macOS Metal Shader Cache (~/Library/Caches/com.apple.metal)

Bottom Line: It is 100% safe to delete com.apple.metal. Deleting it clears cached graphics shaders. Games and 3D apps will recompile shaders on next launch.

What is the com.apple.metal Folder?

Located at ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.metal on macOS, Apple’s Metal graphics API stores compiled GPU shader binaries for games, Final Cut Pro, Blender, and system UI animations.

Can You Delete Metal Shader Cache?

✅ Yes, safe to delete.

• Recompiles automatically: Games may experience a slight initial loading pause while recompiling shaders.

How to Clean Up Metal Cache

rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.metal/*