How to Clear Excel Cache on Mac to Improve Performance

Clearing the Excel cache on your Mac can help resolve issues related to slow performance, outdated data, or unexpected errors while working with spreadsheets. Excel uses various caching mechanisms to speed up operations, but sometimes these caches become corrupted or outdated, leading to glitches or incorrect results. By clearing the cache, you essentially force Excel to refresh its temporary data, which can improve responsiveness and accuracy.

What You’ll Need

• A Mac computer with Microsoft Excel installed
• Basic familiarity with macOS Finder and Terminal (optional, for advanced steps)
• Microsoft Excel closed before performing cache clearing steps

Step-by-Step

1. Close Microsoft Excel: Before clearing the cache, make sure Excel is completely closed. Check the Dock and use Command + Q to quit the app if needed.
2. Clear Excel’s AutoRecover Files: These files can accumulate and sometimes cause issues.
   1. Open Finder.
   2. In the menu bar, click Go > Go to Folder…
   3. Enter ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery and press Enter.
   4. Delete all files inside this folder to remove AutoRecover cache.
3. Delete Excel Cache Files:
   1. Open Finder.
   2. Click Go > Go to Folder…
   3. Enter ~/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.Excel and press Enter.
   4. Delete all files and folders inside this directory.
4. Clear Office Document Cache: Excel, as part of Microsoft Office, uses a shared cache.
   1. In Finder, go to Go > Go to Folder…
   2. Enter ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office and press Enter.
   3. Locate the OfficeFileCache folder.
   4. Delete the contents of this folder to clear the Office cache.
5. Clear Temporary Files: Sometimes temporary files can affect Excel’s performance.
   1. Open Finder, then go to Go > Go to Folder…
   2. Enter /private/var/folders and press Enter.
   3. Search for folders named com.microsoft.Excel or related temporary files and delete them carefully.
   4. Note: Be cautious when deleting system folders; only remove files clearly related to Excel.
6. Restart Your Mac: After clearing caches, restart your Mac to ensure all changes take effect and temporary data is fully cleared.
7. Open Excel and Verify: Launch Excel again and check if performance has improved or if previous issues are resolved.

Common Mistakes

• Not closing Excel before clearing cache: Files in use can’t be deleted, leading to incomplete cache clearing.
• Deleting wrong files or folders: Accidentally removing unrelated system files can cause other apps or macOS to malfunction.
• Not backing up important files: Though cache files are temporary, some AutoRecover files might be useful if unsaved work exists.
• Ignoring the Office-wide cache: Excel shares cache with other Office apps, so clearing only Excel’s cache might not fully resolve issues.
• Skipping the restart: Changes may not apply correctly without a system reboot.

Tips

• Backup important Excel files before clearing caches: Especially those with unsaved changes or AutoRecover files.
• Use Disk Cleanup utilities cautiously: macOS cleanup apps can help but verify what they delete to avoid losing needed files.
• Regularly update Microsoft Excel: Updates often fix bugs that cause caching problems.
• Consider resetting Excel preferences: If cache clearing doesn’t help, resetting preferences can fix configuration issues (delete com.microsoft.Excel.plist in ~/Library/Preferences).
• Close other Office apps: Closing Word, PowerPoint, or Outlook can help ensure cache files are not in use.

Troubleshooting

If clearing the Excel cache on your Mac does not resolve performance issues or errors, try the following:

• Check for Excel updates: Open Excel > Help > Check for Updates, and install any available updates.
• Repair Office installation: Microsoft provides an Office repair tool for macOS. Reinstalling Office can fix deep corruption issues.
• Reset Excel preferences: Navigate to ~/Library/Preferences, locate com.microsoft.Excel.plist, and move it to the desktop. Restart Excel to generate a fresh preferences file.
• Test in a new user account: Create a new macOS user and open Excel there to see if the problem is user-specific.
• Review add-ins: Disable any Excel add-ins as they can interfere with performance and cache behavior.
• Check disk space: Low disk space can cause slowdowns; ensure your Mac has sufficient free storage.
• Contact Microsoft Support: If issues persist, Microsoft’s support can provide guidance for complex problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to clear the Excel cache on my Mac?

Clearing the cache can fix slowdowns, errors, or outdated data caused by corrupted or stale temporary files.

Will clearing the cache delete my Excel files?

No, clearing cache only removes temporary files. Your saved Excel documents remain unaffected.

How often should I clear Excel’s cache?

There’s no set schedule; clear the cache when you notice performance issues or after major Excel updates.

Can I automate clearing Excel cache on Mac?

macOS doesn’t offer built-in automation for this, but you can create scripts if you’re comfortable with Terminal commands.

Does clearing the Office cache affect other Office apps?

Yes, because Office apps share cache files. Clearing them can impact Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook temporarily.

What if Excel still crashes after clearing the cache?

Try updating Excel, disabling add-ins, or reinstalling Office. If problems persist, contact Microsoft support.

By following these steps and tips, you can efficiently clear the Excel cache on your Mac, helping to maintain smooth performance and reduce errors while working with your spreadsheets.

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