Cloud Storage

Clear Dropbox Cache on Mac

Clearing the cache removes the app's support data, sync state and logs, not your files. Use any cache option inside the app first, then remove leftover items only after quitting it. Your synced files stay in your Dropbox account.

Last updated: October 31, 20262 min read

Clear the Dropbox cache without guessing

Dropbox data usually takes 500 MB – 10 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: Dropbox
Typical data size: 500 MB – 10 GB
Category: Cloud Storage
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/Dropbox

Dropbox cache folders you can clear

Dropbox has no separate cache folder. Its folders hold settings and your own data, so there is nothing to clear safely by hand.

What the Dropbox cache holds

Specific to Dropbox

The cache lives in the app's support data, not in your documents. It includes app data, sync state, logs, the account link and preferences, plus File Provider data used for syncing. Your synced Dropbox folder in ~/Library/CloudStorage contains your own files, so it is not part of the cache. Clearing helps when sync stalls, when the app keeps indexing, or when online-only files still take space on the Mac.

What happens after you clear the Dropbox cache

Clearing the cache does not remove your files, and the synced folder stays where it is. Online-only files take no space on the Mac because they are stored in your account, so they remain available there. Do not delete the synced folder itself, because removing it without unlinking can take files out of the cloud. Anything you moved to the Trash can be restored until the Trash is emptied.

Use the app's own cache option first, if it offers one.Quit Dropbox before removing any of its cache items.Remove only app support and preference items, never the synced folder.Check the Trash and restore anything removed by mistake.

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Account and sync: Files are stored in your Dropbox account; online-only files are not on the Mac at all.

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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.

Will clearing the cache remove my files?

No. Only the cache-type items are removed, so the synced folder and your files are untouched.

Can I get back something I removed by accident?

Yes, if it is still in the Trash, because items there can be restored until the Trash is emptied.