Is it safe to delete Homebrew cache?
Packages, app installers and package lists that Homebrew downloads before it installs or upgrades software.
Safe
Its owner recreates it by itself when it needs it, and nothing you made is lost.
~/
What it is
Homebrew downloads bottles, cask installers and its package lists into this folder, and keeps them after installing. Its regular cleanup removes outdated downloads and any older than 120 days, so recent ones stay. Homebrew downloads anything it needs again, and removing this folder doesn't uninstall any software.
If it's removed
Reinstalling or upgrading software downloads it again, and Homebrew downloads its package lists again the next time it runs.
How it's removed
Moved to the Trash, where you can restore it.
The free analyzer finds it and explains it. Removing it is Pro, after a review sheet that lists every move and command. It starts checked in the Cleanup checklist, except inside Documents or Desktop.
Sources
Last checked on 26 Sep 2026. Every entry is written and checked by hand; the app and the command-line tool use the same words.