LM Studio deleted a model but it's still on disk — how to reclaim the space
Last updated June 14, 2026
LM Studio stores downloaded models in ~/.cache/lm-studio/models, and deleting a model in the app sometimes leaves its folder behind — so the disk space never comes back. Those orphaned folders are safe to remove. Tokki Clean detects exactly these leftovers, sizes them, and trashes them after an itemized preview.
Find the orphaned folders
List model folders by size so you can spot ones for models you already removed in-app:
Safe to delete
~/.cache/lm-studio/modelsDownloaded GGUF/MLX models — multiple GB each; orphaned folders are pure waste.
Do it in one click
Tokki Clean finds lm studio models for you, sizes it, shows an itemized preview, and sends removals to the Trash — free, native, nothing leaves your Mac.
Download free for macOSApple silicon · macOS 12+ · no account
Frequently asked questions
Where does LM Studio store its models on a Mac?
In ~/.cache/lm-studio/models, organized by publisher and model. Each model is typically several gigabytes.
Why is a model still on disk after I deleted it in LM Studio?
LM Studio doesn't always remove the underlying folder, so the files remain. Delete the leftover folder under ~/.cache/lm-studio/models to reclaim the space.