Developer IDEs

Clear PyCharm Cache on Mac

Clearing the PyCharm cache is safe, and the cleanest way is inside the app: File > Invalidate Caches, then restart. It usually frees space or fixes indexing problems, and it does not touch your projects.

Last updated: October 31, 20262 min read

Clear the PyCharm cache without guessing

PyCharm data usually takes 1 GB – 20 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.

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Application: PyCharm
Typical data size: 1 GB – 20 GB
Category: Developer IDEs
File Location: ~/Library/Caches/JetBrains

Clear it from inside PyCharm first

The safest way is the option built into the app: File > Invalidate Caches, then restart; this clears only the current version's caches, not folders left by older releases or by other JetBrains IDEs.

PyCharm cache folders you can clear

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

~/Library/Caches/JetBrains Cache · indexes and caches of JetBrains IDEs, one subfolder per product and version Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Saved Application State/com.jetbrains.pycharm.savedState Window state · window positions from the last session Yes, rebuilt automatically

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

What the PyCharm cache holds and when to clear it

Specific to PyCharm

The cache folder at ~/Library/Caches/JetBrains holds indexes that the app builds so code completion and search stay quick. The app rebuilds these automatically, and the folder is shared with other JetBrains IDEs, so clearing only affects the current version. Clearing helps when indexing keeps running again and again, when code completion gives wrong results, or when old version folders pile up. The app's data typically takes 1 GB – 20 GB.

What happens after you clear the PyCharm cache

The first start afterwards takes longer, because the app rebuilds its indexes, and large projects may index for a while. Your projects keep their own folders and the .idea folder inside each one, so nothing you wrote is lost. Settings, plugins and any Backup and Sync data are stored outside the cache and stay in place. Python virtual environments inside your projects are not removed either.

Save your work and commit any changes in your projects first.Open PyCharm and choose File > Invalidate Caches.Restart the app when prompted, then wait for indexing to finish.Check that code completion and search behave as you expect.

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Account and sync: Paid JetBrains IDEs are activated with a JetBrains Account; settings can also be synced to that account with Backup and Sync.

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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 I have to sign in to my JetBrains Account again?

Your JetBrains Account and Backup and Sync settings are kept outside the cache, so clearing it should not change them.

Do older PyCharm version folders get removed too?

No, that command only clears the current version. Older PyCharm folders stay until you remove them separately after quitting the app.