repository Cache (/var/tmp/triton)
NVIDIA Triton Inference Server caches compiled TensorRT engines and model repository artifacts in /var/tmp/triton. Clearing Triton cache is safe.
Ubisoft Connect Staging Download Cache (cache/download)
The Ubisoft Connect cache/download directory holds temporary update installer chunks. Deleting download cache is safe.
Unity Hub Editor Installer Cache (TargetSupport)
Unity Hub stores downloaded Unity Editor installation installers and build target modules. Purging downloaded installers is safe.
Unreal Engine Derived Data Cache (Engine/DerivedDataCache & LocalDDC)
Unreal Engine 5 stores compiled shaders, compressed textures, and Nanite mesh data in DerivedDataCache (DDC). Learn how to clear Unreal DDC safely.
The 2026 Utility Software Safety Report: CCleaner, CleanMyMac, BleachBit & Revo
An independent 1,600-word benchmark security report evaluating whether CCleaner, CleanMyMac X, BleachBit, and Revo Uninstaller are safe or dangerous.
Vagrant Virtual Machine Base Box Images (~/.vagrant.d/boxes)
Vagrant stores downloaded base virtual machine images (.box) in ~/.vagrant.d/boxes. Pruning old Vagrant boxes is safe.
Riot Vanguard & Valorant Logs (RiotClient Logs)
Riot Vanguard and Valorant store diagnostic anticheat logs. Deleting old log text files is completely safe.
The Creative Professional's Disk Cleanup Guide: Adobe, DaVinci & Final Cut
The ultimate 1,400-word disk cleanup field guide for video editors, 3D artists, and audio producers to reclaim 200GB+ from Adobe CC, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut, and Blender.
VitePress Static Site Build Cache (.vitepress/cache)
The .vitepress/cache directory caches Markdown parsing and Vite bundle artifacts. Deleting .vitepress/cache is safe.
vLLM Engine Model Weights Cache (~/.cache/vllm)
The vLLM cache stores downloaded Hugging Face LLM model weights and kv-cache buffers. Deleting vLLM model cache is safe.
VS Code Workspace Storage (%AppData%\Code\User\workspaceStorage)
workspaceStorage caches extension state, search indexes, and language server caches for past coding projects. Deleting it is safe.
Weights & Biases ML Experiment Local Run Directory (wandb/run-*)
Weights & Biases (wandb) caches local experiment runs, media artifacts, and stdout logs in wandb/run-*. Learn how to clean wandb local caches.
Wasmer WebAssembly Compiled Module Cache (~/.wasmer/cache)
The .wasmer cache stores pre-compiled WebAssembly (.wasm) bytecode modules. Deleting Wasmer cache is safe.
Waves Audio VST/AU Plugin Graph Cache (Waves/Cache)
Waves Central and Waves VST plugins cache graphic UI skins and audio impulse responses. Clearing Waves cache is safe.
Cisco Webex Media & Call Recording Cache (%AppData%\Local\CiscoSpark)
Cisco Webex stores cached video call streams, shared slides, and meeting logs. Clearing Webex media cache is safe.
OpenAI Whisper Speech Model Cache (~/.cache/whisper)
The whisper cache stores downloaded OpenAI speech-to-text neural network weights (.pt). Clearing the Whisper cache is safe.
The Windows 11 Master Storage Cleanup Compendium: Free Up 150GB Safely
The definitive 2,200-word master guide on what files and folders are safe to delete on Windows 11 to free up space without breaking your operating system.
Windows Notification & Action Center Database (wpndatabase.db)
Windows stores notification center history and toast notification state in wpndatabase.db. Learn how to reset Windows notification database.
Windows AppRepository Database (C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\AppRepository)
AppRepository contains state databases (StateRepository-machine.sdb) for UWP and Microsoft Store apps. DO NOT DELETE.
Windows Component Based Servicing Log File (C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log)
The Windows CBS.log file records Component Based Servicing operations, DISM updates, and SFC repairs. Learn when it is safe to delete CBS.log.
Windows Device Metadata Cache (DeviceMetadataCache)
DeviceMetadataCache caches device icons and custom property packages for connected hardware. Clearing the cache is safe.
Windows Device Setup Manager Diagnostic Cache (DeviceSetupManager)
Device Setup Manager stages hardware driver metadata and device container info in ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceSetupManager. Clearing it is safe.
Windows ETW Diagnostics Logs (C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\WMI)
The WMI LogFiles folder contains Event Tracing for Windows (.etl) diagnostic trace logs. Deleting old .etl files is safe.
DISM Servicing Log (C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log)
The dism.log file logs component store repair and Windows image servicing operations. Deleting it is completely safe.
DriverStore Staging Temp Folder (C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\Temp)
The DriverStore Temp directory holds temporary driver extraction files created during hardware updates. Deleting Temp files is safe.
Windows Event Viewer Logs (C:\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs)
The winevt Logs folder contains system, security, and application event logs (.evtx). Deleting old logs is safe and frees storage.
Windows Font Cache DAT Files (FontCache 3.0.0.0.dat)
FontCache dat files cache WPF and TrueType font metrics. Deleting FontCache dat files is safe and fixes font rendering bugs.
Windows IconCache.db File (%LocalAppData%\IconCache.db)
IconCache.db caches desktop and Explorer icon images. Deleting it is safe and fixes broken or black icon placeholders.
Windows Network Setup Log (C:\Windows\debug\NetSetup.log)
NetSetup.log logs network adapter configuration and Active Directory domain join debugging. Deleting it is safe.
Windows Performance Monitor Binary Trace Log Files (.blg)
Windows Performance Monitor records hardware diagnostic metrics in .blg binary trace files. Learn how to safely delete old BLG log files.
Windows Printer Driver Staging (C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers)
The spool\drivers folder caches printer driver DLLs and print spooler staging binaries. Deleting old drivers is safe.
SetupAPI Driver Installation Log (C:\Windows\INF\setupapi.dev.log)
setupapi.dev.log records hardware driver installation steps and PnP device setup diagnostics. Deleting it is safe.
Windows System File Checker Log Files (sfcdetails.txt)
SFC (System File Checker) records corrupted system file repair logs in CBS.log and sfcdetails.txt. Learn how to manage SFC repair logs.
Windows System32 catroot Folder (C:\Windows\System32\catroot)
The catroot folder stores digital signature security catalogs for Windows system files. DO NOT DELETE catroot.
Windows Update Download Folder (C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download)
The SoftwareDistribution Download folder stores pending Windows Update installer files. Deleting files inside Download is 100% safe.
Windows Error Reporting Archive (WER\ReportArchive)
The ReportArchive folder stores archived application crash reports and stack traces. Clearing the WER archive is safe.
WSUS Update Content Repository (C:\WSUS\WsusContent)
The WsusContent folder stores downloaded Windows Server Update Services installation files. Deleting it requires resetting the WSUS repository.
Xcode visionOS & Apple Vision Pro Simulator Runtime (visionOS.simruntime)
Xcode stores Apple Vision Pro visionOS simulator runtimes in /Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Profiles/Runtimes. Learn how to clean visionOS simulator images.
Xenia Xbox 360 Emulator Shader Cache (Xenia/cache)
Xenia Xbox 360 emulator translates microcode shaders to Vulkan and D3D12 pipeline caches. Deleting cache is safe.
Ripple XRP Node Ledger Database (/var/lib/rippled/db)
The rippled db directory stores historical XRP blockchain ledger transactions. Deleting ledger data requires re-syncing.
Yarn Global Package Cache (Yarn Cache)
Yarn v1 and Yarn Berry cache npm package zip archives locally. Clearing the global cache is safe.
Ryujinx & Yuzu Switch Shader Cache (Ryujinx/games)
Nintendo Switch emulators store compiled GPU shader caches. Clearing corrupted shader caches resolves graphical artifacts.
ZBrush Digital Sculpting QuickSave Cache (ZBrushData/QuickSave)
ZBrush stores high-poly 3D sculpt auto-saves in ZBrushData/QuickSave. Clearing old QuickSave files is safe.
Zig Compiler Global Build Cache (~/.cache/zig)
The Zig compiler caches LLVM IR bitcode and C translation artifacts in ~/.cache/zig. Clearing Zig global cache is safe.
Zoom Backgrounds & Avatar Cache (%AppData%\Zoom\data)
The Zoom data folder caches virtual background images, 3D avatars, and meeting assets. Clearing Zoom data is safe.
After Effects Disk Cache Folder (Adobe After Effects Disk Cache)
After Effects Disk Cache stores pre-rendered motion graphics and RAM preview frames. Emptying the disk cache is safe and recovers massive storage space.
AMD Radeon DxCache Folder (%LocalAppData%\AMD\DxCache)
AMD DxCache stores compiled graphics shaders for Radeon GPUs. Deleting it is safe and fixes game stuttering, crashes, or visual artifacts.
Android Download Manager Temp Cache (com.android.providers.downloads)
The Download Manager cache stores incomplete APK downloads and browser download chunks. Clearing Download Manager cache is safe.
Android Logcat & System Crash Logs (/data/log)
Android system logs and logcat dumps store app diagnostic logs. Clearing logcat logs is safe and resolves hidden system storage consumption.
Google Play Services Cache (com.google.android.gms)
The Google Play Services cache stores temporary maps, ad identifiers, and location data. Clearing Play Services cache is safe.
Android Telegram Cache Folder (org.telegram.messenger)
The Telegram cache folder stores downloaded photos, videos, voice notes, and document files. Clearing Telegram cache is safe and frees phone storage.
Android WhatsApp Databases Folder (msgstore.db.crypt14)
The WhatsApp Databases folder stores daily local chat backup archives (msgstore.db.crypt14). Deleting old database backups is safe.
Apache HTTP Server Error & Access Logs (/var/log/apache2)
Apache error.log and access.log store web server visitor logs. Truncating old Apache logs is safe and reclaims lost server storage.
Ubuntu APT Package Cache (/var/cache/apt/archives)
/var/cache/apt/archives stores downloaded .deb package installer files. Running sudo apt clean is safe and reclaims gigabytes of disk space.
Arch Linux Pacman Package Cache (/var/cache/pacman/pkg)
/var/cache/pacman/pkg stores downloaded package archives on Arch Linux & Manjaro. Clearing pacman cache is safe and frees up drive space.
Global Assembly Cache Folder (C:\Windows\assembly)
C:\Windows\assembly is the .NET Global Assembly Cache (GAC). Never manually delete this folder as it will break .NET applications and Windows system binaries.
Astro Framework Build Cache Folder (.astro)
The .astro folder stores auto-generated TypeScript content collection definitions and build caches for Astro projects. Deleting .astro is safe.
Adobe Audition Conformed Files & Peak Cache Folders
Conformed Files and Peak files store waveform visual previews and uncompressed audio buffers for Adobe Audition. Deleting them is safe.
Babel Loader Transpiler Cache (node_modules/.cache/babel-loader)
The node_modules/.cache/babel-loader folder caches transpiled JavaScript & JSX files. Deleting it is safe and resolves stale transpilation errors.
Battle.net Cache & Agent Folders (%ProgramData%\Battle.net)
Battle.net Agent and Cache folders store launcher data and update patches. Deleting them is safe and resolves Blizzard launcher update stuck errors.
Blender Render Cache & Auto-Save Files (quit.blend)
quit.blend and Blender cache folders store temp project auto-saves and physics baking simulations. Deleting old temp renders is safe.
Brave Browser User Data Cache Folder
Brave Browser Cache stores web page images, scripts, and GPU caches. Clearing Brave cache is safe and frees storage without losing bookmarks.
Rust Cargo Target Folder (target/)
The target/ folder contains compiled Rust binaries and incremental build artifacts. Deleting it via cargo clean is safe and restores gigabytes of space.
Catroot & Catroot2 Folders (C:\Windows\System32\catroot2)
catroot2 stores Windows Update cryptographic signature catalogs. Resetting catroot2 is safe and fixes Windows Update installation errors.
CBS.log & Windows Logs CBS Folder
CBS.log stores Component-Based Servicing logs for Windows updates and SFC scans. It is safe to delete if it grows excessively large due to Windows logging bugs.
Windows CBS Persist Cab Log Archives (CbsPersist_*.cab)
CbsPersist_*.cab files are archived Windows Update component logs. Deleting old CbsPersist cab files is 100% safe and reclaims massive drive space.
Google Chrome Code Cache & GPUCache Folders
Chrome Code Cache and GPUCache store compiled JavaScript bytecode and GPU shaders. Deleting them is safe and resolves browser lag.
Maxon Cinema 4D Render Cache & Asset Browser Data
Cinema 4D cache stores Redshift GPU render cache, Team Render chunks, and Asset Browser database files. Deleting C4D cache is safe.
CocoaPods Cache Folder (~/Library/Caches/CocoaPods)
~/Library/Caches/CocoaPods caches downloaded iOS and macOS pod dependencies. Clearing it via pod cache clean --all is safe.
PHP Composer Package Cache Folder (~/.composer/cache)
The ~/.composer/cache directory holds cached zip archives and git clones for PHP Composer packages. Deleting Composer cache is safe.
Anaconda & Miniconda Package Cache Folder (~/anaconda3/pkgs)
The Conda pkgs folder stores extracted tarballs and package downloads for Python environments. Clearing it via conda clean --all is safe.
CryptnetUrlCache Folder (%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\CryptnetUrlCache)
CryptnetUrlCache stores cached SSL certificate revocation lists. Deleting it is safe and resolves Windows certificate update errors.
CurseForge & Overwolf Modpack Cache Folders
CurseForge cache stores downloaded modpack zips, Overwolf logs, and app caches. Deleting the cache is safe and recovers lost space.
Cypress E2E Testing Binary Cache (~/.cache/Cypress)
The ~/.cache/Cypress folder stores downloaded Electron & browser test runner binaries for Cypress. Deleting Cypress cache is safe.
DaVinci Resolve CacheClip & Gallery Folders
CacheClip stores render cache, proxy files, and optimized media for DaVinci Resolve. Deleting old CacheClip folders is safe and frees massive SSD storage.
DirectX Shader Cache
The DirectX Shader Cache stores compiled graphics shaders created by Windows. Clearing it via Disk Cleanup is safe and frees up storage space.
Discord Cache & Code Cache Folders (%AppData%\discord\Cache)
Discord Cache and GPUCache store media previews and Electron app assets. Deleting them is safe and resolves Discord black screen or streaming bugs.
Docker Data & overlay2 Folder (var/lib/docker)
Docker overlay2 stores container images, layers, and stopped volumes. Deleting unused layers via docker system prune is safe and recovers tens of gigabytes.
DriverStore FileRepository Folder (C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository)
DriverStore FileRepository holds copies of device drivers. Safe tools like RAPR or Pnputil clean out old, unused drivers to free up massive disk space.
Dropbox Local Cache Folder (.dropbox.cache)
.dropbox.cache stores staging files and deleted file backups for Dropbox. Deleting it is safe and reclaims hidden local SSD storage.
Dropbox Sync Cache Folder (.dropbox.cache)
The .dropbox.cache folder stores staging chunks for deleted or modified files. Clearing Dropbox cache is 100% safe.
dumpstack.log & dumpstack.log.tmp
dumpstack.log is a hidden Windows log file generated when memory dumps or crashes occur. It is completely safe to delete.
EA App & Origin Cache Folders (%ProgramData%\EA Desktop)
EA App / Origin Cache stores launcher data, installer patches, and web cache. Deleting EA App cache is safe and fixes launcher download stuck bugs.
Microsoft Edge User Data Cache Folder
Microsoft Edge User Data Cache stores web assets and GPU caches. Clearing Edge cache is safe and frees storage without deleting bookmarks.
Elixir Mix Build & Deps Folders (_build & deps)
The _build and deps folders store compiled Erlang BEAM files and Elixir dependencies. Deleting them is safe and restores clean build states.
ESLint Cache File (.eslintcache)
The .eslintcache file stores linting results for JavaScript/TypeScript files. Deleting it is safe and forces a fresh code lint pass.
Evernote Desktop App Local Cache & Resource Folder
The Evernote cache folder stores local copies of note attachments, PDFs, and image thumbnails. Deleting the cache is safe and fixes Evernote sync errors.
Figma Desktop App Cache & GPUCache Folders
Figma Desktop Cache stores local canvas previews, font caches, and WebGL assets. Deleting the cache is safe and fixes Figma rendering glitches.
Mozilla Firefox Profile Cache Folders (%LocalAppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles)
Firefox Profile cache stores startupCache, jumpListCache, and web page HTTP caches. Clearing Firefox cache is safe and frees up drive space.
FiveM GTA 5 Asset Cache Folder (%LocalAppData%\FiveM\FiveM.app\data\cache)
FiveM cache stores downloaded GTA 5 RP server scripts, custom cars, map assets, and textures. Deleting FiveM cache is safe and fixes crashing.
Flatpak Package Cache & Unused Runtimes (/var/lib/flatpak)
/var/lib/flatpak stores Flatpak desktop apps and runtimes. Pruning unused runtimes with flatpak uninstall --unused is safe and frees space.
Genshin Impact & HoYoverse Output Logs (%LocalAppData%Low\miHoYo)
Genshin Impact and HoYoverse output_log.txt files record gaming diagnostics and crash dumps. Deleting Genshin log files is 100% safe.
Go Language Build & Module Cache (~/.cache/go-build)
~/.cache/go-build and $GOPATH/pkg/mod store compiled Go packages and modules. Running go clean -cache is safe and reclaims lost storage space.
GOG Galaxy Launcher Cache Folder (%ProgramData%\GOG.com\Galaxy)
GOG Galaxy Cache stores game cover art, store banners, and installer patches. Deleting GOG Galaxy cache is safe and fixes download glitches.
Google Drive File Stream Cache (file_stream_cache)
file_stream_cache stores local cached copies of Google Drive cloud files. Clearing the cache is safe and recovers lost space on PC or Mac.
Gradle Cache Folder (~/.gradle/caches)
.gradle/caches stores downloaded Java and Android build dependencies. Deleting it is safe and reclaims gigabytes of unneeded build artifacts.
Kubernetes Helm Chart Cache Folder (~/.cache/helm)
The ~/.cache/helm directory stores cached Kubernetes Helm charts and repository indexes. Deleting Helm cache is safe.
Hugging Face Cache Folder (~/.cache/huggingface)
~/.cache/huggingface stores downloaded AI models, transformers, and datasets. Deleting old model caches is completely safe and reclaims massive disk space.
Hugging Face Hub Model Cache Folder (~/.cache/huggingface/hub)
The ~/.cache/huggingface/hub folder stores cached AI model weights and tokenizer files. Purging old model revisions via CLI is safe.
Adobe Illustrator FontTarget & Data Recovery Cache
Adobe Illustrator cache stores font preview rendering targets and data recovery file backups. Deleting Illustrator cache is safe.
iOS Protected Keychain Storage & Credential Caches
iOS Keychain stores hardware-encrypted passwords, tokens, and passkeys. Do NOT force-clear Keychain data without an iCloud Keychain backup.
How to Clear iOS Other System Data Storage
iOS System Data (formerly 'Other' storage) holds app caches, logs, and streaming buffers. Clearing System Data is safe and reclaims space.
iOS Safari Reading List Offline Files & Web Cache
iOS Safari Reading List offline files store saved web articles and site data. Clearing offline reading list cache is safe and frees iPhone storage.
Linux Systemd Journalctl Logs Folder (/var/log/journal)
/var/log/journal stores binary system logs collected by systemd-journald. Vacuuming old journal logs is 100% safe via journalctl.
Jupyter Notebook Runtime Cache Folder (~/.local/share/jupyter/runtime)
The Jupyter runtime folder stores active kernel connection JSON files and notebook session logs. Deleting runtime logs is safe.
Adobe Lightroom Catalog Previews (.lrdata Folders)
Previews.lrdata stores cached image thumbnails and 1:1 render previews for Adobe Lightroom. Deleting previews is safe and frees storage.
Linux Command Line History Files (.bash_history & .zsh_history)
.bash_history and .zsh_history store command terminal history. Deleting history logs is 100% safe, protects credentials, and cleans shell logs.
Linux /var/log Folder & Journalctl Logs
/var/log and systemd journal logs record Linux system events. Vacuuming old logs via journalctl --vacuum-size is safe and recovers lost space.
Windows LiveKernelReports Folder (Live Kernel Dumps)
LiveKernelReports stores non-fatal kernel crash dumps (.dmp) created by Windows. Deleting these crash reports is safe and recovers lost space.
Maven .m2 Repository Folder (~/.m2/repository)
The .m2/repository folder caches downloaded Java dependencies for Maven and Gradle. Deleting it is safe and reclaims gigabytes of unused jar files.
macOS App Containers Folder (~/Library/Containers)
The Containers folder stores App Store sandboxed data, caches, and local databases. Selective deletion of uninstalled app containers is safe.
macOS Application Support Folder (~/Library/Application Support)
Application Support stores app user data, extensions, and local databases. Selective cleanup of uninstalled app folders is safe.
macOS Launchd Caches (~/Library/Caches/com.apple.launchd)
com.apple.launchd stores user-level launch daemon caches on macOS. Deleting launchd caches is safe and resolves launch agent glitches.
macOS Core Dumps Folder (/cores)
The /cores folder in macOS holds memory dumps generated when Unix processes crash. It is completely safe to delete and frees up space.
macOS DiagnosticReports Folder (~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports)
DiagnosticReports stores app crash reports and panic logs on Mac. Deleting old log files is completely safe and cleans up system clutter.
MobileSync Backup Folder (macOS iPhone & iPad Backups)
MobileSync/Backup stores local iPhone and iPad backups on your Mac. Deleting old backups is safe and frees up massive SSD storage.
macOS MobileSync Backup Folder (~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup)
MobileSync/Backup stores local iTunes and Finder iPhone/iPad backup archives. Deleting old backups is safe and frees massive Mac SSD storage.
macOS QuickLook Thumbnail Cache (com.apple.QuickLook.thumbnailcache)
com.apple.QuickLook.thumbnailcache stores cached Finder image and video preview thumbnails. Clearing QuickLook cache is safe and fixes broken previews.
macOS Saved Application State Folder (~/Library/Saved Application State)
Saved Application State stores window state snapshots for Mac apps. Deleting it is safe and fixes apps stuck in infinite crash-restart loops.
macOS Local Time Machine Snapshots (MobileBackups)
Local Time Machine Snapshots store offline backup points on Mac SSDs. Deleting local snapshots via tmutil is safe and recovers tens of gigabytes.
macOS Private Temp Folder (/var/folders)
/var/folders is the private system temp directory for macOS. Clearing temp files when apps are closed is safe and reclaims lost storage.
Xcode Archives Folder (~/Library/Developer/Xcode/Archives)
The Archives folder stores compiled app build packages (.xcarchive) generated for App Store submission. Deleting old archives is safe.
Xcode iOS DeviceSupport Folder (~/Library/Developer/Xcode/iOS DeviceSupport)
iOS DeviceSupport stores symbol files for physical iOS devices attached to Xcode. Deleting old iOS version support files is safe.
MEMORY.DMP File (Windows Crash Dump)
MEMORY.DMP is created by Windows after a system crash or Blue Screen of Death. It is completely safe to delete and frees up several gigabytes of space.
Minecraft Logs & Crash Reports (.minecraft/logs)
The .minecraft/logs and crash-reports folders store game log archives and crash dumps. Deleting them is safe and won't affect world saves.
Windows Minidump Folder (C:\Windows\Minidump)
C:\Windows\Minidump stores small crash dump files created after Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors. Deleting minidumps is safe and clears space.
Minikube ISO & Image Cache Folder (~/.minikube/cache)
The ~/.minikube/cache folder stores Kubernetes VM ISO images and pre-loaded container images. Deleting minikube cache is safe.
Mod Organizer 2 Downloads & Overwrite Folders (MO2)
Mod Organizer 2 (MO2) downloads and overwrite folders store mod archives and generated log caches. Deleting old downloads is 100% safe.
Mod Organizer 2 Overwrite & Logs Folders (MO2)
The MO2 overwrite folder stores newly generated BodySlide meshes, FNIS/Nemesis outputs, and log files. Clearing log files is safe.
Microsoft Flight Simulator Community & Packages Folders
The Community folder stores custom aircraft, liveries, and scenery add-ons for MSFS. Exercise caution when deleting custom scenery packages.
Windows Installer Patch Cache Folder (C:\Windows\Installer\$PatchCache$)
$PatchCache$ stores uncompressed baseline copies of Windows Installer patches. Deleting it via official command line tools is safe and reclaims space.
MSOCache Folder (Microsoft Office Local Install Source)
MSOCache stores Microsoft Office installation files. Deleting it saves 1–4 GB but may require your Office installation media during future updates or repairs.
MySQL Binary Logging Files (/var/lib/mysql/binlog.*)
MySQL binlog.* files store transaction replication logs. Purging old binary logs via PURGE BINARY LOGS is safe and recovers server storage.
New Microsoft Teams App Cache (%LocalAppData%\Packages\MSTeams_*)
New Microsoft Teams 2.0 stores local web caches and meeting logs in MSTeams packages. Resetting New Teams cache is 100% safe.
Next.js Build Cache Folder (.next/cache)
The .next/cache folder stores compiled pages, images, and SWC build artifacts for Next.js apps. Deleting it is safe and resolves stale page builds.
Nexus Mods Vortex Temp & Download Cache Folders
Vortex temp and downloads folders store downloaded mod archives for games like Skyrim and Fallout. Deleting mod temp files is safe.
Nginx Proxy & FastCGI Cache (/var/cache/nginx)
/var/cache/nginx stores cached HTML pages, images, and proxy responses. Deleting Nginx cache is safe and purges stale website pages.
Notion Desktop App Cache Folder (%AppData%\Notion\Cache)
Notion Desktop Cache stores workspace page previews, images, and WebGL assets. Deleting the cache is safe and resolves Notion loading glitches.
NuGet Global Packages Cache Folder (~/.nuget/packages)
The ~/.nuget/packages folder caches downloaded C# and .NET NuGet packages. Clearing it via dotnet nuget locals all --clear is safe.
NVIDIA Shader Cache (DXCache & GLCache)
NVIDIA DXCache and GLCache store pre-compiled graphics shaders. Deleting them is safe and fixes game stuttering or texture corruption issues.
OBS Studio Logs & Crash Dumps Folder (%AppData%\obs-studio\logs)
The obs-studio/logs folder stores streaming session logs and encoder crash dumps. Deleting OBS logs is 100% safe and won't affect scenes.
Ollama Local LLM Models Cache Folder (~/.ollama/models)
The ~/.ollama/models folder stores local GGUF model blobs (Llama, Mistral). Deleting unneeded models via ollama rm is safe.
OneDrive .tmp.driveupload & Sync Temp Files
.tmp.driveupload files are temporary cache chunks created during OneDrive cloud sync. Deleting stuck temp files is safe and clears sync errors.
Panther Folder (C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther)
The Panther folder stores setup and upgrade log files for Windows installation. Deleting Panther is safe and frees up hidden upgrade logs.
PerfLogs Folder (C:\PerfLogs)
C:\PerfLogs stores Performance Monitor logs and system diagnostics. Deleting it is safe and will not harm Windows or your applications.
Photoshop Scratch Disk Files (Photoshop Temp)
Photoshop Temp files are created when working with large images or PSD layers. Deleting leftover temp files is safe and fixes Scratch Disk full errors.
Python Pip Cache (~/.cache/pip)
The pip cache stores downloaded Python wheel and tar.gz package archives. Deleting it via pip cache purge is safe and reclaims lost storage space.
Playwright Browser Binaries Cache (~/.cache/ms-playwright)
The ms-playwright folder stores downloaded Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit test binaries for Playwright. Deleting it is safe and reclaims space.
pnpm Global Store Folder (~/.local/share/pnpm/store)
The pnpm global content-addressable store caches hard-linked packages. Pruning unreferenced packages via pnpm store prune is safe and frees storage.
Podman Storage & Container Cache (~/.local/share/containers/storage)
The Podman storage directory holds rootless container images, layers, and volumes. Cleaning it via podman system prune is safe.
PostgreSQL Write-Ahead Logging Folder (pg_wal)
pg_wal stores PostgreSQL Write-Ahead Logs for crash recovery and replication. Do NOT manually delete pg_wal files; use pg_archivecleanup.
Adobe Premiere Pro Scratch Disks & Media Cache
Premiere Pro Scratch Disks store conformed audio peak files and video preview renders. Deleting old scratch disk files is safe and recovers massive space.
Windows Print Spooler PRINTERS Folder (System32\spool\PRINTERS)
The PRINTERS folder stores pending print job files (.SHD and .SPL). Deleting PRINTERS folder files is safe and fixes stuck printer queues.
Python Virtual Environment Folders (.venv & venv)
.venv and venv folders hold isolated Python packages for a project. Deleting them is safe and they can be recreated anytime using requirements.txt.
PyTorch Hub Model Weights Cache Folder (~/.cache/torch)
The ~/.cache/torch folder stores pre-trained PyTorch neural network model weights (.pt and .pth). Deleting model weights cache is safe.
Redis dump.rdb Database Snapshot File
dump.rdb is a point-in-time point snapshot of your Redis database memory. Use caution before deleting as it contains persistent database keys.
Riot Games Logs & Crash Dumps (VALORANT & League of Legends)
Riot Games log folders store diagnostic logs and Vanguard anticheat dumps for Valorant and League. Deleting log files is safe.
Roblox Logs & HTTP Cache Folders (%LocalAppData%\Roblox\logs)
Roblox logs and http cache store game logs, mesh assets, and texture caches. Deleting Roblox cache is safe and fixes Roblox lag.
RubyGems Cache & Obsolete Gems (~/.gem/ruby)
The RubyGems cache stores downloaded gem archives and old gem versions. Clearing RubyGems cache is safe and frees up drive space.
Safari Web Cache Folder (~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari)
com.apple.Safari stores web page caches and favicons for Safari on Mac. Clearing Safari cache is safe and frees storage without losing bookmarks.
AMD Radeon Shader Cache Folder (%LocalAppData%\AMD\DxCache)
The AMD DxCache folder stores pre-compiled DirectX 11, 12, and Vulkan GPU shaders for AMD Radeon graphics cards. Clearing DxCache is safe.
Slack Cache Folder (%AppData%\Slack\Cache)
Slack Cache and Service Worker storage store media previews and message logs. Deleting them is safe and resolves Slack loading glitches.
Slack GPUCache & CodeCache Folders (%AppData%\Slack\GPUCache)
Slack GPUCache and CodeCache store compiled Electron shaders and UI web caches. Clearing Slack GPUCache is safe and fixes screen glitches.
Ubuntu Snap Package Cache (/var/lib/snapd/snaps)
/var/lib/snapd/snaps stores old disabled versions of Snap packages. Removing old revisions is safe and frees up gigabytes on Ubuntu.
SoftwareDistribution DataStore Folder (DataStore.edb)
DataStore.edb stores Windows Update history and database logs. Deleting DataStore is safe and resolves Windows Update database bloat.
Spotify Storage Cache Folder (%LocalAppData%\Spotify\Storage)
The Spotify Storage cache holds offline downloaded songs and stream data. Clearing it is safe and reclaims gigabytes of local storage.
Adobe Substance 3D Painter Texture Cache Folder
Substance 3D Painter cache stores baking texture maps, shelf previews, and viewport render buffers. Clearing Substance cache is safe.
Swift Package Manager Cache (.build & .swiftpm Folders)
.build and .swiftpm folders store compiled Swift packages and build artifacts. Deleting them is safe and resolves Xcode package resolution bugs.
Volume Shadow Copies (VSS Storage)
Volume Shadow Copies store System Restore points and file backup snapshots. Deleting old shadow copies is safe and frees up massive disk space.
Linux Systemd Coredump Folder (/var/lib/systemd/coredump)
/var/lib/systemd/coredump stores crash memory dumps for Linux processes. Cleaning old coredumps via coredumpctl is safe and frees storage.
Linux Systemd Core Dump Storage (/var/lib/systemd/coredump)
/var/lib/systemd/coredump stores uncompressed binary process memory crash dumps. Purging core dumps via coredumpctl is 100% safe.
Escape from Tarkov BSG Launcher Cache (%LocalAppData%\BSG Launcher\Temp)
BSG Launcher Temp folder stores leftover update patches and log files for Escape from Tarkov. Clearing BSG Launcher cache is 100% safe.
Microsoft Teams Cache Folder (%AppData%\Microsoft\Teams)
Microsoft Teams cache stores shared files, meeting logs, and avatar thumbnails. Deleting it is safe and fixes Teams login hangs or freezing issues.
Telegram Desktop tdata & Media Cache Folder
Telegram tdata contains login session keys and local media cache. Deleting media cache inside Telegram is safe, but deleting tdata logs you out.
Terraform Provider Cache Folder (.terraform/providers)
The .terraform folder stores downloaded cloud provider binaries (AWS, Azure, GCP). Deleting it is safe and forces a clean terraform init.
Turborepo Cache Folder (.turbo)
The .turbo folder stores build task caches for Turborepo monorepos. Deleting .turbo is safe and forces a fresh clean monorepo build.
Ubisoft Connect Cache & Savegame Backup Folders
Ubisoft Connect cache stores launcher web assets and avatar thumbnails. Deleting the cache folder is safe and resolves Ubisoft Connect login errors.
Unity Editor AssetCache Folder
AssetCache stores imported Unity Asset Store packages and shader artifacts. Deleting it is safe and recovers lost space on Unity game developer drives.
Unreal Engine DerivedDataCache Folder (DDC)
DerivedDataCache stores compiled shaders, textures, and assets for Unreal Engine 4 & 5. Deleting DDC is safe and reclaims tens of gigabytes.
Linux /var/tmp Folder (vs /tmp)
/var/tmp stores temporary files that persist across system reboots. Deleting old unused files in /var/tmp is safe and reclaims drive space.
Vite Bundler Cache Folder (node_modules/.vite)
The node_modules/.vite folder caches pre-bundled ES modules for Vite dev servers. Deleting it is safe and fixes stale dev server HMR bugs.
VLC Media Player Art Cache Folder (%AppData%\vlc\art)
The VLC art cache stores downloaded album covers and movie poster thumbnails. Deleting it is safe and cleans up hidden media junk.
VRChat World & Avatar Cache Folder (%LocalAppData%Low\VRChat\VRChat\Cache)
The VRChat Cache folder stores downloaded 3D worlds and custom avatar assets. Deleting VRChat cache is safe and fixes loading freezes.
Weights & Biases ML Cache & Run Artifacts (wandb)
The wandb folder stores local experiment run logs, media artifacts, and model checkpoints. Clearing wandb cache is 100% safe.
Webpack Persistent Cache Folder (node_modules/.cache/webpack)
The node_modules/.cache/webpack folder stores compiled JavaScript bundles and module graphs. Deleting it is safe and resolves stale build errors.
Windows NGEN NativeImages Folder (C:\Windows\assembly\NativeImages)
The NativeImages folder stores pre-compiled NGEN binaries for .NET Framework. Clearing obsolete NGEN images is safe via ngen.exe.
Windows Defender Scans & Definitions Cache
The Windows Defender Scans folder holds virus scan history and security definition updates. It is safe to clean out when it accumulates gigabytes of leftover cache.
Windows.edb File (Windows Search Indexing Database)
Windows.edb stores Windows Search index data. It is safe to clear or rebuild when it grows to tens of gigabytes.
Windows Error Reporting Folder (WER)
The WER folder stores Windows Error Reporting crash logs and crash dumps. Clearing the WER folder is safe and reclaims gigabytes of disk space.
Windows Font Cache Service Folder (FontCache)
The Windows FontCache folder stores pre-rendered font glyphs. Clearing FontCache is safe and fixes corrupt font rendering and high CPU usage.
Windows Installer Folder (C:\Windows\Installer)
C:\Windows\Installer contains essential MSI application patch files. Never manually delete it, but orphaned installers can be safely cleaned with official tools.
Windows Watchdog Crash Dumps (LiveKernelReports\WATCHDOG)
The WATCHDOG folder stores graphics driver reset dumps (WATCHDOG-*.dmp). Deleting Watchdog crash dumps is 100% safe.
Delivery Optimization Logs (DOSVC Logs)
DOSVC logs record peer-to-peer Windows Update Delivery Optimization activity. Deleting these log files is safe and reclaims drive space.
Windows ReadyBoot Tracing Folder (C:\Windows\Prefetch\ReadyBoot)
The ReadyBoot folder stores boot performance trace logs (.fx files). Deleting ReadyBoot files is 100% safe and won't affect Windows startup speed.
Windows Recent Items & AutomaticDestinations Folders
The Recent folder stores taskbar JumpList shortcuts and recent file history. Clearing it is safe, protects privacy, and fixes broken JumpLists.
Windows Registry RegBack Folder (C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack)
RegBack stores automatic Windows Registry backups (SYSTEM, SOFTWARE). Deleting old RegBack copies is safe but manual backups are recommended.
Windows Search Gatherer Logs (%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Search)
Windows Search Gatherer logs store index transaction logs (gthr*.log). Clearing Gatherer logs via Indexer Reset is safe.
Windows Servicing Packages Folder (C:\Windows\servicing\Packages)
The servicing/Packages folder stores Windows Update manifest XML files. Do NOT manually delete files inside servicing; use DISM cleanup.
Microsoft Store Cache Folder (WSReset)
The Microsoft Store cache stores app installer temp files and store metadata. Clearing it via WSReset.exe is safe and fixes Store download errors.
Windows Explorer Thumbnail Cache Database (thumbcache_*.db)
thumbcache_*.db files store pre-rendered File Explorer image and video thumbnail tiles. Clearing thumbcache is safe and fixes broken icon previews.
Windows WMI Repository Folder (C:\Windows\System32\wbem\Repository)
The WMI Repository stores Windows Management Instrumentation database files. Do NOT manually delete it; use winmgmt salvagerepository to repair.
WSL2 Virtual Hard Disk (ext4.vhdx)
ext4.vhdx is the virtual disk for Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2). Shrinking or compacting it is safe and recovers tens of gigabytes of unassigned space.
Xcode DerivedData Folder (~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData)
DerivedData stores Xcode build indexes, intermediate object files, and module caches. Deleting it is safe and is a standard fix for Xcode build bugs.
Zoom Logs & Temp Recording Files (%AppData%\Zoom\logs)
Zoom logs and doubleclick converting files store video meeting logs and temp conversions. Deleting them is safe and reclaims drive space.
Adobe Media Cache
Temporary cache files generated by Premiere Pro and After Effects. 100% safe to delete and often frees up massive amounts of storage.
Is It Safe to Delete .obb Files on Android?
OBB files are massive expansion packs required by high-end Android games like Genshin Impact and PUBG. Deleting them will instantly break the game.
.thumbnails
A hidden Android folder that stores tiny versions of all your photos. Safe to delete, but it will come back.
AppData
The hidden folder where Windows apps store their settings, profiles, and cached data. Deleting it will wipe out your app preferences and saved data.
Browser Cache
The hidden storage area where web browsers save images and scripts from websites to make them load faster next time.
Is It Safe to Delete Crashpad?
The Crashpad folder stores telemetry and crash logs generated by apps like Google Chrome and Discord. It is completely safe to delete.
DeliveryOptimization
A folder Windows uses to share Windows Updates with other PCs on your network or the internet. Safe to clean via Disk Cleanup.
Is It Safe to Delete Desktop.ini?
Desktop.ini is a harmless, hidden Windows configuration file that tells a folder what custom icon to use. It is safe to delete, but doing so removes folder customizations.
.DS_Store
A hidden macOS file that stores folder view preferences. Completely safe to delete, though your Mac will just create a new one.
Is It Safe to Delete Epic Games VaultCache?
The Epic Games VaultCache stores duplicate copies of game installation files. It is completely safe to empty to reclaim massive amounts of disk space.
Is It Safe to Delete ext4.vhdx (Docker)?
The ext4.vhdx file is a massive virtual hard drive used by Docker and WSL2 on Windows. Deleting it will permanently destroy all your containers and databases.
.git
The hidden folder containing the entire version control history of a code repository. Deleting it destroys all past commits and branches.
Is It Safe to Delete .idea and .vscode?
The .idea and .vscode folders store your personal IDE workspace settings. Deleting them is safe, but it will wipe your editor layouts and local configurations.
Is It Safe to Delete iPhone 'System Data' (Other Storage)?
iPhone System Data (formerly 'Other' storage) contains vital iOS system files, logs, and caches. You cannot manually delete it, but you can force iOS to reduce it.
Is It Safe to Delete iOS Software Update Files on Mac?
iOS Software Update files are massive installers left behind on your Mac after updating an iPhone. They are completely safe to delete to save space.
Is It Safe to Delete LOST.DIR?
LOST.DIR is Android's version of the Recycle Bin for corrupted files. It is safe to delete, but doing so destroys any chance of recovering corrupted data.
Is It Safe to Delete Library/Caches?
The Library/Caches folder stores temporary files to help your Mac apps load faster. It is completely safe to delete to reclaim gigabytes of storage space.
Is It Safe to Delete npm-cache?
The npm-cache folder stores compressed copies of Node.js packages you download. It is completely safe to nuke if you need space or are facing weird build errors.
.ost and .pst files
Microsoft Outlook data files that store all your emails, contacts, and calendar events locally on your hard drive.
pagefile.sys
The Windows virtual memory paging file. Deleting it manually can cause system crashes and out-of-memory errors.
Is It Safe to Delete Prefetch?
The Windows Prefetch folder tracks how your apps launch to make them open faster next time. Deleting it is safe, but it will actually slow down your PC.
Is It Safe to Delete __pycache__?
The __pycache__ folder contains compiled Python bytecode designed to make your scripts run faster. It is completely safe to delete.
Quarantine Folder
The secure folder where antivirus programs lock away detected malware and viruses so they can't harm your computer.
$RECYCLE.BIN
A hidden system folder on every Windows hard drive that stores the files you have deleted but haven't permanently emptied yet.
Is It Safe to Delete sleepimage?
The sleepimage file allows your Mac to safely hibernate without losing data if the battery dies. Deleting it is safe, but it will immediately come back.
SoftwareDistribution
The folder where Windows Update downloads new updates. Safe to clean if updates are failing, but should not be deleted randomly.
Is It Safe to Delete .Spotlight-V100?
The .Spotlight-V100 folder is a hidden macOS indexing directory. Deleting it forces your Mac to rebuild its search index, which can fix Spotlight search bugs.
Steam shadercache
Pre-compiled graphics shaders for Steam games. Safe to delete, but games may stutter the next time you play them.
Is It Safe to Delete swapfile.sys?
swapfile.sys is a critical Windows system file used as virtual memory for Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps. It should not be deleted manually.
System Volume Information
A super-hidden Windows folder that stores System Restore points and disk indexing data. Best left completely alone.
Is It Safe to Delete Temp (%temp%)?
The Windows Temp folder stores temporary files extracted during software installations and crashes. It is completely safe to delete to free up disk space.
Is It Safe to Delete Thumbs.db?
Thumbs.db is a hidden Windows database file that caches image thumbnails so folders load faster. It is safe to delete, though Windows will recreate it.
Is It Safe to Delete .Trashes?
The .Trashes folder is a hidden directory on macOS and external drives that holds deleted files. Deleting it permanently removes those files and reclaims space.
Is It Safe to Delete WhatsApp Databases?
The WhatsApp Databases folder on Android stores encrypted chat backups. Deleting it is safe, but prevents you from restoring old messages if you reinstall.
$Windows.~BT
Leftover installation files from a previous Windows upgrade. Safe to delete using the Disk Cleanup tool.
WinSxS (Windows Component Store)
The Windows Component Store can take up massive space, but deleting it manually will permanently break your PC.
Is It Safe to Delete hiberfil.sys?
hiberfil.sys is used by Windows for hibernation and fast startup. Deleting it disables these features but is otherwise safe.
Is It Safe to Delete node_modules?
node_modules contains downloaded dependencies for JavaScript projects. It can always be regenerated with npm install.
Is It Safe to Delete System32?
System32 is the core of Windows. Deleting it will completely break your operating system. Never delete this folder.
Is It Safe to Delete Windows.old?
The Windows.old folder contains your previous Windows installation. It's safe to delete and can free up 10-30 GB of space.
🏆 Master OS Cleanup Pillars
Definitive, step-by-step guides to reclaiming maximum disk space on macOS, Windows, iOS, and developer machines.
🍎 macOS System Data Cleanup
How to clear 50GB+ of hidden 'System Data' & 'Other' storage safely.
💻 Windows 11 Master SSD Guide
Complete checklist of safe files to delete on Windows 11 without breaking your OS.
📱 iPhone System Data Cleanup
Purge phantom iOS System Data & cached message attachments without resetting.
⚡ Developer Storage Playbook
Reclaim 100GB+ from Docker, Xcode DerivedData, npm, Cargo & PyTorch.
🛡️ Software Safety Reviews & Comparisons
Independent security analyses answering if third-party cleanup utilities are safe or risky.
Is CCleaner Safe in 2026?
Registry cleaning risks & native built-in Windows alternatives.
Is CleanMyMac X Safe?
CleanMyMac X vs Native Apple Storage Management features.
BleachBit vs Storage Sense
Open-source privacy shredding vs automated OS background cleaning.
Is Revo Uninstaller Safe?
Deep scan safety for leftover registry keys and software traces.
How We Rate Files
Every file is independently researched and rated with one of three verdicts.
Safe to Delete
These files can be removed without any risk. Your system will continue working perfectly. They're typically caches, temp files, or leftover installers.
347 filesUse Caution
These files can be deleted, but there are trade-offs — you may lose settings, need to re-download data, or experience temporary slowdowns.
41 filesDo Not Delete
Deleting these files will break your operating system, corrupt your data, or cause apps to stop working entirely. Leave them alone.
11 filesPopular Files by Operating System
Quick reference for the most common files people want to delete.
Windows
| File | Verdict | Space |
|---|---|---|
| Windows.old | Safe | 10–30 GB |
| %temp% | Safe | 500 MB–5 GB |
| hiberfil.sys | Caution | 2–16 GB |
| WinSxS | Danger | 5–15 GB |
macOS
| File | Verdict | Space |
|---|---|---|
| Library/Caches | Safe | 2–20 GB |
| .DS_Store | Safe | < 1 MB |
| sleepimage | Caution | 8–64 GB |
Android
| File | Verdict | Space |
|---|---|---|
| .thumbnails | Safe | 500 MB–5 GB |
| WhatsApp Databases | Caution | 1–10 GB |
| LOST.DIR | Caution | Varies |
Developer
| File | Verdict | Space |
|---|---|---|
| node_modules | Safe | 500 MB–2 GB |
| ext4.vhdx | Danger | 10–250 GB |
| .git | Danger | 10 MB–5 GB |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about deleting files and freeing up storage.
The biggest space savers on Windows are Windows.old (10–30 GB), the Temp folder (500 MB–5 GB), Delivery Optimization files (1–15 GB), and browser cache (500 MB–5 GB). All of these can be safely deleted without affecting your system. Use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool for the safest approach.
Yes, cache files are almost always safe to delete. They're temporary copies that apps create to load faster. After deleting them, apps will simply rebuild the cache. This includes browser cache, app cache on Android, Library/Caches on Mac, and the Windows Prefetch folder.
Never delete System32 (breaks Windows entirely), pagefile.sys (causes crashes and out-of-memory errors), WinSxS (corrupts Windows updates), the .git folder (destroys your code history), or ext4.vhdx (wipes all Docker containers and databases).
On Android, delete the .thumbnails folder, clear app caches in Settings, and remove old WhatsApp backup databases from the WhatsApp/Databases folder. On iPhone, offload unused apps, delete old iOS update files through Settings > General > iPhone Storage, and clear Safari's website data.
Deleting temporary files can slightly improve performance by freeing up disk space, but the speed boost is usually minimal on modern computers with SSDs. The real benefit is reclaiming storage. However, deleting certain cache files like Prefetch can actually slow your PC down temporarily, since Windows needs to rebuild its app launch optimizations.