A Guide On How To Delete Temporary Files Mac Has?
Removing temporary files is vital to achieving optimal performance on a computer or any other digital device. Stacking up temporary and junk files consumes space and slowdowns your Mac which results in a loss of productivity. So here we have come up with a detailed guide on how to delete temporary files Mac has and get more space on storage media.
While temporary files, often known as cache files, are good for computers, they can sometimes lead to functional and performance issues. Deleting them regularly helps improve system functions.
If you are wondering how to delete temporary files Mac has to improve the overall performance, here are several workaround methods you can try.
What Are Temporary Files?
Temporary files, also called junk, cache, or log files, are the files that are generated as a result of your activity on the computer. The volume of these files depends upon the number of websites you visit or the apps you used off late.
These files allow your computer to work faster and prevent internet usage. When you visit a website, your system generates logs or cache files that store info on the pages you visit. On your subsequent visit to the same website, the system uses these log files to view info.
This speeds up the app performance or website downloads significantly. Less internet data is used as only the updated information is re-downloaded from the web. So, the cache files are often useful as they facilitate a faster user experience.
Where to Find Cache Files on Mac?
Almost all types of temporary files get stored in the Caches folder on Mac. To locate these files, you need to close or quit all the active apps on the computer. After closing all the apps, launch the Finder window from the menu bar. Click Go, select Go to Folder, and type in ~/Library/Caches/.
In the Caches window that appears, select the cache files you wish to clear from your Mac. Move them to the Trash. Don’t forget to empty the Trash folder to permanently remove these files and claim storage space on the hard drive.
Before you delete, rename a file in Linux, make sure you know what you are removing. If you delete any file accidentally, you don’t have to worry, as it will not affect your experience or won’t harm your computer in any way. Visiting the websites or opening apps will build up the cache again.
Users normally clear temporary files once without realizing that these files keep growing with every single use of apps or websites. Removing these files regularly is important to ensure the smooth performance of your computer.
What About Duplicate Apps and Files?
In order to make more space on Mac, you must delete the duplicate files stored on the device. Locating duplicates manually is a challenge as you need to locate the files, particularly images, in every individual folder.
To simplify your task, consider using professional duplicate finder tools as they are programmed to find apps, images, and other files on Mac. Some of the best ones in 2025 can make your task easy by locating and deleting duplicates automatically.
Using a professional tool can save you time and effort that you otherwise spend on locating duplicates. However, you must back up your data so that you can restore any files that are deleted accidentally from the Mac.
Apart from this, you will also like to know how to fix 0x0 error code in Windows. We have a detailed guide on it so you can do it easily.
How to Clear Browser Cache on Mac?
Clearing the browser cache is another method you should be aware of when learning how to delete temporary files Mac has. The reason is that you might be using Safari or Chrome or both on Mac. If you are using multiple browsers, you need to remove cache files from each.
Removing the cache in Safari is easy. Open Safari, tap on the Safari tab displayed in the menu bar and click Preferences. Next, click on the Privacy tab and select Manage Website Data. Tap on Remove All and then confirm and click the Remove Now button.
To remove the cache in Chrome, click on the three dots displayed in blue in the upper right corner of the browser window. Click on the More tools option and then tap Clear Browsing Data. Now tick marks the checkbox given with Cached images and files, and click Clear Data.
If you are using Firefox on Mac, open the browser and go to Preferences. Next, go to Privacy and Security settings. Scroll down to locate the History heading and select the items you need to remove, such as Browsing & Download History, Active Logins, Cookies, Cache, and Form & Search History. After you select the items, click OK to clear the Firefox cache.
The Conclusion
These are some of the methods that you can use to remove temporary files from your computer. Apart from the system cache or browser cache, there are operating system update files that you may not require, so deleting them will also help you claim space on storage media.
Keep in mind that cleaning your computer is not a one-time task. You need to repeat these processes frequently to ensure smooth performance for longer.
