How to Clear Cache on Your Computer

Is your computer running slower than usual? Are websites taking forever to load, or are you experiencing strange glitches in your favorite games? The culprit might be your computer's cache. In this guide, we'll explain what cache is, why clearing it matters for gaming performance, and provide step-by-step instructions for clearing different types of cache on your PC.

What is Cache and Why Should You Clear It?

Cache is a temporary storage location where your computer saves data for quick access later. While cache helps speed up processes by avoiding repeated downloads or calculations, it can eventually accumulate too much data and become counterproductive.

For gamers, clearing cache regularly is particularly important because:

• It frees up valuable system memory
• It can resolve game loading issues and crashes
• It helps eliminate visual glitches and texture problems
• It can improve overall system responsiveness
• It may resolve issues with game launcher applications

Let's look at the different types of cache on your computer and how to clear each one.

Important Disclaimer: What Happens When You Clear Cache

Before proceeding with any cache clearing, be aware of these potential consequences:

• Lost login sessions: You'll need to sign back into websites and applications
• Temporary slower performance: Websites and games may load slower initially while rebuilding cache
• Reset preferences: Some site settings, game configurations, and customizations may revert to default
• Lost form data: Unsaved information in forms or shopping carts may disappear
• Initial stuttering in games: Games may need to rebuild shader caches, causing temporary performance issues

To minimize disruption:

• Have your login credentials ready
• Avoid clearing cache during important transactions or gaming sessions
• Consider selective clearing rather than wiping all cache types simultaneously

Despite these temporary inconveniences, the performance benefits of regular cache clearing typically outweigh the drawbacks.

Let's look at the different types of cache on your computer and how to clear each one.

Browser Cache: Speed Up Your Web Experience

What is Browser Cache?

Your web browser stores images, scripts, and other website elements to load pages faster on repeat visits. Over time, this cache can become bloated or corrupted.

How to Clear Browser Cache

For Google Chrome:

1.  Click the three dots in the upper right corner
2.  Select "More tools" > "Clear browsing data"
3.  Choose a time range (select "All time" for a complete cleanup)
4.  Check the boxes for "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files"
5.  Click "Clear data"

For Mozilla Firefox:

1.  Click the menu button (three lines) in the upper right
2.  Select "Settings" > "Privacy & Security"
3.  Scroll to "Cookies and Site Data" section
4.  Click "Clear Data"
5.  Ensure "Cached Web Content" is checked
6.  Click "Clear"

For Microsoft Edge:

1.  Click the three dots in the upper right corner
2.  Select "Settings" > "Privacy, search, and services"
3.  Under "Clear browsing data," click "Choose what to clear"
4.  Select "Cached images and files"
5.  Click "Clear now"

Windows System Cache: Optimize Your OS Performance

Disk Cleanup Utility

Windows has a built-in tool to clear temporary files and system cache:

1. Type "Disk Cleanup" in the Windows search bar
2. Select the drive you want to clean (usually C:)
3. Check the boxes for "Temporary files," "System cached files," and other options
4. Click "OK" and then "Delete Files"

Flush DNS Cache

The DNS cache stores information about websites you've visited to speed up future connections:

1.  Right-click on the Start menu and select "Windows Terminal (Admin)" or "Command Prompt (Admin)"
2.  Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter
3.  You'll see a confirmation message that the DNS cache has been successfully flushed

Game-Specific Cache: Boost Your Gaming Performance

Steam Cache

1.  Open Steam
2.  Click "Steam" in the top-left corner
3.  Select "Settings" > "Downloads"
4.  Click "Clear Download Cache"
5.  Click "OK" and restart Steam when prompted

Epic Games Launcher Cache

1.  Close the Epic Games Launcher
2.  Press Win+R to open the Run dialog
3.  Type %localappdata%\EpicGamesLauncher\Saved\webcache and press Enter
4.  Delete all contents of this folder
5.  Restart your computer before launching Epic Games again

Blizzard Battle.net Cache

1.  Close the Battle.net client
2.  Press Win+R to open the Run dialog
3.  Type %ProgramData%\Battle.net\Cache and press Enter
4.  Delete all contents of this folder
5.  Restart the Battle.net client

Graphics Card Cache: Maximize Your GPU

NVIDIA Shader Cache

1.  Right-click on your desktop and select "NVIDIA Control Panel"
2.  Go to "Manage 3D settings"
3.  Scroll down to "Shader Cache" and click on it
4.  Select "Clear" from the dropdown menu
5.  Click "Apply"

AMD Shader Cache

1.  Right-click on your desktop and select "AMD Radeon Settings"
2.  Click on the "Gaming" tab
3.  Select "Global Settings"
4.  Scroll down to "Shader Cache" and toggle it off
5.  Restart your computer
6.  Repeat steps 1-3 and toggle "Shader Cache" back on

Windows Store Cache

If you download games from the Microsoft Store:

1.  Press Win+R to type open the Run dialog
2.  Type wsreset.exe and press Enter
3.  A blank command window will appear and then close automatically
4.  The Microsoft Store will launch once the cache is cleared

When to Schedule Regular Cache Clearing

For optimal gaming performance, we recommend clearing various caches according to this schedule:

• Browser cache: Once per month
• System temporary files: Every two weeks
• Game launcher caches: Monthly or when experiencing issues
• DNS cache: When experiencing connection problems
• Shader caches: Only when encountering graphics glitches

Advanced Cache Management for Power Users

Windows Prefetch and Superfetch

These Windows features create cache to improve application launch times:

1.  Press Win+R and type services.msc
2.  Find "SysMain" (Superfetch)
3.  Right-click it and select "Properties"
4.  You can temporarily stop the service or set it to "Disabled" if you prefer to manage cache manually

Using CCleaner (With Caution)

CCleaner can clean multiple caches at once, but use with care:

1.  Download and install CCleaner from a reputable source
2.  Open CCleaner and select "Custom Clean"
3.  Check only the caches you want to clear
4.  Run the cleaner
5.  Be cautious with registry cleaning features

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Preventing Cache Buildup

To minimize future cache problems:

• Close applications properly
• Restart your computer regularly
• Limit the number of browser tabs and extensions
• Use gaming mode when playing demanding games
• Consider using SSD storage for faster cache handling

Conclusion

Regularly clearing cache on your computer is an easy yet effective way to maintain optimal performance, especially for gaming. While cache serves an important purpose in speeding up your system, too much of it can have the opposite effect.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure your gaming rig stays responsive and delivers the best possible performance. Remember that different types of cache affect different aspects of your system, so a comprehensive approach yields the best results.