How to clear Spotify cache on Mac
It’s worth clearing Spotify cache on Mac when the app misbehaves or your Mac runs short of space. The cache holds parts of songs and podcasts so they play without lagging, while music you downloaded for offline listening is stored separately and stays. This guide also shows how to move the cache to another disk.
- 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 Spotify cache on Mac
- Open Spotify, click your profile picture at the top and choose Settings.
- Scroll down to Storage.
- Click Clear cache.
Clearing the cache helps when Spotify misbehaves or your Mac runs short of space. Spotify recommends keeping at least 1 GB free for it.
Move the cache to another disk
In the same Storage section, Change location lets you keep the cache in another folder, for example on an external drive that’s always connected. Spotify then stops filling your startup disk.
Downloads are not cache
Albums, playlists and podcasts you downloaded to listen offline are stored separately, and clearing the cache keeps them. If they take too much space, remove the ones you no longer need:
- Open Your Library.
- Open the downloaded album, playlist or podcast.
- Click the green download arrow to remove the download.
Spotify keeps downloads only while you go online at least once every 30 days.
With MacWashing, it’s one click
System Junk in MacWashing finds the caches of Spotify and your other apps, shows how much each takes and clears them in one go. Anything debatable stays unchecked until you decide.
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 Spotify cache on Mac delete my downloaded songs?
No. Downloads are stored apart from the cache, and Clear cache leaves them in place. To remove downloads, use the green download arrow on the album or playlist.
Can I limit the size of the Spotify cache?
Spotify’s help for the desktop app describes no size limit. You can clear the cache or move it to another disk with Change location.
Why does the Spotify cache fill up again?
Spotify stores parts of everything you play so it starts quickly and doesn’t stutter. The more you listen, the faster the cache grows back.