Teams meetings end — but their cache doesn't
Microsoft Teams is the default collaboration tool for millions of workplaces, and on Mac it runs quietly in the background all day. That quiet background presence comes at a cost: Teams accumulates cached data — meeting thumbnails, chat history, shared file previews, and application state — that can reach 3–8 GB over time.
Clearing this cache is straightforward, and it's also one of the most reliable fixes for common Teams problems like slow loading, stuck notifications, or chat sync issues.
Where Teams stores its cache on Mac
Microsoft has updated Teams on Mac several times, and the cache location depends on which version you're running. The current version stores data in:
- Application Support:
~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams - Caches:
~/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.teams2(the new version) or~/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.teams(older version) - Group Containers:
~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.com.microsoft.teams
The biggest space users are usually cached images and file previews, followed by the Service Worker and GPU caches that the app uses for rendering.
How to clear Teams cache on Mac
The quick method
- Quit Teams completely — right-click its Dock icon and choose Quit, or press Cmd + Q. Make sure it's not still running in the menu bar.
- In Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G.
- Go to
~/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.teams2and delete the contents. - Go to
~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teamsand delete the Cache, Code Cache, GPUCache, and Service Worker folders inside. - Reopen Teams. It will take a moment to re-sync — this is normal.
If you're on the new Teams
Microsoft's newer "New Teams" app on Mac uses a different architecture and may store its cache in ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.com.microsoft.teams. If the paths above don't exist or are empty, check this location instead. The same principle applies: quit Teams, delete the cache-specific subfolders, and reopen.
Clearing cache as troubleshooting
Beyond saving space, clearing Teams cache fixes a surprising number of problems:
- Teams loads slowly or shows a blank screen: a corrupted cache is a common cause.
- Notifications are stuck or duplicated: stale notification state often lives in the cache.
- Chat messages appear out of order: the local message cache may have gotten out of sync with the server.
- Profile pictures or presence indicators are wrong: cached avatars and status data can go stale.
If you're experiencing any of these issues, clearing the cache is the first thing to try — before reinstalling the app.
How much space can you expect to reclaim?
A fresh Teams installation uses about 500 MB. After months of daily use, the cache typically grows to 2–5 GB. Users in organizations with heavy file sharing and frequent meetings may see even more — the previews for every shared document, image, and meeting recording add up.
If you're cleaning up multiple communication apps, check our guides for Slack and Telegram too — they follow similar patterns.
One scan for every app's cache
Gigatidy finds caches from Teams, Slack, browsers, and every other app on your Mac — then clears what's safe with a checklist you approve first.
Meet Gigatidy →FAQ
Will clearing Teams cache delete my chat history?
No. Your messages, files, and chat history are stored on Microsoft's servers. Clearing the local cache removes only the temporary copies on your Mac. Everything re-syncs when you reopen Teams.
How often should I clear Teams cache?
Most people don't need to clear it on a schedule. Do it when Teams is acting up (slow, blank screen, stuck notifications) or when you need to free disk space. Once every few months is plenty for space management.
Does clearing Teams cache fix the blank screen issue?
Often, yes. A corrupted cache is one of the most common causes of the "Teams opens to a blank white or gray screen" issue on Mac. Clearing the cache and restarting the app resolves it in most cases.