Last updated: 2026-04-23 · 4 min read
Cleanup Guides

Clear VMware Fusion Cache on Mac

Quick answer

Over time, VMware Fusion accumulates virtual machines, snapshots in ~/Virtual Machines.localized that can grow to 10 GB – 500 GB. Clearing them often fixes glitches, login loops and frees serious disk space.

Application
VMware Fusion
File Location
~/Virtual Machines.localized
What Gets Cleaned
virtual machines, snapshots
Space Recovered
10 GB – 500 GB
Risk Level
Caution
Category
Virtualization

Manual Cleanup Steps

  1. Quit the app completely (⌘+Q in the menu bar).
  2. Open Finder and press ⌘+Shift+G to open "Go to Folder".
  3. Paste this path and press Enter:
    ~/Virtual Machines.localized
  4. Select the files you no longer need and move them to Trash. Empty Trash to reclaim the space.

Manual cleanup is tedious and easy to get wrong. OptiClear scans your entire Mac in seconds, finds every related file, and removes them safely — files always go to Trash first, never permanent deletion.

Download OptiClear — Free for macOS

One-Click Cleanup with OptiClear

Manual cleanup is tedious and easy to get wrong. OptiClear scans your entire Mac in seconds, finds every related file, and removes them safely — files always go to Trash first, never permanent deletion.

Download OptiClear — Free for macOS →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to delete these files manually?

Yes — files in ~/Virtual Machines.localized are app-generated and safe to remove after quitting the app. Risk level: Caution. macOS or the app will recreate anything still needed.

Will I lose my settings or data?

Manual removal of the support folder resets the app to defaults. To keep settings, back up the location first or use OptiClear's selective cleanup.

Download OptiClear — Free for macOS