When browsing the internet or using applications on a Mac, your device stores two key types of data: cache and cookies.
Caches are temporary files like images, scripts, and code that help websites and apps load faster by saving frequently accessed data locally on your device.
Cookies, on the other hand, are small text files created by websites to store user-specific information like login credentials, preferences, and browsing behavior.
These are amazing features that enhance user experience, however, they can accumulate over time and become a problem.
To maintain the best performance, and improve privacy and security, you need to frequently clear cache files on your Mac. Overloaded cache files can slow down your Mac or cause outdated content to display on websites. Here’s how to clear cache on Mac.
Clearing Mac Cache and Cookies on Safari
1. Start by opening the Safari browser on your Mac.
2. Click the top menu bar on Safari.
3. Select Preferences from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Preferences window, click on the Privacy tab. This tab contains options related to cache and cookie management.
5. Under the Privacy tab, find the Remove stored data section.
6. Click on the Details button to view cached data.
7. To clear the cache, select Remove All.
8. For a quicker method, hold down the Option key while clicking on Safari in the top menu bar.
9. This will reveal the Clear History option. Click on it and choose how far back you want to clear your history. This action also clears the cache.
10 After clicking Remove All, Safari will ask for confirmation. Click Remove Now to confirm.
11. For the changes to take effect, restart Safari after clearing the cache.
Clearing Mac Cache and Cookies on Chrome
1. Start by opening the Google Chrome browser on your Mac.
2. Click the top menu bar on Chrome and select Settings
3. From the dropdown menu, select More Tools > Clear browsing data.
4. In the Clear browsing data window, select the time range for which you want to clear data.
5. Check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
6. Click on the Clear data button to confirm the deletion.
7. After clearing the cache, close and restart Chrome to ensure the changes take effect.
Clearing Mac Cache and Cookies on Firefox
1. Start by opening the Firefox browser on your Mac.
2. Click on the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of the browser window.
3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Settings window, click on the Privacy & Security tab located on the left side.
5. Scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section.
6. In the dialog box that opens, ensure Cached Web Content is checked. You can also choose to clear cookies if desired.
7. Click Clear Now to confirm.
Clearing System Cache on Mac
1. Start by opening Finder on your Mac.
2. In the Finder menu, click Go > Go to Folder.
3. Type ~/Library/Caches into the text box and press Enter.
4. This will take you to the folder where all your Mac’s cache files are stored, including the app files.
5. Click on Command + A to highlight all the files
6. From the top Menu bar, click Edit, the click Select All
Clearing App Cache on Mac
1. Start by opening Finder on your Mac.
2. In the Finder menu, click Go > Go to Folder.
3. Type ~/Library/Caches into the text box and press Enter.
4. This will take you to the folder where app cache files are stored.
5. Inside the Caches folder, you’ll find subfolders for various apps installed on your Mac.
6. Identify the folder of the app whose cache you want to clear.
7. Open the specific app folder and delete its contents.
8. Be cautious not to delete critical files; only remove temporary cache files.
9. After deleting cache files, right-click on the Trash icon in your Dock and select Empty Trash to permanently remove them from your system.
10 . Relaunch the app whose cache you cleared to ensure it functions properly with fresh data.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to periodically clear browser and app cache to free up storage space, resolve glitches, and ensure updated content is displayed. Also ensure that cookie policies are transparent, concise, and easily accessible before you accept them.
