Does clearing the Dropbox cache delete my files?

No, as long as you empty only the cache. Dropbox describes it as a hidden folder of temporary files that it already clears every three days on its own. Never delete your Dropbox folder or the files in it: those are your synced files, and deleting them deletes them everywhere.

Where is the Dropbox cache if I use File Provider?

Outside your Dropbox folder. In Finder click Go, hold Option and choose Library, open Group Containers, then the folder ending in .com.getdropbox.dropbox.sync, and the root-mount folder inside it. The start of that folder name is a unique ID that varies between Macs.

Can I delete other hidden .dropbox folders to save space?

No. Dropbox strongly advises against deleting any '.dropbox' folders or their contents, because it can accidentally make you leave or duplicate a shared folder. Clear the files inside .dropbox.cache only.

Mac cache folders

How to clear the Dropbox cache on a Mac

By Vishva Variya · Updated November 2, 2026 · 3 min read

Short answer

Dropbox has no Clear cache button on Mac. Quit Dropbox, open your Dropbox folder in Finder, press Shift-Command-. to show the hidden .dropbox.cache folder and trash the files inside it. With File Provider, the cache is in ~/Library/Group Containers instead. Never delete your Dropbox folder: those are your synced files.

Where is the Dropbox cache on a Mac?

~/Dropbox (Personal)/.dropbox.cache
~/Organization Dropbox/.dropbox.cache
~/Library/Group Containers/<ID>.com.getdropbox.dropbox.sync/root-mount
~/Library/Caches/com.dropbox.DropboxMacFileHelper

Check first. Temporary sync data stored by Dropbox. Your files are safe, but Dropbox re-verifies your whole synced folder afterwards, which can take a while.

How do I delete the Dropbox cache by hand?

1Quit the Dropbox desktop app completely (on File Provider, also wait for the DropboxFileProviderExtension process to stop)
2Without File Provider: open your Dropbox folder in Finder and press Shift-Command-. (period) to show hidden files
3Open the .dropbox.cache folder and move the files inside it to the Trash (not the folder itself, and nothing else in your Dropbox folder)
4With File Provider: in Finder click Go, hold Option and choose Library, then open Group Containers and the folder ending in .com.getdropbox.dropbox.sync
5Open the root-mount folder and move the files inside it to the Trash
6Reopen Dropbox

What happens when you clear it?

Dropbox calls the cache 'a hidden folder that stores temporary files'; it helps performance and supports uploads and downloads, and 'is automatically cleared every three days'. Clearing it by hand is for deleting sensitive files right away or freeing disk space. Your synced files are not the cache and stay where they are, as long as you only empty .dropbox.cache (or root-mount on File Provider). Dropbox doesn't say clearing the cache signs you out. Peekaboo lists Dropbox as Check first because Dropbox may then re-check your synced folder, which can take a while (Peekaboo's note, not Dropbox's).

Clearing it with Peekaboo

Peekaboo’s App Caches page lists “Dropbox” with its size and the note above, alongside every other cache it finds. It won’t offer a folder the app is still running from, and the cleanup goes to the Trash, so ⌥⌘Z puts it back.

1Open App Caches.⇧⌘E
2Find Dropbox, check its size, and move it to the Trash.

Questions

Does clearing the Dropbox cache delete my files?: No, as long as you empty only the cache. Dropbox describes it as a hidden folder of temporary files that it already clears every three days on its own. Never delete your Dropbox folder or the files in it: those are your synced files, and deleting them deletes them everywhere.
Where is the Dropbox cache if I use File Provider?: Outside your Dropbox folder. In Finder click Go, hold Option and choose Library, open Group Containers, then the folder ending in .com.getdropbox.dropbox.sync, and the root-mount folder inside it. The start of that folder name is a unique ID that varies between Macs.
Can I delete other hidden .dropbox folders to save space?: No. Dropbox strongly advises against deleting any '.dropbox' folders or their contents, because it can accidentally make you leave or duplicate a shared folder. Clear the files inside .dropbox.cache only.