Temp files on Mac

eloycartw · 03-24-2025, 08:52 PM

I'm using Calibre 6.11 on Mac 10.15 Intel laptop (legacy, non-subscription software issues). I recently lost a lot of HD space and found a hidden folder under private/var/folders/... with Calibre folders with names like "calibre_6.8.0_tmp_tgff7h84" or "calibre_6.11.0_tmp_3zdgl94z". There are almost 10GB of .pdf files scattered throughout these folders somewhat randomly. Can, and if yes, how can these be deleted? My Calibre library is entirely on an external drive and the Calibre library on the Mac itself is empty/not used ever.

BetterRed · 03-24-2025, 10:12 PM

See CALIBRE_TEMP_DIR in Calibre User Manual: Environment variables

Put it somewhere you can keep an eye on it. When calibre is not running (library manager, viewer, editor, command line utilities etc) you can safely remove anything that's in it with Finder - stuff happens.

BR

kovidgoyal · 03-25-2025, 12:42 AM

You get leftover temp files if calibre crashes, it is always safe to delete temp files when calibre is not running.

03-24-2025, 08:52 PM	#1
eloycartw Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2022 Device: Calibre	Temp files on Mac I'm using Calibre 6.11 on Mac 10.15 Intel laptop (legacy, non-subscription software issues). I recently lost a lot of HD space and found a hidden folder under private/var/folders/... with Calibre folders with names like "calibre_6.8.0_tmp_tgff7h84" or "calibre_6.11.0_tmp_3zdgl94z". There are almost 10GB of .pdf files scattered throughout these folders somewhat randomly. Can, and if yes, how can these be deleted? My Calibre library is entirely on an external drive and the Calibre library on the Mac itself is empty/not used ever.

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03-24-2025, 10:12 PM	#2
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,030 Karma: 30277294 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	See CALIBRE_TEMP_DIR in Calibre User Manual: Environment variables Put it somewhere you can keep an eye on it. When calibre is not running (library manager, viewer, editor, command line utilities etc) you can safely remove anything that's in it with Finder - stuff happens. BR

03-25-2025, 12:42 AM	#3
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,615 Karma: 28549044 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	You get leftover temp files if calibre crashes, it is always safe to delete temp files when calibre is not running.

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