How to clear VS Code cache on Mac

Is it safe to clear VS Code cache?

Yes. The cache holds files VS Code can create again: compiled code, web content of its windows and graphics data. VS Code has no command that clears it, so you delete the folders by hand. The first start afterwards is a little slower.

Your projects are not affected: VS Code opens folders where they are and doesn’t keep your code.

Which folders are cache

Most of the cache is inside ~/Library/Application Support/Code, next to your settings:

• Cache and Code Cache — web content and compiled scripts of VS Code’s windows.
• CachedData — compiled code VS Code keeps to start faster.
• GPUCache — graphics data.
• ~/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.VSCode — the app’s folder in the usual Caches folder.

How to clear VS Code cache

1. Quit VS Code: choose Code › Quit Visual Studio Code (Command-Q).
2. In Finder, choose Go › Go to Folder (Shift-Command-G), type ~/Library/Application Support/Code and press Return.

3. Select the Cache, CachedData, Code Cache and GPUCache folders and move them to the Trash.

4. Open ~/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.VSCode the same way, select everything inside and move it to the Trash.

5. Open VS Code, check that it works, then empty the Trash.

What not to delete

• User in ~/Library/Application Support/Code — your settings, keyboard shortcuts, snippets and local file history.
• Backups next to it — changes of files you haven’t saved yet.
• ~/.vscode — your installed extensions.
• The whole Code folder: deleting it resets VS Code to a fresh install.

Other apps keep caches too: see how to clear cache on Mac.