Telegram has a cache limit setting, and it is off by default
Telegram caches every photo and video it shows you and keeps it forever unless you change one setting. Where the folder is and how to cap it.
Telegram is unusual in this category because it gives you the control most apps do not: a cache size limit and an expiry, both in the app. The catch is that the defaults keep everything, so unless you have changed it, the answer to how large the cache can get is as large as your disk.
The setting worth changing once
In the app: Settings, Data and Storage, Storage Usage. There are two controls there that matter more than any cleanup you do by hand:
- Keep media. How long cached media survives. Setting this to a week or a month turns an unbounded folder into a bounded one.
- Maximum cache size. A hard cap. Once set, Telegram removes the oldest media itself rather than growing forever.
That is the whole fix. Everything else on this page is for finding out how much has already accumulated.
Measuring it
du -sh ~/Library/Group\ Containers/*Telegram* \
~/Library/Containers/*elegram* 2>/dev/null | sort -hThe same Storage Usage screen inside the app gives a breakdown by chat, which is more useful for deciding what to remove, since it separates a channel full of images from conversations you care about.
What clearing costs
Nothing permanent. Telegram stores messages and media on its servers, so cleared media redownloads when you scroll back to it. The only cost is bandwidth and a moment's wait, which is exactly the trade any cache offers.
That is different from apps where the local copy is the only copy, which is the distinction to keep in mind across everything in Containers. WhatsApp behaves similarly, with less control over the limit.
Common questions
How do I clear the Telegram cache on a Mac?
In the app, go to Settings, Data and Storage, Storage Usage. That screen clears cached media and breaks it down by chat, which is more precise than deleting the folder and does not affect your messages.
Where is Telegram's data stored on a Mac?
In a group container under ~/Library/Group Containers named after Telegram, shared between the app and its helpers. On a lightly used Mac measured in September 2026 it was 277 MB.
Does clearing Telegram's cache delete messages?
No. Messages and media are stored on Telegram's servers, so anything cleared locally is downloaded again when you scroll back to it. The only cost is bandwidth.
How do I stop Telegram using so much space?
Set both controls in Settings, Data and Storage: a Keep media duration such as one week or one month, and a maximum cache size. Telegram then removes the oldest cached media itself instead of growing without limit.