HTTPStorages had 131 folders and 105 MB, and emptying it would achieve nothing
~/Library/HTTPStorages holds cookies and network storage for apps. Measured at 105 MB across 131 apps, it is small, rebuilt instantly and not worth clearing.
~/Library/HTTPStorages turns up in cleanup lists because it has a technical name and a subfolder for almost every app. It is where apps using Apple's networking framework keep cookies and cached HTTP state.
| Folder | Size |
|---|---|
com.apple.ctcategories.service | 9.1 MB |
com.apple.translationd | 6.2 MB |
com.apple.storekitagent | 3.4 MB |
com.apple.tipsd | 3.2 MB |
com.apple.amsaccountsd | 3.2 MB |
Why clearing it is not worth it
- It is small. 105 MB spread over 131 apps is under a megabyte each.
- It comes straight back. Each app recreates its folder on its next network request.
- It can sign you out. Cookies are how apps stay logged in to their services.
du -sh ~/Library/HTTPStorages
du -sh ~/Library/HTTPStorages/* | sort -h | tail -5If one folder here is large, it belongs to an app misbehaving, and that app's folder is the one to remove, with the app quit. Otherwise the space is elsewhere. Mac storage myths collects the other folders that look worth deleting and are not, and Library Caches is where caches worth clearing are.
Common questions
What is HTTPStorages on a Mac?
A folder in ~/Library where apps keep cookies and cached network state, one subfolder per app.
Is it safe to delete HTTPStorages?
It is safe in that nothing breaks, but it can sign apps out of their services, and it is rebuilt immediately. On the Mac measured it was only 105 MB.
Why does HTTPStorages have so many folders?
Because every app that makes network requests through Apple's framework gets its own. The Mac measured had 131.
Will clearing HTTPStorages free much space?
No. It is usually around 100 MB in total. Caches, containers and developer folders are where the space is.