Clear OneDrive Cache on Mac

What is OneDrive cache on Mac?

OneDrive cache is a set of temporary files OneDrive stores locally on your Mac—copies of recent documents, sync details, and thumbnail previews. It lives in a hidden Library location so the app can load these items quickly, and it grows as you work.

Think of it as a notepad near OneDrive’s desk—it jots down what you use most, so it needn’t refetch everything from the cloud. On a MacBook or any Macintosh, this cached data speeds up offline access and reduces downloads.

Why should you clear OneDrive cache on Mac?

Over time, the cache can balloon in size and eat into your storage. Old or corrupted cache data can also confuse OneDrive, which leads to stalled uploads, missing files, or a sync that never finishes.

Here are the common reasons people empty OneDrive cache on MacBook models:

• Freeing up disk space when you hit your storage limit
• Sorting out syncing that’s stuck or won’t finish
• Clearing leftover data from files you’ve already deleted
• Refreshing the app when it acts oddly or won’t load thumbnails
• Enjoying the ease to optimize Mac storage and keeping your laptop running the way you expect

Is it safe to clear OneDrive cache?

Yes—clearing the cache is safe in nearly every case. It holds only temporary copies, not your originals, and OneDrive rebuilds it automatically next time you open the app, so you won’t lose anything already synced to the cloud.

That said, it’s worth a quick check first. Before you erase anything, make sure your key documents show a green checkmark, which means they’re fully backed up online. If you’d rather play it safe, you can pause or disable syncing while you work.

A note from our experts: 

 

Just as you need to clear the OneDrive cache, you need to do the same with the other apps on your MacBook. To do it all in one shot without much thought, use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup. Our tool will help you clean safely and easily.

 

Do the following:  

1. Download MacKeeper, then install and launch it on your Mac.
2. Find and choose Safe Cleanup followed by the Start Scan button.  
3. See the scan results when it’s over, check the necessary boxes on the left, and click Clean Junk Files to confirm.

 

How to clear OneDrive cache without losing files?

Before you delete anything, confirm your files are safe in the cloud. This matters most if OneDrive has unsynced changes or files marked as available on this device only.

Run through this short checklist first:

1. Open OneDrive and confirm it shows Up to date rather than Syncing.
2. Look for any files with a red warning icon or a pending sync arrow.
3. Right-click important folders and select Always Keep on This Device if you need them offline.
4. Let any in-progress uploads finish before you quit the app.

If your files won’t update at all, the trouble may be that OneDrive not syncing on Mac, rather than the cache, and getting OneDrive not syncing resolved first will save you time.

How to clear OneDrive cache on Mac?

There’s no single right way to clear OneDrive cache on Mac—the method depends on your comfort level and what’s gone wrong. A quick reset suits most people, while you can also clear the cache manually for more control. If you’d like to empty cache on Mac beyond OneDrive, the same steps apply to most apps.

We’ve ordered the methods below from quick to more hands-on, so read on and start with the one that matches your situation.

1. Reset OneDrive on Mac

Resetting is the method we’d try first. It clears cached data, refreshes the app’s local settings, and reconnects your account without removing synced files—our go-to when OneDrive is slow, stuck, or showing missing files. It uses a built-in command from Apple’s apps, so you needn’t add any tools.

Just follow these steps to reset OneDrive cache on Mac:

1. Quit OneDrive by selecting its icon in the menu bar, then choosing Quit OneDrive.
2. Open Finder and go to the Applications folder.
3. Control-click OneDrive and select Show Package Contents.
4. Open Contents, then Resources, and double-click ResetOneDriveApp.command (use ResetOneDriveAppStandalone.command for the standalone version).
5. Wait for OneDrive to reopen, then sign in to your account again.

2. Manually delete OneDrive cache folders

Deleting the cache by hand suits users comfortable in hidden system folders. You’ll remove the cache directory yourself for a clean slate when a reset alone doesn’t help. Since these folders sit inside your Library, remove only the ones we list, and back up first.

To delete OneDrive cache on Mac by hand, do the following:

1. Quit OneDrive from the menu bar.
2. Open Finder, then press Command-Shift-G to open Go to Folder.
3. Type ~/Library/Containers/ or ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.OneDriveSyncClientSuite/Library, depending on the newness of your macOS into the path field and press Return.
4. Find the folder named Caches and move it to the Trash.
5. Empty the Trash, then reopen OneDrive so it rebuilds a fresh cache.

3. Clear Microsoft Office file cache

If you sync Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files, the Microsoft Office file cache can get in OneDrive’s way. When it holds onto an old version of a document, uploads stall, or a file refuses to save to the cloud. Clearing it often gets document syncing moving again.

This pairs well with the others—in our experience, learning to clear Excel cache can solve upload trouble that looks like a OneDrive issue but starts in Office.

Clear the Office file cache like this:

1. Quit every open Office app, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
2. Open Finder, then press Command-Shift-G to open Go to Folder.
3. Enter ~/Library/Containers/ and look for the com.microsoft folders linked to Office.
4. Open each app’s Data folder, then its Caches folder, and move the cached items to the Trash.
5. Empty the Trash and reopen your apps so they rebuild a clean cache.

4. Reinstall OneDrive

When a reset and manual cleanup both fall short, a fresh install often clears the slate. Reinstalling removes the app and its cached data, then sets up a clean copy that re-downloads your synced files—a good option for stubborn syncing, nothing else shifts.

If you want to fully remove OneDrive from Mac first, our steps cover the leftover files, which a simple drag to the Trash can leave behind.

When you’re ready to reinstall, work through these steps:

1. Quit OneDrive and drag it from the Applications folder to the Trash.
2. Empty the Trash to uninstall the app and its cache.
3. Open the App Store, search for Microsoft OneDrive, and install the latest version.
4. Run the installer, then sign in with your account login (your details are stored in Keychain).
5. Choose your folders to sync, and let OneDrive download a clean copy.

5. Use third-party cleanup app for Mac

If digging through hidden folders isn’t for you, a third-party cleanup app does the work safely. We’d reach for MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup, which finds cache, logs, and other junk files across your Mac, then clears them in one click—without touching your personal documents.

Because it shows what it found before anything’s removed, you stay in control. You can review the results first—a clean, user-friendly way to keep cache from piling up.

Clearing your cache with MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup takes just a few clicks:

1. Open MacKeeper and select Safe Cleanup in the sidebar.
2. Select Start Scan and wait for the scan to finish.
3. Review the cache and junk files MacKeeper found.
4. Select the items you want to remove, then choose Clean Junk Files.
5. Confirm, and MacKeeper safely clears the selected cache.

Conclusion

Clearing OneDrive cache on your Mac is worth doing when storage runs low or syncing stalls, since old or corrupted cache data is often the cause. We’d treat it as routine maintenance rather than a last resort. Start with a quick reset, then try manual cleanup, an Office cache clear, or a reinstall if the trouble lingers. Just confirm your files are safely synced to the cloud before you begin.

Want to clear cache without digging through hidden folders? MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup can find cache, junk files, and other clutter on your Mac, then remove the selected items in one click.