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Clear Adobe Premiere Pro Cache on Mac

Clearing the Adobe Premiere Pro cache is the safest way to free space when the media cache has grown large. Use the app's own Media Cache option first, which removes only cache files and keeps your projects, previews and auto-saves.

Last updated: November 1, 20263 min read

Clear the Adobe Premiere Pro cache without guessing

Adobe Premiere Pro data usually takes 5 GB – 200 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.

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Application: Adobe Premiere Pro
Typical data size: 5 GB – 200 GB
Category: Video
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Common

Clear it from inside Adobe Premiere Pro first

The safest way is the option built into the app: Premiere Pro > Settings > Media Cache > Delete (cache files only; not previews, auto-saves or projects)

Adobe Premiere Pro cache folders you can clear

These folders are rebuilt automatically, so removing them does not touch your own files.

~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Common/Media Cache Files Cache · conformed audio and indexed media cache files Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Common/Media Cache Cache · media cache database Yes, rebuilt automatically

Locations are the standard macOS folders Adobe Premiere Pro uses; some appear only after you use the matching feature.

What the Adobe Premiere Pro cache holds and when clearing helps

Specific to Adobe Premiere Pro

The media cache sits in the shared Common folder that Adobe Premiere Pro uses with other Adobe video and audio apps. It holds conformed audio, indexed media files and a database that tracks them, and the folder can range from 5 GB – 200 GB depending on how much you edit. Clearing it helps when the Common folder has grown to tens of gigabytes after many projects, or when timelines lag while media is re-conformed. Your projects, auto-saves and rendered previews are kept in your project folders, so clearing the cache does not touch them.

What happens after you clear the Adobe Premiere Pro cache

The cache rebuilds automatically the next time you reopen media, so there is nothing to reinstall or reconfigure. Expect the first start and the first opening of each project to be slower while files are read again. Your Creative Cloud sign-in and licence data are kept, so you should not need to sign in again. If another Adobe app is open while you clear the cache, quit it first, because it may be using the same files.

Save your open projects in Adobe Premiere Pro before clearing anything.Open Settings > Media Cache in Adobe Premiere Pro and choose Delete.Reopen your projects and let the cache rebuild as media loads.Check the size of the Common folder in Finder to confirm the space returned.

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Account and sync: Premiere Pro runs on an Adobe ID subscription; projects stay local unless you use Team Projects or Creative Cloud storage.

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After the free trial, Pro costs $39.99 per year in your country's App Store; cancel any time.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Folders marked “Yes, rebuilt automatically” are rebuilt automatically; removing them only makes the next start slower.

Will clearing the cache affect my projects or previews?

No. Projects, auto-saves and rendered previews are kept in your project folders, separate from the media cache, so they stay where they are.

Why is Adobe Premiere Pro slow the first time I open a project?

The cache is empty, so the app has to re-conform audio and re-index media before timelines play smoothly again.