Music & Audio

Clear Spotify Cache on Mac

To clear the Spotify cache, open Settings > Storage in the app and choose Clear cache. This empties only the streaming cache, so your offline downloads and your login stay where they are.

Last updated: October 31, 20262 min read

Clear the Spotify cache without guessing

Spotify data usually takes 1 GB – 30 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.

Scan your Mac free

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

Application: Spotify
Typical data size: 1 GB – 30 GB
Category: Music & Audio
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/Spotify

Clear it from inside Spotify first

The safest way is the option built into the app: Settings > Storage > Clear cache; this does not remove offline downloads, which have a separate Remove all downloads button.

Spotify cache folders you can clear

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

~/Library/Caches/com.spotify.client Cache · streaming and image cache Yes, rebuilt automatically

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

What the Spotify cache holds

Specific to Spotify

The streaming cache keeps recently played tracks and images so they load faster, and it is rebuilt automatically as you listen. Clearing it helps when the app uses many gigabytes even though you have few downloads, or when tracks stutter as they start. Offline downloads are different: they are music you chose to save, and they sit in a folder that holds your own data.

What happens after you clear Spotify

Your playlists and library live in your account, so they are not affected. Offline downloads stay on this Mac until you remove them with Remove all downloads. The first start afterwards may be slower while the cache rebuilds. You should not need to sign in again, because your login is kept separately. The streaming cache will grow again as you listen, and the app's data typically takes 1 GB – 30 GB.

Check which offline downloads you need before clearing anything.Open Settings, then Storage, in Spotify.Choose Clear cache, and leave Remove all downloads alone.Quit Spotify, reopen it, and expect a slower first start.

0 of 4 done

Account and sync: Playlists and your library live in your Spotify account; offline downloads stay on this Mac only and must be downloaded again on a new install.

Try it without risk

Download and scan for freeSee every Spotify 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.

Download free and scan

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.

Will my playlists disappear after clearing the cache?

No. Playlists and your library live in your Spotify account, so they stay there after clearing.

Do I need to download my offline music again?

Not after clearing the cache, since those downloads stay on this Mac. You would only need to download them again if you remove them or move to a new install.