AI & Productivity

Clear Perplexity Cache on Mac

Clear the Perplexity cache when the app is slow or you need space back, and use the app's own option first if it has one. Your threads and collections stay in your account, so clearing the local cache does not remove them.

Last updated: October 31, 20262 min read

Clear the Perplexity cache without guessing

Perplexity data usually takes 100 MB – 1 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: Perplexity
Typical data size: 100 MB – 1 GB
Category: AI & Productivity
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/Perplexity

Perplexity cache folders you can clear

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

~/Library/Application Support/Perplexity App data · local app data and cache Yes, rebuilt automatically

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

What the Perplexity cache holds

Specific to Perplexity

The cache sits in the app's Application Support folder, next to local settings and other app data. Clearing it helps when the app starts slowly, behaves oddly after an update, or when you need the space back, which for this kind of data is usually 100 MB – 1 GB. Search history is not kept only on this Mac, so the local files are mainly cache and settings that can be rebuilt.

What happens after you clear the Perplexity cache

The app rebuilds the cache the next time you open it, so the first launch and early searches may feel slower. You may need to sign in again, but your search threads and collections are stored in your Perplexity account and will still be there. Your Pro subscription is tied to your account, so it is unaffected.

Use the app's own cache option in Settings, if it offers one.Quit the app completely before removing any cache files.Go to Folder in Finder and find the Perplexity folder in Application Support.Move only the cache items to the Trash, not the whole folder.

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Account and sync: Search threads and collections are stored in your Perplexity account when you are signed in.

Try it without risk

Download and scan for freeSee every Perplexity file and its size. No account needed.
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Keep it or cancelCancel in your App Store settings at least 24 hours before the trial ends and you won't be charged.

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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.

Can I undo clearing the cache?

Partly. Items you move to the Trash can be restored until the Trash is emptied, so keep them there until the app works normally.

Will the app remember my searches after clearing?

Yes, once you are signed in. Search threads and collections are kept in your account, not only in the local cache.