Is It Safe to Delete Library/Caches?

What is Library/Caches?

The ~/Library/Caches folder is a hidden directory on macOS where your applications store temporary data. This data helps apps load faster the next time you open them. For example, Spotify might cache album art-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache)-cache), and Safari might cache website images.

Why Does It Exist?

Caching is a standard performance optimization technique. By saving frequently accessed files (like images, scripts, or video fragments) to your local hard drive, your Mac doesn’t have to download or generate them again, resulting in a significantly faster and smoother user experience.

Can You Delete It?

Yes, it is entirely safe to delete the contents of the Library/Caches folder.

If your Mac is critically low on storage (often categorized under “System Data” in the storage manager), clearing this folder is one of the fastest ways to reclaim gigabytes of space.

How to Delete It

1. Open Finder.
2. Press Cmd + Shift + G to open the “Go to Folder” prompt.
3. Type ~/Library/Caches and press Enter.
4. Press Cmd + A to select all files and folders.
5. Drag them to the Trash (or press Cmd + Delete).
6. Empty the Trash to officially reclaim the storage.

(Note: Do not delete the actual Caches folder itself, just the contents inside of it.)

What Happens If You Delete It?

You will instantly gain a significant amount of free storage space. The first time you open your applications after clearing the cache, they might take a few extra seconds to load as they rebuild their necessary temporary files. Over time, the folder will slowly fill up again as you use your Mac.

Bottom Line

Deleting the contents of Library/Caches is a safe, effective, and temporary solution to quickly free up storage space on a full Mac hard drive.