How to clear cache on windows 10 | Ultimate Guide

👤 Diwas Poudel 🕒 21 May 2022 📁 FIX

Cached Data is essential in all types of technology, including the operating system, database, CDN, web application, and so on. Clearing the cache is one method of reducing used disk space, and it improves overall system performance. Windows 10 / 11 is not the same as the previous version; it can perform many tasks smoothly, and one reason for this is the cache. Because using too much cache can degrade system performance, we must occasionally clear the cache manually.

What Is Cached Data?

What Is Cached Data?

Cached Data is temporary data stored in the computer for faster accessing those data when needed. These data may be rapidly used as data stored by the application so that they can directly use that without the need of doing lots of complex computations.

Benefits of Cached Data

Cache data helps to improve the performance and throughput of the system.
To make the system more responsive.
Free up Space
Troubleshooting issues.

When to Clear Cached Data in Windows 10?

When you feel degraded in system performance.
When you are running low on storage space.

There is various places in windows 10 for clearing cache data. Some of the few caches available on windows 10 are as follows.

Temporary Files Cache
Windows Store Cache
Prefetch Files
Login History and Application History Caches
DNS Resolver cache
Web Browser Cache
File Explorer Cache
Location Cache

Also Read: Do Windows 10 need Antivirus?

Clearing temporary Files Cache Windows 10

Windows 10 creates temporary files for applications that you are using. These files are created for holding information related to the application that is currently in use. Most of the time, it gets cleared when you close the application and some remain there as trash.

1. Goto Search Bar and search "Storage Settings" and select "Storage Settings" from the list

It will give you how your storage is used and how much free space is available.

storage-settings

2. Click on "Temporary Files".

It will scan all available temporary files present in your system. Here you can clearly see "how large my temporary files ?"

temporary-files

3. Then carefully check on the box that you want to clear and click on "Remove Files".

Removing These files may take a longer time.

Here you can basically clear the following things:

Windows Update Cache
Windows Upgrade Log Files
Temporary Internet Files
Thumbnail Cache
Temporary Files
Windows Defender Non Critical Files
Recycle Bin
DirectX Shade Cache
Windows Error Reports and Feedback Diagnostics
Delivery Optimization Files: They are files previously downloaded which can be removed if the delivery optimization service has not currently been used.

Don't Miss: Check your mobile Processor

Clearing Windows Store Cache

Windows 10 includes a Microsoft Store with a variety of apps for work, productivity, gaming, social networking, and other activities. It offers both free and paid apps. When you install or update store apps, Windows 10 may store Cache, which can sometimes cause issues such as apps not downloading, slow download speed, and so on, so it's best to clear this cache.

You can clear cache using registry, command, and from UI. But a simple solution is from the command line.

Let's do it:

1 Press Win + R key combination from the keyboard. Run Wizard will get a popup.

2 Type WSReset.exe and press Ok.

Then you will just see a black command prompt screen, It clears the store apps cache internally, so do not wait for this do other your tasks. After a few minutes, Microsoft Store will open.

Clearing DNS Resolver cache in Windows 10

Using Command Prompt

1 Press Win + R key combination from the keyboard. Run Wizard will get a popup.

2 Type cmd and press Ok

3 Then type ipconfig /flushdns in the command prompt and press Enter.

Using PowerShell

1 Press Win + R key combination from the keyboard. Run Wizard will get a popup.

2 Type cmd and press Ok

3 Then type Clear-DnsClientCache in the command prompt and press Enter.

Clearing Prefetch Cache in Windows 10

I prefer clearing prefetch only for reducting some small amount of disk space, but not for performance intention. Also, from the Microsoft blog, prefetch files help to keep track of computer start information and programs you commonly open. So, if you clear those files then your computer may take a little more time for windows startup and other commonly used applications.

Let's clear it:

1 Press Win + R key combination from the keyboard. Run Window will open.

2 Type prefetch and press Ok.

Then, it will ask for permission to access. Just click "ok".Then you will get prefetch files.

3 Press Ctrl + A to select all files and press the Shift + Delete key combination.

This will prompt and ask "Do you want to delete" and press Ok. This deletes all your prefetch from your computer.

Also read: Find crash and error logs and location in Windows 10 / 11?

Clearing Windows and UserWise Temporary Files Cache Windows 10

Actually, temporary files created by Windows Operating System have located in the %system%\Windows\Temp folder.It can be cleared in the following ways.

1 Press Win + R key combination from the keyboard. Run Window will open.

2 Type temp and press Ok.

Then, it will ask for permission to access. Just click "ok".Then you will get prefetch files.

3 Press Ctrl + A to select all files and press the Shift + Delete key combination.

Now, let's clear temporary files created by the user while running the software. They are located at %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Temp Folder.It can be cleared in the following ways.

1 Press Win + R key combination from the keyboard. Run Window will open.

2 Type &temp& and press Ok.

Then, it will ask for permission to access. Just click "ok".Then you will get prefetch files.

3 Press Ctrl + A to select all files and press the Shift + Delete key combination.

Most of the files get deleted and some files which are currently in use by an application will not be deleted so just skip these files.

Also read: Does Windows 11 use more RAM than Windows 10?

Clearing Web Browser Cache and Cookies

Web Browser caches static assets of the website so that when next time you visit the same sites then static assets are loaded from caches. Some assets expire within a few days and some remain there for a year. The same happens for all the web browsers from Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, and all other browsers.

Here, I will show how to clear those caches from Google Chrome Browser and the same will apply to other browsers as well.

Static Assets are the content of the website which does not change rapidly.It includes HTML,CSS,Javascript and Images.

Clearing Windows Event Log Information

Windows event log can provide a full record of various users' activity. Anyone who has login the system can know the private information of the user by accessing the event log file. Therefore you can surely routinely delete the event log if you want to protect your privacy. So make habit of clearing those stuff.

Steps:

1 Goto Run and type: eventvwr.msc and press the Ok button.

Windows Event Box will get a display.

2 Goto Windows Logs Section and Right Click on Application > Clear Log > Clear

Also, do the same for Security as below

3 Goto Windows Logs Section and Right Click on Security > Clear Log > Clear

Also do the same for "Setup", "System", "Forwarded Events" etc.

Clearing System Restore Cache

System Restore requires a "snapshot" of certain system files and settings and saves it creating restore points. By default, when you install a device driver or update Windows, Windows 10 automatically creates a restore point. If Windows 10 is unstable, then you can subsequently reverse system changes. This restore takes disk space so if your system is stable and do not like to restore it in the future then you can clear System restore Cache by following the below steps:

1 Goto Run and type: SystemPropertiesProtection and press the Ok button.

This will open the System Properties window.

2 Now select a drive from which you wish to remove all old restore points and click Configure.

3 Click on Delete Button. Then Click Continue to confirm when the warning dialog pops up.

Clearing Windows 10 Update Cache

Sometimes Windows Update Cache creates a problem while installing and downloading Windows updates in Windows 10. Windows Update Cache may use several GB of disk space and suppose if an update is applied then also that cache may not get cleared. So, let's delete those stuff manually.

1 Press Win + R and type: services.msc in the search bar and click the Ok button
2 Find Windows Update and then right-click on it and click on the Stop button.

3 Press Win + R and paste "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download" without quote and delete content present in that folder.

So, you have successfully deleted all Microsoft Update files present in your system which you have downloaded so far, and are ready to be applied.

Clearing File Explorer Recent Files Cache

Steps:

1 Press the Win + E button to open file explorer

2 Then in Menu Bar click on File > Change Folder and Search Options

3 Then click on the "Clear" button

Clearing Location Cache History

The Location Services of Windows 10 tell some of the apps and services where or where you were before so that apps and services are able to work correctly. This cache remains in windows 10 for 24 hours and then gets automatically deleted. You can clear this location history cache yourself by following the below steps:

1 In a search box, search "Privacy Settings" and click on the "Privacy Settings" option.

2 Then Click on "Location" as shown below

3. Then Click on the "Clear" button.

Clearing ClipBoard Cache

1 In a search box, search "Clipboard Settings" and click on the "Clipboard Settings" option. 2 Then Click on the "Clear" button as shown below.

Clearing Run Command History

If you search anything from the Windows Run Dialog box, then that content is saved in the registry. So next time you to go the Run dialog you will get a list of commands you have typed in Run as shown below. If you like to clear windows run history then follow the below steps.

Warning: Here we are using the Windows registry so use it wisely.

1. Press Win + R from the keyboard. This will open the run dialog

2. There type Regedit and press the Ok button. This will open Windows registry windows. 3. Navigate to the following path:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU

For this copy the above path and paste into the registry navigation path. Here you will be under the "RunMRU" folder.

4. Delete all the content of RunMRU except "MRUList"

5. Close the registry.

Clear RAM cache Windows 10

There might be an application on your computer which may not release system memory when you close and open that application frequently. If this happens time and again then it may consume your RAM and finally lead to slow system performance. So, let's try to clear RAM memory.

Ways 1: Creating Shortcut

1. Right-click on an empty area on your desktop.

2. Then click on New > Shortcut. The box will pop up.

3. In the box, type

%windir%\system32\rundll32.exe advapi32.dll, ProcessIdleTasks

4. Then click on Next

5. Next, give the name for the shortcut.

6. Click on Finish

To run it, click on the shortcut you have just created. It will clear your RAM.

Delete Windows 10 Diagnostic Data

Microsoft diagnostics silently collect your hardware information, performance status, os specification, etc. to provide you better windows 10 experiences. It helps to make Windows Secure, Up to date, troubleshoot problems, etc.

Note that: According to Microsoft, Windows 10 diagnostic does not collect your personal data. You can see what microsoft have collected using Windows Diagnostic Data Viewer

According to Microsoft, those data can take up to 1GB of HD space.

If you are serious about space then you can clear it by following the steps.

1. Goto Search bar and Type Privacy and then select "Privacy Settings" from the list.

2. Then from the left pane, under Windows Permissions, click on "Diagnostics & feedback"

3. Then scroll down to Delete diagnostic data and click on Delete.

Using CCleaner Software

You can clear much of the windows cache using CCleaner.

Conclusion:

If you have noticed uncommon behavior in Windows 10 like slowing down opening applications, slowing down the boot, etc. then it's better to clear the cache. This cache is temporary files and Microsoft suggests clearing those cache files.