Developer IDEs

Clear Android Studio Cache on Mac

To clear the Android Studio cache, open File > Invalidate Caches inside the app and restart when asked. This clears the IDE's own cache, but it does not remove SDK packages, emulator images or the Gradle cache.

Last updated: November 1, 20263 min read

Clear the Android Studio cache without guessing

Android Studio data usually takes 10 GB – 80 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.

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Free scan · No account · Nothing is deleted without your OK · Moves to the Trash first · macOS 14+

Application: Android Studio
Typical data size: 10 GB – 80 GB
Category: Developer IDEs
File Location: ~/Library/Android/sdk

Clear it from inside Android Studio first

The safest way is the option built into the app: File > Invalidate Caches, then restart; Build > Clean Project cleans only the current project. Neither removes SDK packages, emulator images or the Gradle cache in ~/.gradle.

Android Studio cache folders you can clear

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

~/.gradle/caches Cache · Gradle dependency and build caches shared by all Gradle projects Yes, rebuilt automatically~/.gradle/wrapper/dists Cache · Gradle versions downloaded by project wrappers Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Caches/Google Cache · Android Studio caches in AndroidStudio version folders Yes, rebuilt automatically

Locations are the standard macOS folders Android Studio uses; some appear only after you use the matching feature.

What the Android Studio cache holds and when clearing helps

Specific to Android Studio

The cache is rebuildable working data that the app creates for itself, so clearing it does not remove your projects. Clearing it helps when Gradle sync is slow or fails oddly, or when the emulator will not boot a device. Most of the space the app takes up is elsewhere, in the SDK, emulator images and Gradle folders, and this step does not shrink those. Do not remove anything by hand unless you have confirmed that it is cache and not your own data.

What changes after you clear the Android Studio cache

After you clear the cache and restart, the app rebuilds it automatically as you work, so you do not need to recreate anything by hand. The SDK packages, emulator images and Gradle cache stay where they are. Your project files also stay where you saved them. If Gradle sync still fails after that, this step has not fixed the cause, and you should look at the problem separately.

Save your open files and stop any running builds or emulators.Choose File > Invalidate Caches while the app is still open.Restart the app when it asks, then reopen your project to check sync.

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Account and sync: A Google account is optional and only used for sign-in features such as Firebase or AI assistance inside the IDE.

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Frequently asked questions

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

Will my emulator devices still work after this?

Yes, the Android Virtual Devices and their disk images are not part of the cache, so this step leaves them as they are. If an emulator still will not boot, the problem needs a separate check.

Why is my disk still full after clearing the cache?

Most of the space sits in the SDK, emulator system images and Gradle folders, which the in-app clear does not touch. Those folders need their own decisions, and this step does not change them.