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Google Earth Pro caches the planet as you fly over it. Here is how big it can get

Google Earth Pro keeps imagery in a disk cache so places load faster. Where it is on a Mac, how to limit it, and how to clear it.

3 min read

Every place you visit in Google Earth Pro is downloaded as imagery and terrain, and a copy is cached on disk so it loads faster next time. The cache has a limit you can set.

find ~/Library/Application\ Support ~/Library/Caches -maxdepth 2 -iname '*google earth*' -exec du -sh {} + 2>/dev/null

Limit and clear it

  1. Open Google Earth Pro, Settings (or Preferences) and go to the Cache tab.
  2. Lower Disk Cache Size to limit how much it keeps.
  3. Use Delete cache file to clear it now.

Imagery downloads again as you browse, so clearing it is harmless beyond slower loading at first.

Your saved places

Placemarks and tours are saved separately, in My Places. Clearing the cache does not affect them.

Offline maps in Apple's own Maps app are covered in Maps and offline data.

Common questions

Where is the Google Earth Pro cache on a Mac?

In a Google Earth folder in your Library, usually under Application Support. The Cache tab in the app's settings manages it.

Is it safe to delete the Google Earth cache?

Yes. Imagery downloads again when needed. Your saved places are stored separately.

How do I limit Google Earth's cache size?

Open settings, go to the Cache tab, and lower Disk Cache Size.

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