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How to clear Discord cache on Mac

It makes sense to clear Discord cache on Mac when the app freezes on the loading screen or takes too much space: Discord saves copies of the images, videos and GIFs you scroll past, and on busy servers the cache grows quickly. The desktop app has no button for it, so this guide shows which folders are cache and which to leave alone. Your messages and servers are stored by Discord, not on your Mac, so they stay.

MacWashing, System Junk: Xcode junk, user caches, installers and logs found, 22.83 GB ready to be cleaned
  1. Open MacWashing and choose System Junk in the sidebar.
  2. Click Start Scan.
  3. Look through what it found and click Clean. Anything debatable stays unchecked.
Download MacWashingHow it works

Free trial · macOS 14 or later

When to clear Discord cache

Discord’s troubleshooting guide suggests clearing the cache when the app freezes on the loading screen. It also frees space: Discord saves copies of the images, videos and GIFs you scroll past so they load faster next time, and on busy servers the cache grows quickly.

How to clear Discord cache on Mac

  1. Quit Discord with Command-Q. Closing its window isn’t enough. If Discord still shows in Activity Monitor, quit it there.
  2. In Finder, choose Go › Go to Folder (Shift-Command-G), type ~/Library/Application Support/discord and press Return.
The Go to Folder panel with ~/Library/Application Support/discord typed
  1. Move the Cache, Code Cache and GPUCache folders to the Trash. If there are DawnGraphiteCache and DawnWebGPUCache folders, they are caches too.
Discord’s folder with Cache, Code Cache and GPUCache selected and «Move to Trash»
  1. Empty the Trash and open Discord. The first start is a little slower while it rebuilds the cache.
The Trash window in Finder with the Empty button

What not to delete

  • The other folders in discord: they hold your sign-in and the app’s local settings.
  • The whole discord folder, unless you’re fixing a broken install or update as Discord’s guide describes. After that you sign in again and Discord sets itself up from scratch.
  • Anything while Discord is running: quit it first.

To remove Discord with everything it keeps on the Mac, see how to uninstall Discord on Mac.

With MacWashing, it’s one click

MacWashing, System Junk: Xcode junk, user caches, installers and logs found, 22.83 GB ready to be cleaned

System Junk in MacWashing finds the caches of Discord and your other apps, including those hidden inside app data, shows how much each takes and clears them in one go. Anything debatable stays unchecked until you decide.

Download MacWashingHow it works

Free trial · macOS 14 or later

Questions and answers

Will MacWashing delete my own files when it cleans?

No. It removes only what it can match to a known app or a known kind of junk, in places apps leave files; macOS and Apple’s files are never touched. Anything debatable is marked and stays unchecked until you decide.

What about apps that are open?

If an open app holds files being cleaned, MacWashing waits for it to quit or quits it at your request, and opens it again afterwards.

Is it free?

Yes, within the free trial: System Junk and the Uninstaller free up to 25 GB in total, with no account or card needed.

Will clearing Discord cache on Mac delete my messages?

No. Messages, servers and direct messages are stored by Discord. The cache holds only copies of images, videos and other files the app has already shown you.

Will I have to sign in to Discord again?

Not if you delete only the cache folders. Deleting the whole discord folder signs you out.

Why does the Discord cache grow back so fast?

Discord caches everything it shows you, so a few days in active servers refill it. Clear it when you need the space or when the app misbehaves.