Safari
Safari stores website data under ~/Library/Safari, including History.db and related SQLite journals, favicon and Top Sites databases, reading list metadata, website preview caches, and session restore state used to reopen tabs and windows. Over time these files accumulate stale records, fragmented SQLite pages, and leftover WAL or SHM journal data from normal browsing, crashes, and interrupted writes. Kudu removes Safari’s cache and local browser database clutter so corrupted previews, oversized history stores, and damaged session metadata can be rebuilt without touching bookmarks, saved passwords, accounts, or other personal data.
Why clean Safari?
- A bloated History.db with fragmented SQLite pages makes address bar suggestions and history searches feel delayed, and a VACUUM-style rebuild can shrink the file without deleting rows
- Corrupted favicon or website preview databases cause blank site icons, wrong thumbnails, or stale Top Sites images that keep reappearing until the cache is rebuilt
- Leftover WAL and SHM journal files after a crash can leave Safari repeatedly restoring the wrong tabs or showing inconsistent recent browsing data on launch
- Stale session restore metadata can reopen windows you already closed or fail to restore the last session correctly after Safari quits unexpectedly
- Accumulated website cache data under Safari’s profile can make specific pages load old assets, showing broken layouts, missing images, or login pages that do not refresh properly
- Oversized Safari database files consume surprising disk space in a single user profile, especially after years of browsing history and preview generation
- Damaged reading list or page preview metadata can leave entries with incorrect titles, blank snapshots, or items that appear to load forever in Safari views
Cache paths Kudu targets
These databases are vacuumed (compacted) — no data is deleted. SQLite VACUUM reclaims wasted space left over from normal usage.
macOS
~/Library/Safari |
Common questions about Safari
Download Kudu and reclaim your disk space.
Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. No account required, no feature gates, no telemetry without consent. All cleaning targets are open source and community-auditable.