Every game launcher keeps installers, shaders and updates you already applied
Epic, GOG, Battle.net and the App Store each cache downloads separately. Where each one keeps them and what is safe to remove.
Games are honest about their size. Launchers are not: each one keeps downloaded installers, patch files, shader caches and sometimes a full copy of an update it has already applied, in a folder separate from the games themselves.
Where each launcher keeps things
du -sh ~/Library/Application\ Support/Epic \
~/Library/Application\ Support/Battle.net \
~/Library/Application\ Support/GOG.com \
~/Library/Application\ Support/Steam 2>/dev/null | sort -h| Launcher | What it caches | Safe to clear |
|---|---|---|
| Epic | Downloaded installers and patches | Yes |
| Battle.net | Update files and repair data | Yes |
| GOG Galaxy | Installers and a local database | Installers yes, database no |
| Steam | Shader cache, workshop, partial downloads | Yes, see the Steam guide |
| Mac App Store | Partial downloads in a temporary folder | Cleared on restart |
The pattern across all of them
Three folders repeat in every launcher: a download cache holding what was fetched, a patch or repair cache holding what it might need to fix an installation, and a shader cache built the first time you play. All three regenerate, and none are removed when a game is uninstalled.
Uninstall through the launcher
Removing a game folder by hand leaves the launcher believing it is installed, which produces a broken entry and sometimes a repair download larger than the game. Every launcher has an uninstall in its own interface and it is always the right route.
The games themselves
Once the caches are dealt with, the honest question is which installed games you actually play. A single modern title can be 80 GB, which is more than every cache on this page put together, and reinstalling is a download rather than a loss.
Steam's own folders go into more detail on the largest of these, and the general principle is the one in what uninstalling leaves behind: the app goes, the folders stay.
Common questions
Where do game launchers store cached downloads on a Mac?
Each keeps its own folder under ~/Library/Application Support, named for the launcher. They hold installers, patch files and repair data, none of which are removed when a game is uninstalled.
Is it safe to delete a game launcher's cache?
Yes. Download caches, patch files and shader caches are all regenerated. Do not delete a launcher's own database, which tracks what you own and what is installed.
Should I delete a game folder directly?
No. The launcher will still list the game as installed and may trigger a repair download larger than the game itself. Use the uninstall option inside the launcher.
What uses the most space in Mac gaming?
The games themselves, by a wide margin. A single modern title can exceed 80 GB, which is more than every launcher cache combined, and reinstalling costs only a download.