How To Clear Your Mac Cache (and Stop The Occasional Crashes For Good)

What is cache connected my Mac?

Cache is impermanent information your Mac stores to velocity up browsing and app performance. Safari mightiness prevention images and scripts truthful pages load fast, while Chrome tin support cached copies of tract assets, and your favourite apps shop logs and workspace files. 

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Over time, cache information tin go outdated aliases corrupted, slowing down your Mac. Clearing cache will region these impermanent files -- not your bookmarks, messages, photos, documents, aliases passwords -- and tin springiness you a awesome capacity boost.

Is cache nan aforesaid arsenic cookies?

No. They're different.

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Cache information is locally saved files (images, scripts, and thumbnails) that thief webpages and apps load faster, while cookies shop mini bits of individual data, for illustration your preferences and shopping carts. Clearing cache removes impermanent files stored connected your Mac, but clearing cookies will log you retired of sites, services, and apps. Your passwords and bookmarks will still beryllium disposable to use.

How often should I clear nan cache connected my Mac?

Here's my routine, which I recommend:

• Browser cache: erstwhile a month, aliases erstwhile pages enactment slow aliases glitchy.
• App caches: each fewer months, particularly for video aliases photograph editors aliases ample apps.
• System restart: each day, ideally, aliases each week astatine nan very least.
• When retention is low: usage System Settings > General > Storage to region unwanted apps and trim clutter.

Can I clear cache successful different browsers aliases apps connected Mac?

Yes. For example, successful Firefox, you tin spell to Settings > Privacy and Security and click Clear Data nether Cookies and Site Data. In Microsoft Edge, unfastened nan three-dot menu, spell to Settings > Privacy, search, and services, and prime Choose what to clear nether Clear browsing data. Other apps whitethorn vary, truthful look for a "clear cache" setting, aliases delete cache files manually successful ~/Library/Caches.

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But I'd debar nan manual way if you're inexperienced. You decidedly shouldn't touch thing if you're unsure.

Should I usage cleaner apps to clear cache connected my Mac?

Honestly? No. You tin usage nan steps supra to clear your cache and debar installing janky third-party package that mightiness accidentally delete important files. If you do want to usage a cleaner app, conscionable make judge it's reputable and transparent astir what it's deleting.

How to cheque your Mac's retention

You tin spot app sizes, strategy data, and recommendations correct successful Settings:

1. Go to System Settings.
2. Click General.
3. Select Storage.
4. Wait for nan breakdown to appear.
5. Select Applications to position your installed apps by size.

What is DNS cache connected my Mac and really do I clear it?

A DNS cache connected your Mac is simply a mini database of website lookups your machine saves locally truthful that pages will load faster nan adjacent clip you sojourn them. However, things happen. For example, if a tract changes servers, your web settings go corrupted, aliases thing tries to redirect you incorrectly, aged DNS entries tin origin pages to load slowly, load nan incorrect content, aliases not load astatine all.

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In those instances, clearing your DNS cache is simply a speedy hole to each these problems. And pinch MacOS 26, it's easy to do. 

Just unfastened nan Terminal app, and type:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache;sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Now property Enter. 

The DNS cache will beryllium wiped instantly, forcing your strategy to fetch new, meticulous accusation nan adjacent clip you browse.