Slack cache on Mac: where it is and how to clear it

Where it is

What it is

Slack is built on Electron, which means it is a web app inside its own copy of a browser engine. Like a browser, it caches images, file previews, scripts and other web content.

For the version downloaded from slack.com, that data is in ~/Library/Application Support/Slack, in folders such as Cache, Code Cache and Service Worker. The Mac App Store version keeps the same folders inside ~/Library/Containers/com.tinyspeck.slackmacgap.

It grows with every workspace you are signed in to and every image and file you scroll past.

How big it gets

Usually from a few hundred MB to a few GB, depending on how many busy workspaces you belong to.

How to clear it by hand

1. In Slack, open the Help menu in the menu bar.
2. Choose Troubleshooting, then Clear Cache and Restart.
3. Slack restarts and loads your workspaces again. You stay signed in.
4. The same menu has Reset App Data. That one signs you out of every workspace, so use it only if clearing the cache did not fix a problem.

What happens afterwards

Slack takes a little longer to load the first time, and images and previews are downloaded again as you scroll. Messages, files and your sign-in are not affected.

How Diskzy handles it

Diskzy lists Electron app caches such as Slack's in the Clean up tab, ticked unless the app is open. What it removes goes to the Trash.

Related guides

• Google Chrome cache~/Library/Caches/Google/Chrome
• Application Support~/Library/Application Support
• Caches~/Library/Caches