Do not treat ~/.gemini/tmp as disposable simply because it is named tmp. It can contain conversations and recovery data. Project-local .gemini/ directories are separate and should also be preserved.
What Gemini CLI stores locally
The official checkpointing guide describes recovery snapshots in ~/.gemini/history/<project_hash> and checkpoint records in ~/.gemini/tmp/<project_hash>/checkpoints. The auto-memory documentation also describes session transcripts under project-specific tmp chat folders.
| Location to inspect | Review decision |
|---|---|
~/.gemini/tmp/ | Mixed state; keep by default. Excluding chats alone is insufficient. |
~/.gemini/tmp/<project_hash>/checkpoints | Keep recovery records. |
~/.gemini/history/<project_hash> | Keep recovery snapshots. |
~/.gemini/settings.json, account and credential files | Keep configuration and authentication data. |
Project .gemini/ and GEMINI.md | Keep project configuration and instructions. |
| Any folder named cache | Identify its contents and owning version; the name is not permission to delete. |
Step-by-step: inspect before clearing Gemini CLI data
- Record your installed version and any custom data location.
- Save work and stop active CLI sessions before reviewing files.
- Use Finder to inspect folder sizes without moving or removing files.
- Keep chats, checkpoints, history, credentials, settings and unknown items. Back up data you need.
- Use a version-specific, documented cleanup procedure only after confirming exactly which data it removes. If no such procedure applies, stop after inspection.
FAQ
Is it safe to clear Gemini CLI cache on Mac?
Not as a blanket operation. In particular, the tmp directory may contain recovery state as well as chats. Identify each item and its purpose first.
Where is Gemini CLI data stored on macOS?
The documented examples above use the user’s .gemini directory. Verify your installed version and configuration before assuming those examples describe every location.
Will cleaning Gemini CLI delete my chats?
It can remove data you need if persistent state is selected. Leaving a chats directory alone does not establish that all other files are disposable or that recovery remains possible.
Review with AI Agent Clean
Open AI Agent Cleaner and inspect the Gemini CLI file preview if available. Do not rely on a category name or default selection as proof that a path is safe. Leave recovery, session, configuration and unknown files unselected. See pricing for current store terms.
Sources and verification limits
Evidence limitation: No version-specific deletion or restoration test is claimed. The linked documentation describes data purposes; it does not certify cleanup compatibility.
Official checkpointing and auto-memory documentation reviewed September 23, 2026. These sources establish data purposes, not a tested deletion procedure. No installed Gemini CLI version has been deletion-and-restore tested for this revision, and no compatibility or conversation-preservation guarantee is made for AI Agent Clean 1.0.8.
Related guides and features
- AI Agent Cleaner — product page
- What’s New in 1.0.1
- Clear GitHub Copilot cache on Mac
- Clear Windsurf cache on Mac
- Clear Cursor cache on Mac
Preview Gemini CLI cache sizes locally — no cloud upload.
View on the Mac App Store