How to Clear Icon Cache on Mac

macOS keeps icons for documents and apps in an icon cache so that it can quickly display them when required without having to load them from scratch every single time. It saves not just your time but also plays a vital role in boosting your productivity on Mac. For the most part, this smart play works as expected and shows relevant icons in the Finder or Dock. However, at times, you might see generic or irrelevant icons in these places. In that case, you will need to clear the icon cache on Mac to fix the issue. Let me show you how to clear and reset the icon cache on macOS.

Clear and Reset Icon Cache on macOS (2022)

Clear and Reset Icon Cache on macOS (2022)

Bear in mind that you will need to use theTerminaland rm commands to reset the icon cache on your Mac. Therefore, I recommend you back up your Mac using Time Machine or your preferred method before moving ahead. If anything goes wrong (in the event of a mistake while entering commands), you would have the latest backup with all your data handy. So, make sure to enter the exact commands given below.

Note:The commands we’re using here are courtesy of Ishmael Smyrnowon GitHub(visit).

Clear and Reset Icon Cache on Intel and M1 Mac

  1. To get going, open theTerminal appon your Mac. Simply, use the Command+Space shortcut to bring up theSpotlight search. Then, search for Terminal and launch it.

  2. Now, enter the below-given command and press return. If prompted, make sure to enter your administrator password to proceed.

  3. Next, paste the following command and hit return.

Boot into Safe Mode to Clear Other Cache on Mac

  1. First,restart your Mac in Safe Modeto delete any other cache and also force the icon cache to be refreshed. Click on theApple menu iconin the upper-left corner of the screen and chooseShut Down.

  2. After waiting for about 10 seconds,press and hold the Power buttonuntil theOptionsscreen appear.

  3. Up next, press and hold theShift keyand select“Continue in Safe Mode”to boot your M-series Mac into the Safe Mode.

  4. After your Mac has booted into the Safe Mode, wait for about 5 minutes. Then, click on theApple menuand selectRestart.

  5. To restart your Intel Mac in Safe Mode, reboot your Mac and immediatelyhold down the Shift keyuntil the login window appears.

  6. Up next, login into your Mac. On either the first or second login window, the “Safe Boot” will appear in the menu bar.

  7. Once your macOS device has booted into the Safe Mode, wait for some time. After that, click theApple menuand chooseRestartin the menu to refresh the icon caches along with other caches.

Reset Icon Cache on Mac With Ease

Reset Icon Cache on Mac With Ease

That’s pretty much done! Hopefully, you have reset the icon cache on your macOS device without any hassle. While for some users these commands alone are able to clear the icon cache, I had to perform the extra step of restarting the Mac to reset the cache. So, make sure to reboot your device if the commands fail to do the job. Anyway, let me know your feedback and whether or not these Terminal commands have worked for you. Besides, if you want to get rid of more such common annoyances, read our detailed guide to find out the10 most annoying issues in macOS Montereyand fix them.

Rajesh Mishra

An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.

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