Clearing Cache in Windows

Windows System Cache

Temporary Files

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.

2. Type %temp% and press Enter.

3. Select all files (Ctrl + A) and press Delete.

4. Skip any files currently in use.

Windows Temp Folder

1. Press Windows + R.

2. Type C:\Windows\Temp and press Enter.

3. Select all files and delete them.

4. Skip any files that are in use.

Disk Cleanup Utility

1. Right-click the C: drive in File Explorer → Properties → Disk Cleanup.

2. Select items to remove, such as:

   • Downloaded Program Files

   • Temporary Internet Files

   • System-created Windows Error Reporting

   • Windows Defender Antivirus

   • Temporary Files

   • Thumbnails

3. Click Clean up system files for additional options like:

   • Windows Update Cleanup

   • Previous Windows Installations

   • Windows Defender Antivirus

4. Click OK to start cleanup.

Storage Sense (Windows 10/11)

1. Go to Settings → System → Storage.

2. Enable Storage Sense.

3. Select Configure Storage Sense or run it now.

4. Adjust settings and click Clean now.

Browser Cache

Microsoft Edge

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete, select All Time, and check:

  • Browsing history

  • Download history

  • Cookies and site data

  • Cached images and files

• Click Clear now.

Google Chrome

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete, select All Time, and check:

  • Browsing history

  • Cookies and site data

  • Cached images and files

• Click Clear data.

Mozilla Firefox

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete, select Everything, and check:

  • Browsing & Download History

  • Cookies

  • Cache

  • Active Logins

• Click Clear Now.

Additional Cache Types

Windows Store Cache

• Press Windows + R, type wsreset.exe, and press Enter.

• A blank window will appear briefly; Microsoft Store will reopen when complete.

DNS Cache

• Open Command Prompt (Admin).

• Type:

   

  ipconfig /flushdns

• You’ll see: Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.

Icon Cache

1. Navigate to C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local.

2. Enable Hidden Items under the View tab.

3. Delete IconCache.db (and IconCacheToDelete.db if it exists).

4. Restart your computer.

Alternative (Command Prompt):

Font Cache

1. Open services.msc.

2. Stop Windows Font Cache Service.

3. Delete files in C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local (FontCache*).

4. Restart the service and your computer.

Windows Update Cache

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin) and type:

    

   net stop wuauserv net stop bits

2. Navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete all contents.

3. Restart the services:

    

   net start wuauserv net start bits

Thumbnail Cache

1. Press Windows + R, type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer.

2. Delete all thumbcache_*.db files.

3. Restart your computer.

Location Cache

• Go to Settings → Privacy → Location → click Clear under Location History.

Microsoft Teams Cache

1. Close Microsoft Teams.

2. Open Run → %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams.

3. Delete these folders:

   • Cache

   • blob_storage

   • databases

   • GPUCache

   • IndexedDB

   • Local Storage

   • tmp

4. Restart Teams.

Office Cache

Office Document Cache:

1. Close all Office apps.

2. Go to %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\16.0\OfficeFileCache.

3. Delete all files.

4. Restart Office.

Office Upload Center:

1. Search for Upload Center.

2. Open Settings → Delete Cached Files → OK.

Automating Cache Cleaning (Task Scheduler)

1. Press Windows + R, type taskschd.msc.

2. Select Create Basic Task → name it (e.g., “Weekly Cache Cleanup”).

3. Choose trigger (e.g., weekly).

4. Choose Start a program and browse to your batch file.

5. Enable Run with highest privileges under Properties → General.

6. Click OK to save.

Troubleshooting

• Run File Explorer as Administrator if files can’t be deleted.

• For persistent issues, use Safe Mode cleanup via msconfig.

• Disable Safe Boot after cleanup.

Best Practices

• Clear system cache monthly.

• Clear browser cache weekly.

• Always close applications before clearing cache.

• Use Storage Sense for automatic cleanup.

• Run Disk Cleanup monthly.

• Keep Windows updated for improved cache handling.