How to Clean Cache on PC: Step-by-Step Guide

Your PC stores temporary files—called cache—to help apps and websites load faster. Over time, that cache can pile up, taking gigabytes of space and sometimes causing errors. Clearing it is safe: you won’t lose personal files, passwords, or saved data, just the temporary copies. You’ll need to be logged in to Windows with an administrator account for some steps. Let’s get started.

What You’ll Need

Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC
Administrator account access (for some steps)
About 15 minutes

Step-by-Step

Clear the system cache (Disk Cleanup): Press the Windows key, type “Disk Cleanup,” and open the app. Select your main drive (usually C:) and click OK. Wait for it to scan, then check the boxes for “Temporary files,” “Thumbnails,” and “Delivery Optimization Files.” Click OK, then Delete Files.
Clear the system cache (Storage Sense): Open Settings (Windows key + I) > System > Storage. Turn on Storage Sense if it’s off, then click “Clean now.” Check all categories and click “Remove files.” This is a more thorough cleanup than Disk Cleanup.
Clear browser cache (Edge, Chrome, Firefox): In your browser, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the clear browsing data menu. Choose “All time” for time range, check “Cached images and files” (and optionally “Cookies” if you want to sign out of sites), then click “Clear data.” Repeat for each browser you use.
Clear app cache (Microsoft Store apps): Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Find an app, click the three-dot menu, and choose “Advanced options.” Scroll down and click “Reset” (this clears the app’s cache and may reset settings). Do this for apps that are misbehaving.
Clear the DNS cache: Open Command Prompt as administrator (right-click Start > Terminal (Admin)). Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter. You’ll see “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.” This can fix website loading issues.
Clear the Windows Update cache: Open Command Prompt as administrator and type net stop wuauserv, then net stop bits. Then type del /f /q %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Download\*.* to delete the update files. Finally, type net start wuauserv and net start bits to restart the services.

Common Mistakes

Deleting everything without checking: Some cache types, like “Thumbnails,” are harmless to delete, but “Downloads” folder items are not cache—don’t delete them unless you want to lose files.
Clearing browser cache too often: This slows down browsing because sites have to reload all assets. Only clear it when you have issues.
Using third-party “cleaner” tools: Many are unnecessary and can remove important files. Windows built-in tools are enough.
Not closing apps before clearing: If an app is running, its cache may be in use and won’t be cleared. Close all programs first.

Tips

Set Storage Sense to run automatically: In Settings > System > Storage, toggle on Storage Sense and configure it to clean temporary files daily, weekly, or monthly.
Use the “Clean up system files” button in Disk Cleanup to free up space from Windows Update leftovers—this can be several gigabytes.
For browsers, consider using extensions like uBlock Origin to reduce cache bloat, but remember to clear cache manually every few months.
If you have an SSD, clearing cache doesn’t improve speed much—it’s more about freeing space.

Troubleshooting

Disk Cleanup won’t open: Try running it as administrator (right-click > Run as administrator). If it still fails, restart your PC and try again.
Storage Sense shows no files: It may have already cleaned recently. Check if you have a lot of space used by “System & reserved”—that’s not cache, it’s Windows files.
Browser cache won’t clear: Close the browser completely (check task manager for background processes) and try again. If it persists, restart your PC.
After clearing, a website looks broken: That’s normal—the site will re-download assets. Refresh the page (F5).
Windows Update cache deletion fails: Make sure you ran Command Prompt as administrator. If the services don’t stop, restart the PC and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to delete all cache on my PC?

Yes, cache files are temporary and safe to delete. You won’t lose personal files, but some apps may need to reload data, which can slow them down temporarily.

How often should I clear cache on Windows?

Only when you notice issues like low disk space or app glitches. For most users, once a month is plenty. Over-clearing can actually make things slower.

Will clearing cache delete my passwords?

No, passwords are stored separately by your browser. However, clearing cookies will sign you out of websites, so make sure you know your passwords.

Does clearing cache speed up my PC?

It can free up disk space and fix specific issues, but it won’t magically make an old PC faster. For speed, focus on closing background programs and adding RAM.

What’s the difference between cache and cookies?

Cache stores images and parts of websites to load them faster. Cookies store login info and preferences. Both are temporary, but cookies are more personal.

Can I clear cache without admin rights?

You can clear browser and app cache without admin rights, but system cache cleanup (Disk Cleanup, Storage Sense) requires administrator access.

Sources: Microsoft Support. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.