How to clear Windsurf cache on Mac

By AI Agent Clean Team · Published 2026-08-09 · Last updated 2026-08-09 · macOS 14+

Windsurf (Codeium) stores Electron caches under Application Support plus extension data in ~/.windsurf / ~/.codeium. This guide shows regenerable paths on macOS 14+ and how AI Agent Clean keeps Cascade chats protected.

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Windsurf grows like other Electron AI IDEs: HTTP/asset caches, update leftovers, logs, and Codeium agent caches. Cascade conversations are valuable — treat them as protected, not junk.

Why Windsurf cache grows

  • Desktop Electron caches — Cache, CachedData, Code Cache under Application Support.
  • ShipIt / update caches — com.exafunction.windsurf.ShipIt leftovers.
  • Codeium extension caches — cache/tmp/logs under ~/.windsurf and ~/.codeium.
  • Logs and Crashpad — debug output that accumulates over long sessions.

Windsurf path table (macOS)

PathTypical contentsSafe to clear?
~/Library/Application Support/Windsurf/ Electron cachesDesktop cacheYes
~/Library/Caches/com.exafunction.windsurfSystem cacheYes
~/Library/Caches/com.exafunction.windsurf.ShipItUpdate leftoversYes
~/Library/Application Support/Windsurf/logs/LogsYes
~/.windsurf / ~/.codeium cache, tmp, logsExtension cachesYes
…/Windsurf/User/settings.jsonPreferencesKeep
~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.jsonMCP configKeep
~/.codeium/windsurf/cascade/Cascade conversationsKeep

Quit Windsurf before deleting. Prefer Trash. Folder names can vary slightly by Windsurf / Codeium version.

Step-by-step: manual Windsurf cache cleanup

  1. Quit Windsurf — confirm no Windsurf process remains in Activity Monitor.
  2. Open Application Support/Windsurf — remove Electron Cache, CachedData, Code Cache, and review logs.
  3. Clear Library/Caches — remove com.exafunction.windsurf and ShipIt folders if present.
  4. Trim ~/.windsurf and ~/.codeium — only cache/tmp/logs style trees; leave cascade and MCP config alone.
  5. Relaunch Windsurf — expect a short re-cache on first open.

FAQ

Is it safe to clear Windsurf cache on Mac?

Yes for regenerable desktop caches, logs, and Codeium extension caches. Keep settings, MCP config, and Cascade chats.

Where is Windsurf cache stored on macOS?

Start with ~/Library/Application Support/Windsurf, ~/Library/Caches/com.exafunction.windsurf*, ~/.windsurf, and ~/.codeium.

Will cleaning Windsurf delete Cascade chats?

Not if you leave ~/.codeium/windsurf/cascade alone. AI Agent Clean protects that tree by default.

Automated cleanup with AI Agent Clean

v1.0.1 adds Windsurf to the AI Agent Cleaner module: desktop caches and logs default on; Cascade conversations stay off.

  1. Open AI Agent Clean and expand Windsurf.
  2. Review category sizes; leave Cascade unchecked.
  3. Clean — items move to Trash by default.

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Safety warnings
  • Do not delete User/settings.json or keybindings.json unless resetting the IDE.
  • Do not treat the entire ~/.codeium tree as disposable cache.
  • Back up Cascade if you ever opt into conversation cleanup.

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