Microsoft Excel Container Caches
This folder stores Microsoft Excel cache files inside the app container on macOS to speed up loading, temporary data access, and routine app operations.
What is Microsoft Excel Container Caches?
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet application used to create calculations, tables, charts, and data analysis workflows on Mac. The folder at ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Caches is the cache area for Excel’s sandboxed container, where macOS and the app keep temporary data that helps the app open faster and work more smoothly. Users may encounter this folder when reviewing storage use, troubleshooting odd behavior, or cleaning up space in a Mac user account. Cache contents are not the same as normal workbooks you save in Documents, OneDrive, or other folders, but they can support current sessions and recently used app data. Removing cache files can force Excel to rebuild them the next time it runs, which may briefly slow startup and can sign you out of some temporary app states or clear convenience data.
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Safety overview
Status: Mostly safe
This path is a cache folder for Microsoft Excel inside its macOS container. Cache data is temporary by design and is generally safer to remove than documents, preferences, or application support files, but deleting it while Excel is open can interrupt active work or clear temporary state the app is still using. Before removing anything here, quit Excel and make sure any unsaved spreadsheets have been saved normally.
Recommendation: Keep this folder if Excel is working normally and you do not need to recover storage space. If Excel is misbehaving or you want to free a small amount of space, quit Excel first and then remove only the contents of the Caches folder. Excel should recreate the cache automatically when you open it again.
File path
~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Caches
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