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What is CloudKit cache on Mac?

CloudKit cache sits at ~/Library/Caches/CloudKit. macOS uses it for iCloud sync cache and metadata. On an active Mac it typically holds 500 MB – 10 GB.

Last updated: 2 min read

File Location
~/Library/Caches/CloudKit
What Gets Cleaned
iCloud sync cache and metadata
Space you get back
500 MB – 10 GB
Comes back by itself
On the next iCloud sync

The part most guides leave out

This is a copy of data that already lives in iCloud, not the only copy. Emptying it forces a re-sync — that costs bandwidth and time, not files. It grows fastest when Photos, Notes or Messages in iCloud are running on several devices at once.

What happens if you delete it

Nothing here is the only copy. macOS puts it back on its own.

What you actually lose: Offline copies, until they sync again

Full guide: CloudKit cache →

See it working

OptiClear — Scan overview — every category on one screen
Scan overview — every category on one screen
OptiClear — Large and aging files, ranked by what they cost you
Large and aging files, ranked by what they cost you
OptiClear — Developer caches: Xcode, npm, Docker, package managers
Developer caches: Xcode, npm, Docker, package managers

Let OptiClear find these files

Doing this by hand is slow and easy to get wrong. OptiClear scans your Mac, lists every related file with its size, and moves only what you select to the Trash, so you can still restore it. Scanning is free; cleaning requires OptiClear Pro.

View on the Mac App Store How OptiClear works

Frequently asked questions

Why is CloudKit cache so large?
It grows with use and macOS puts no ceiling on it. 500 MB – 10 GB is normal on a Mac that has been in service a while — the detail guide breaks down what fills it.
Is it safe to delete CloudKit cache?
Yes, once the apps using it are quit. It holds derived data, not originals, so macOS rebuilds whatever it still needs.

Related cleanup guides