Is it safe to delete Spotify cache and downloads?
Music and podcasts that Spotify saved on this Mac, both for smooth playback and as downloads to play offline.
Usually safe
It can be recreated, but it takes a download, a reinstall or the tool's own command.
~/
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What it is
Spotify stores parts of the music and podcasts you play as a cache so they play without lag, and keeps the songs and episodes you download to play offline. On a Mac these can end up in either folder, and Finder can't tell them apart. Spotify's own settings clear the cache without removing your downloads.
If it's removed
Music you play streams again. Removed downloads aren't available offline until you download them again.
What to do instead
In Spotify, click your profile picture, choose Settings, scroll to Storage, and click Clear cache. To remove downloads, remove the download from playlists, albums or podcasts you no longer need offline.
The free analyzer finds it and explains it, with these steps. The app doesn't remove it for you.
Sources
- support.spotify.com/us/article/storage-information
- community.spotify.com/t5/Desktop-Mac/Desktop-version-on-MacOs-Data-Cache/td-p/5634556
- github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-cask/blob/master/Casks/s/spotify.rb
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.