How to Clear OneNote Cache on Mac to Recover Storage Space
Question details
The user needs to free up Mac storage space consumed by the Microsoft OneNote cache after notebooks have been closed.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Recovering disk space when OneNote cache takes up too much storage.
- Observed behavior
- The OneNote cache continues to consume significant disk space even when notebooks are no longer actively open.
Ensure that all your active OneNote notebooks are fully synchronized to OneDrive and completely closed within the app before deleting any cache files to prevent data loss.
Manually Delete OneNote Cache Files in Mac Finder
Navigate to the hidden Library folder in Finder to permanently remove OneNote's temporary .bin cache files.
OneNote for Mac stores offline cache files to speed up notebook loading times. However, these files can grow significantly over time. Deleting them is safe as long as your notes are fully synced to the cloud.
Open OneNote, force a manual sync for all notebooks, and then close each notebook by right-clicking its name and selecting 'Close This Notebook'.
Quit OneNote. Open Finder, press 'Command + Shift + G' to open the 'Go to Folder' dialog, and enter the path: ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.onenote.mac/Data/Library/Application Support/Microsoft User Data/OneNote/15.0/Cache
Locate all files ending with the '.bin' extension in the Cache folder. Drag them to the Trash or press 'Command + Delete'.
Right-click the Trash icon in your Mac's Dock and select 'Empty Trash' to permanently free up the disk space. Check your available storage afterward.
Switch to WPS Office for a Lightweight, Storage-Friendly Experience
Struggling with bulky Microsoft Office apps that consume excessive Mac storage? WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and powerful alternative. It offers full compatibility with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats while keeping your system running smoothly without massive cache buildups.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the macOS version of WPS Office.
- 2. Install and Launch: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder, then launch the app.
- 3. Open Existing Files: Directly open your existing Microsoft Office files without worrying about format conversion or formatting loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing the OneNote cache delete my notes?
No, as long as your notebooks are fully synced to OneDrive before clearing the cache, your notes are safe. The cache only stores temporary local data to speed up loading and allow offline access.
Why is the OneNote cache taking up so much space on my Mac?
OneNote saves a local copy of your notebooks (including images, file attachments, and version history) so you can work offline. Over time, particularly with large notebooks or numerous media files, these cache files can grow to several gigabytes.
How do I ensure my OneNote notebooks are fully synced on Mac?
Open OneNote, click on 'File' in the top menu bar, and select 'Sync All Notebooks'. Wait for the sync icon on each notebook to disappear, indicating the process is complete.
Can I move the OneNote cache to an external hard drive on macOS?
By default, OneNote for Mac does not provide a built-in setting to change the cache location. It heavily relies on the system Library folder on your main startup disk.
