Is it wise to clear system cache?

It's essential to clean it regularly, otherwise it will keep getting slow and overloaded with data

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There is zero need to clear caches unless you have a cache problem. Further there is zero benefit, as doing so will actually slow your Mac down. Why? Because your Mac is just going to recreate them.

So again, unless you specifically have a cache problem there is no need to clear any caches at all.

tygb wrote:

I do not go with google sites but with conversation with senior advisors in support always suggest to clean user library caches and so its not a question to be raised , your method might be different to clear caches and my thought is to clear the caches .

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There is no reason to periodically clean caches whether they be system or user.

There is nothing that accumulates or grows out of control in the user caches unless there is a problem. Preventative cleaning merely slows down your Mac until the caches are rebuilt. If something causes a particular cache to become corrupt or otherwise problematic, then it might be advisable to remove that particular cache. The others do not need to be removed. Corrupt caches do not occur out of happenstance. They are caused by something interfering with the normal behavior of the OS. You must fix that problem, not repeatedly hide it month-to-month.

That being said, in my 30+ years of using a Mac, I have never needed to clear either the System caches or the user caches, but, as John Galt noted, I have only ever cleaned the System caches when doing a Safe Boot, which I have never done out of necessity, but only for answering questions about it here.

Then you had a corrupted cache. That's not the point. The question is about routinely trashing caches:

There is zero need to clear caches unless you have a cache problem. Further there is zero benefit, as doing so will actually slow your Mac down. Why? Because your Mac is just going to recreate them.

So again, unless you specifically have a cache problem there is no need to clear any caches at all.

Oh ! good to hear cheers , some of them have different view on deleting caches from user library & don't try to convince them , do what you feel and deleting caches increased the system speed , so you can .

🙂😁 .

do what you feel and deleting caches increased the system speed , so you can .

Just because you wish to do it - and, of course, you can since it is your computer - it does not mean that you should recommend it. Or, at least, add an "at your own risk" clause. If you are an advanced computer user or programmer and/or support professional, maybe. If you are not, you should not make changes in these folders unless directed by one. Or you might mess up more than you think you are fixing. Today's operating systems are complex entities which are best left to function on their own - if Apple thought it necessary for the user to "clean up", they would be publishing instructions for the average user.

I've noticed since upgrading from El Capitan to Sierra that 90% of the time, when I open a Finder window, it takes about 2 minutes to catalog the files so I sit there with an empty Finder window with the "waiting" icon on the bottom right twirling around.

Seems like it's caching the folder contents because when I go back it's instant..

Is there a way to get the system to catalog so it doesn't happen ?

I did an update-in-place for this, not fresh so as to keep all the apps/home folder etc.

Click on go to go folder & type ~/Library clear the contents of caches folder to trash in a month or two , restart & empty the trash .

But if you type /Library go to caches folder , the contents are removed in rarest condition if major issues are there , but it is avoided .

The reason you are not able to type /Library in go to go folder is you have to click on drop down arrows clear it then type whatever path you need may be ~/Library

Is it wise to clear system cache?

To delete system cache files perform a "Safe Boot": Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support.

Then, restart your Mac normally.

It's essential to clean it regularly, otherwise it will keep getting slow and overloaded with data.

No. Cache files exist to increase performance and should not be deleted arbitrarily. Other than a very rare "Safe Boot" I have never, ever "cleaned" cache files on any of my Macs, ever. They are not slow by any stretch of the imagination. "Very rare" might have been once or twice in the past several years.

Safe mode is recommended but in user library it is always recommended to delete cache contents in a month or two to increase the performance .

but in user library it is always recommended to delete cache contents in a month or two to increase the performance .

Who recommends it?

Please post a link to the recommendation.

I have never cleared system caches - ever (more than 20 years). I do clear my browser of cookies, caches, etc. That's it. So far - I guess I've been fortunate - I have never needed to do a Safe Boot either. I do keep my hard drive and OS clean - no questionable downloads, etc.

I do not go with google sites but with conversation with senior advisors in support always suggest to clean user library caches and so its not a question to be raised , your method might be different to clear caches and my thought is to clear the caches .

If the recommendation is from Apple, then post a link to the kb article please. We would all like to see it - personally, I have never heard that with newer OS versions. It used to be recommended years ago, but the OS and its behavior have changed since then.

its not a question to be raised

You do not get to make that decision.

There is no article formed , but for sure caches from user library are to be deleted may if they were previous versions or the Latest Mac OS Sierra .

Once again, says WHO?