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Claude desktop app cache on Mac: safe to clear?

Safe to deleteRegenerated automatically; Thermo deletes it outright.

Quit first: Claude

Where it is

  • ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/Cache
  • ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/Code Cache
  • ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/GPUCache
  • ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/DawnGraphiteCache
  • ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/DawnWebGPUCache
  • ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/logs
  • ~/Library/Caches/com.anthropic.claudefordesktop
  • ~/Library/Caches/com.anthropic.claudefordesktop.ShipIt
  • ~/Library/Logs/Claude

What it is

The Claude desktop app for macOS is built on Electron, so it carries the same caches as a Chromium browser: an HTTP cache, a compiled-JavaScript code cache, GPU and WebGPU shader caches, and log folders. Its auto-updater (ShipIt) also keeps downloaded update files in ~/Library/Caches.

Why it gets so big

Web caches grow as you use the app, updater leftovers can stay behind after an update is installed, and logs accumulate over months of use.

Is it safe to delete?

Yes. Everything here is regenerated: the app re-downloads assets and recompiles shaders the next time it opens, so the first launch may be a little slower. Your conversations are stored in your Anthropic account, not in these folders. Quit Claude first so it isn't writing to its cache while you clear it.

Tip

If the app misbehaves after an update, clearing these caches is also a reasonable first troubleshooting step.

See how much space it uses

du -sh "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Claude/Cache" "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Claude/Code Cache" "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Claude/GPUCache" "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Claude/DawnGraphiteCache" "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Claude/DawnWebGPUCache" "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Claude/logs" "$HOME/Library/Caches/com.anthropic.claudefordesktop" "$HOME/Library/Caches/com.anthropic.claudefordesktop.ShipIt" "$HOME/Library/Logs/Claude" 2>/dev/null

Delete it by hand

Run in Terminal. Deleting cannot be undone, so check the paths first.

rm -rf "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Claude/Cache"/*
rm -rf "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Claude/Code Cache"/*
rm -rf "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Claude/GPUCache"/*
rm -rf "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Claude/DawnGraphiteCache"/*
rm -rf "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Claude/DawnWebGPUCache"/*
rm -rf "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Claude/logs"/*
rm -rf "$HOME/Library/Caches/com.anthropic.claudefordesktop"/*
rm -rf "$HOME/Library/Caches/com.anthropic.claudefordesktop.ShipIt"/*
rm -rf "$HOME/Library/Logs/Claude"/*

Related locations

All cleanup guides →