How to Clear Cache on Windows 11: Quick Guide in 2026

Your PC is slow. Apps take forever to load. Storage is filling up. The fix is often simpler than you think: clear your cache. This guide shows you exactly how to clear cache on Windows 11, step by step, covering every type of cache that might be slowing you down.

You don’t need to be tech-savvy. Just follow along.

What Is Cache and Why Should You Clear It?

Cache is temporary data your computer stores to load things faster. When you open a website, Windows saves parts of it. When you run an app, it saves files it might need again. That sounds useful, and it is — until it builds up.

Over time, cached files get outdated, corrupted, or just take up space. Clearing them can:

• Free up gigabytes of disk space
• Fix apps that are glitching or loading slowly
• Resolve update errors
• Speed up your PC’s overall performance

Clearing cache does not delete your personal files, passwords, or documents. It only removes temporary data that Windows can rebuild on its own.

Types of Cache in Windows 11

Windows 11 has several different caches. Each one needs to be cleared differently.

Cache Type	What It Stores	When to Clear
Temporary files	App and system temp data	Monthly or when storage is low
DNS cache	Website address lookups	When sites won’t load properly
Browser cache	Website images, scripts	When sites look broken or outdated
Microsoft Store cache	Store app data	When Store apps fail to update
Thumbnail cache	Folder image previews	When thumbnails look wrong
RAM (memory) cache	Active app data	When PC feels sluggish
Prefetch cache	App startup data	Occasionally, not often
Windows Update cache	Downloaded update files	After updates complete

We will go through each one.

How to Clear Cache on Windows 11 Using Disk Cleanup

This is the easiest starting point. Disk Cleanup handles multiple cache types at once.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + S and type Disk Cleanup
2. Click on it to open
3. Select your C: drive and click OK
4. Wait while it calculates
5. Check the boxes for what you want to delete (Temporary files, Thumbnails, etc.)
6. Click Clean up system files for more options including Windows Update cache
7. Check those boxes too
8. Click OK, then Delete Files

This alone can free up several gigabytes on most PCs.

How to Clear Temporary Files in Windows 11 Settings

Microsoft built a faster way to do this directly in Settings.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Go to System, then Storage
3. Click Temporary files
4. Windows will scan and list all temp file categories
5. Check the ones you want to remove
6. Click Remove files

The list will include Downloads (optional), Thumbnails, Delivery Optimization Files, Temporary Internet Files, and more. You can choose which ones to delete.

Tip: Leave the Downloads folder unchecked unless you’ve already moved what you need from it.

How to Clear the DNS Cache on Windows 11

DNS cache stores the IP addresses of websites you’ve visited. If a site moves servers or stops loading correctly, stale DNS data is often why.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + S, type cmd
2. Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator
3. Type this command and press Enter:

ipconfig /flushdns

4. You’ll see the message: “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache”

That’s it. Takes 10 seconds. If a website suddenly works after this, DNS was the problem.

How to Clear Browser Cache on Windows 11

Every browser has its own cache. Here’s how to clear it in the most common ones.

Google Chrome

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete
2. Set time range to All time
3. Check Cached images and files
4. Click Clear data

Microsoft Edge

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete
2. Set time range to All time
3. Check Cached images and files
4. Click Clear now

Mozilla Firefox

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete
2. Select Everything from the time range
3. Check Cache
4. Click Clear Now

Clearing browser cache is one of the most effective fixes when a website looks broken, displays old content, or logs you out randomly.

How to Clear Microsoft Store Cache on Windows 11

If Microsoft Store apps won’t update, install, or launch, the Store cache is likely corrupted.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R to open Run
2. Type wsreset.exe and press Enter
3. A blank Command Prompt window opens
4. Wait for it to close automatically (takes 30 to 60 seconds)
5. Microsoft Store will open on its own when done

No confirmation message appears. The Store opening means it worked.

How to Clear Thumbnail Cache on Windows 11

Thumbnails are the small preview images you see in File Explorer. When they look wrong or don’t load, the cache is stale.

Steps via Disk Cleanup:

1. Open Disk Cleanup (Windows + S, search for it)
2. Select C: drive
3. Check Thumbnails in the list
4. Click OK and confirm

Steps via Storage Sense:

1. Go to Settings > System > Storage
2. Click Temporary files
3. Check Thumbnails
4. Click Remove files

After this, thumbnails will regenerate the next time you open folders. It takes a moment.

How to Clear Windows Update Cache on Windows 11

Update cache builds up after every Windows update. It can take gigabytes of space and occasionally causes update errors.

Method 1: Via Disk Cleanup

1. Open Disk Cleanup
2. Click Clean up system files
3. Check Windows Update Cleanup
4. Click OK

Method 2: Manual deletion

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter
2. Scroll down to Windows Update
3. Right-click it and choose Stop
4. Press Windows + R again, type: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
5. Select all files (Ctrl + A) and delete them
6. Go back to services, right-click Windows Update, and click Start

This method clears the actual downloaded update files. Windows will re-download them if needed during the next update cycle.

How to Clear RAM Cache on Windows 11

RAM cache is managed automatically by Windows. But if your PC feels sluggish, you can force it to release unused memory.

Quick method:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
2. Go to Performance tab, click Memory
3. See how much RAM is in use

If RAM is nearly full, closing unused apps is the fastest fix. You can also:

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type %temp% and press Enter
3. Select all files and delete them (skip files that are in use)

For deeper RAM management, third-party tools like Autoruns from Microsoft Sysinternals let you disable startup programs that consume memory unnecessarily.

How to Clear Prefetch Cache on Windows 11

Prefetch files help apps start faster by preloading data. Clearing them occasionally is fine, but don’t make it a habit as Windows rebuilds them for a reason.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type prefetch and press Enter
3. Click Continue if prompted for admin permission
4. Select all files (Ctrl + A) and delete

Windows will rebuild prefetch files as you use your apps. Your PC may feel slightly slower for a few minutes after this, then return to normal.

How to Use Storage Sense to Auto-Clear Cache

Instead of doing this manually every time, enable Storage Sense to clean up automatically.

Steps:

1. Go to Settings > System > Storage
2. Toggle Storage Sense to On
3. Click Storage Sense to configure it
4. Set how often it runs (daily, weekly, or monthly)
5. Configure what it cleans: temp files, Recycle Bin, Downloads folder

This is the hands-off approach. Once set up, Windows handles routine cleanup on its own.

How Much Space Can You Recover?

Results vary by how long the PC has been running without cleanup. Here’s a rough idea:

Cache Type	Typical Space Recovered
Temporary files	1 to 5 GB
Windows Update cache	2 to 10 GB
Browser cache	200 MB to 2 GB
Thumbnail cache	50 to 500 MB
Delivery optimization	1 to 8 GB
Prefetch files	50 to 300 MB

On a PC that’s never been cleaned, total recovery can exceed 20 GB.

When Clearing Cache Might Not Help

Cache clearing is not a magic fix. If your PC is still slow after clearing everything, consider:

• Too little RAM for your current workload (less than 8 GB in 2026 is limiting)
• Old or fragmented hard drive (consider upgrading to SSD)
• Malware running in the background
• Too many startup programs slowing boot time
• Outdated drivers causing performance issues

Use Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to check what’s using the most CPU and memory while idle.

How Often Should You Clear Cache on Windows 11?

There’s no universal answer, but here’s a practical schedule:

• Temp files and thumbnails: Every 1 to 2 months
• Browser cache: Every 2 to 4 weeks, or when a site breaks
• DNS cache: Only when you have connectivity issues
• Windows Update cache: After major updates complete
• Microsoft Store cache: Only when Store apps malfunction
• Prefetch cache: Rarely, only if troubleshooting

Enabling Storage Sense handles most of this automatically.

Quick Reference: Keyboard Shortcuts and Commands

Task	Shortcut / Command
Open Settings	Windows + I
Open Run dialog	Windows + R
Open Task Manager	Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Open Command Prompt (admin)	Windows + S > cmd > Run as admin
Flush DNS	ipconfig /flushdns
Open Temp folder	%temp% in Run
Open Prefetch folder	prefetch in Run
Reset Microsoft Store	wsreset.exe in Run
Clear browser cache	Ctrl + Shift + Delete

Conclusion

Clearing cache on Windows 11 is one of the most effective and underused maintenance habits. It’s free, takes under 10 minutes, and can make a real difference in speed and storage. Start with Disk Cleanup or the Settings > Storage path, then handle DNS, browser, and Microsoft Store cache as needed. Enable Storage Sense to automate the routine work going forward.

You don’t need third-party software to do any of this. Everything covered here is built into Windows 11.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does clearing cache delete my files or passwords?

No. Cache is temporary data only. Clearing it does not remove your documents, photos, saved passwords, or personal data. The only exception is browser cache, which may log you out of some websites, but your saved passwords in the browser are not deleted unless you specifically choose to delete them.

Will clearing cache speed up my Windows 11 PC?

It can, especially if your storage drive was nearly full or if corrupted temp files were causing app crashes. However, if your PC is slow due to insufficient RAM or an aging hard drive, cache clearing alone won’t solve everything. It’s a good first step, not a complete fix.

Is it safe to delete everything in the Temp folder?

Mostly yes. You can delete files in the %temp% folder safely. Some files may be in use by running apps and cannot be deleted. Skip those. Windows will not break if you delete everything else in that folder.

How do I clear GPU cache on Windows 11?

For NVIDIA GPUs, go to NVIDIA Control Panel > Help > Debug Mode to clear shader cache, or manually delete files from C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\NVIDIA\DXCache. For general DirectX shader cache, open Disk Cleanup and check “DirectX Shader Cache” from the list.

How often should I clear my browser cache?

Once a month is a good habit for most users. Clear it immediately if a website displays outdated content, looks visually broken, or behaves unexpectedly after a site update. Browsers also have settings to clear cache automatically on exit if you prefer a hands-off approach.