How to clear Firefox cache on Mac
You can clear Firefox cache on Mac and keep your bookmarks, passwords and sign-ins: the cache holds only copies of pages, images and scripts Firefox keeps to open sites faster. Clearing it frees space and fixes sites that show a stale page. This guide explains what each box deletes, how to clear one site’s data and which folder never to delete.
- Open MacWashing and choose System Junk in the sidebar.
- Click Start Scan.
- Look through what it found and click Clean. Anything debatable stays unchecked.
Free trial · macOS 14 or later
How to clear Firefox cache on Mac
- In Firefox, choose History › Clear Recent History in the menu bar, or press Shift-Command-Delete.
- In the time range menu, choose Everything.
- Check Temporary cached files and pages and uncheck the rest, above all Cookies and site data.
- Click Clear.
The same window opens from Firefox’s Settings › Privacy & Security, but the names there change between versions. The History menu works the same in all current versions.
What each box deletes
- Temporary cached files and pages: copies of pages and images. Sites open a little slower the first time afterwards.
- Cookies and site data: what sites store to remember you. Check it and you’re signed out of sites.
- Browsing & download history: the pages you visited and the list of downloads. The downloaded files stay.
Clear data for one site
- Open the site in Firefox.
- Click the padlock to the left of the address.
- Choose Clear cookies and site data and confirm.
This removes the site’s cookies too, so you’re signed out of it and the site may forget its settings or your shopping cart.
What not to delete
Firefox keeps its cache apart from your data, in ~/Library/Caches/Firefox. Your bookmarks, passwords, history and extensions live in the profile, ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles. Never delete the profile folder to clear the cache: the window above does it safely.
With MacWashing, it’s one click
System Junk in MacWashing clears Firefox’s cache together with the caches of your other apps, in one go. It clears caches only: your bookmarks, history, passwords and sign-ins stay.
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 Firefox cache sign me out of websites?
No, if only Temporary cached files and pages is checked. Cookies stay, so you stay signed in.
Will I lose bookmarks or saved passwords?
No. They are kept in your Firefox profile, and the cache box doesn’t touch it.
Why does Firefox’s cache grow back?
Firefox saves parts of every site you open, so the cache refills as you browse. That’s normal. Clear it when a site misbehaves or when you need space.