Sandboxed App Caches
Inside ~/Library/Containers, macOS stores per-app sandbox data for App Store and other sandboxed apps, including browser-style HTTP caches, WebKit website data, NSCachesDirectory files, temporary downloads, thumbnail caches, SQLite WAL and journal files, and app-specific GPU or rendered asset caches. These files exist to speed up launches, reload web content, preserve temporary state, and avoid re-downloading resources, but they can linger after app updates, web view changes, or interrupted writes. Kudu removes disposable cache and temporary data from sandbox containers while leaving documents, app settings, accounts, passwords, and other user-created content untouched.
Why clean Sandboxed App Caches?
- Corrupted WebKit website data or HTTP cache inside a container can make an app’s embedded sign-in page loop, load blank content, or repeatedly show outdated web views
- Stale NSCachesDirectory files after an app update can force long launch times, missing thumbnails, or repeated reindexing until the app rebuilds its local cache
- Interrupted writes leave SQLite WAL and journal files behind, and page fragmentation can bloat the database; VACUUM rewrites the file to compact pages without deleting rows, reducing oversized containers and sluggish in-app lists
- Old rendered image and thumbnail caches can keep showing the wrong preview, outdated attachment artwork, or blank placeholders even after the original content has changed
- Sandboxed browser-engine apps may accumulate large media and download caches, causing container folders to grow into gigabytes and triggering low disk space warnings in macOS
- Stale GPU-related cache data after a macOS or graphics driver update can invalidate previously compiled content and show up as flickering views, black panes, or stutter until the cache is rebuilt
- Temporary files left in a container after a crash can make the app reopen failed sessions, repeat recovery prompts, or get stuck cleaning up on every launch
Cache paths Kudu targets
macOS
~/Library/Containers |
Common questions about Sandboxed App Caches
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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.