Office
Clear Microsoft Word Cache on Mac
Clearing the Microsoft Word cache removes temporary files from the app's own container without uninstalling Word. Do it when Word opens slowly, shows wrong recent files, or its container has grown to several gigabytes.
Clear the Microsoft Word cache without guessing
Microsoft Word data usually takes 200 MB – 5 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.
Free scan · No account · Nothing is deleted without your OK · Moves to the Trash first · macOS 14+
OptiClear is a Mac app. Copy this page's link and open it on your Mac.
Email me the link- Application
- Microsoft Word
- Typical data size
- 200 MB – 5 GB
- Category
- Office
- File Location
~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word
Microsoft Word cache folders you can clear
Microsoft Word has no separate cache folder. Its folders hold settings and your own data, so there is nothing to clear safely by hand.
What the Microsoft Word cache holds
Specific to Microsoft Word
Word keeps caches, preferences, AutoRecovery copies and recent file lists in its own sandboxed container, which typically ranges from 200 MB – 5 GB. The cache part is temporary and rebuilds itself, so it is the sensible part to clear. Leave the AutoRecovery folder alone, because it holds copies of unsaved documents you may still need. If Word offers a clearing option, use that first.
What happens after you clear the Microsoft Word cache
Word rebuilds its cache the next time it opens, so the first launch is usually slower than normal. Your documents stay wherever you saved them, and your settings and AutoRecovery copies are not part of the cache. Sign-in and license data sit in the shared Office folder, so you normally won't need to sign in again. Your templates remain in place too.
0 of 4 done
- Account and sync
- Office is licensed through the Microsoft account that activated it; removing the app does not cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Try it without risk
- Download and scan for freeSee every Microsoft Word file and its size. No account needed.
- Clean free for 7 daysStart the 7-day free trial of the yearly plan inside the app.
- Keep it or cancelCancel in your App Store settings at least 24 hours before the trial ends and you won't be charged.
After the free trial, Pro costs $39.99 per year in your country's App Store; cancel any time.