Boost Windows 11 Speed: A Step-by-Step Guide to Clearing Your Cache

Table of Contents

• Understanding Computer Cache¶
• Locating Cache Folders in Windows 11¶
• Types of Cache You Can Clear in Windows 11¶
• Methods to Clear System Cache More Broadly¶

In the realm of computer operation, temporary files and cached data play a crucial role in enhancing system responsiveness and user experience. However, an accumulation of these files over time can lead to performance degradation, occupying valuable storage space and potentially causing conflicts. Regularly clearing your Windows 11 cache is a vital maintenance task that can significantly contribute to maintaining optimal system speed and efficiency. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough of various cache types within Windows 11 and detailed instructions on how to effectively clear them, ensuring your system runs smoothly.

Understanding Computer Cache¶

Before delving into the methods of clearing cache, it’s essential to grasp the fundamental concept of what a computer cache is and why it’s used. In essence, a cache is a high-speed storage mechanism designed to temporarily hold frequently accessed data. This can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. The primary objective of caching is to expedite data retrieval. When you access data, a copy is stored in the cache. Subsequent requests for the same data can then be served from the cache, which is significantly faster than retrieving it from the original source, such as a hard drive or the internet.

Consider browsing the internet as an example. When you visit a webpage for the first time, elements like images, scripts, and HTML files are downloaded and stored in your browser’s cache. The next time you visit the same page, the browser can load these elements from the local cache instead of downloading them again from the web server. This results in faster page loading times and a smoother browsing experience.

Windows 11 leverages caching extensively across various system components to improve performance. It temporarily stores frequently used data in readily accessible locations. While this caching mechanism is generally beneficial, it’s not without its drawbacks. If your system has limited RAM or hard drive space, or if the CPU is not sufficiently powerful, excessive cached data can actually hinder performance. Furthermore, cached data can sometimes become corrupted, leading to application errors or system instability. Therefore, periodic cache clearing is a necessary practice to prevent these issues and maintain system health.

Locating Cache Folders in Windows 11¶

The location of cache files in Windows 11 varies depending on the type of cache. System-level cache files are dispersed across different directories. For instance, temporary files, a common form of cache, are typically located in the user’s Temp folder, accessible via C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp. Understanding these locations is crucial for manual cache clearing, although Windows provides built-in tools to simplify this process.

Types of Cache You Can Clear in Windows 11¶

Windows 11 employs various types of caches to optimize different aspects of system operation. Here is a breakdown of the common cache types that users can clear to improve performance:

1. Temporary Files Cache
2. Microsoft Store Cache
3. Windows Update Cache
4. System Restore Cache
5. DNS Cache
6. Font Cache
7. Windows Installer Cache
8. Microsoft OneNote Cache
9. Internet or Browser Cache
10. Outlook Cache
11. Display Cache
12. Windows Thumbnail & Icon Cache

Let’s explore each of these cache types and the methods to clear them in detail.

1] Clearing Temporary Files Cache¶

Temporary files are created by Windows and applications to store intermediate data during operations. Over time, these files can accumulate and consume disk space. Clearing the temporary files cache is a straightforward way to reclaim storage and potentially improve system responsiveness.

Steps to Clear Temporary Files Cache:

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type %temp% and press Enter. This will open the Temporary files folder located at C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp.
   
3. Select all files and folders within the Temp folder by pressing Ctrl + A.
4. Press the Delete key to remove the selected files. Some files may be in use and cannot be deleted. If prompted, check the box “Do this for all current items” and click Skip to bypass these files.

2] Deleting Microsoft Store Cache¶

The Microsoft Store, like web browsers, uses a cache to store data that helps in faster loading and operation of the store and its applications. Clearing this cache can resolve issues with the Microsoft Store, such as apps failing to download or update correctly.

Steps to Clear Microsoft Store Cache:

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type wsreset.exe and press Enter.
   
3. A Command Prompt window will appear, which will be blank. Wait for a short period while the cache is cleared. Do not close the Command Prompt window manually.
4. Once the cache is cleared, the Command Prompt window will automatically close, and the Microsoft Store might launch.

3] Clearing Windows Update Cache¶

Windows Update maintains a cache to store update files. If updates fail to install or you encounter issues with Windows Update, clearing this cache can be a troubleshooting step.

Steps to Clear Windows Update Cache:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download.
   
2. Select and delete all files and folders within the Download folder.
3. Optionally, you can also clear the Catroot2 folder, located at C:\Windows\System32\Catroot2. However, deleting files in Catroot2 should be done with caution. It is generally recommended to only clear the SoftwareDistribution folder for most Windows Update cache issues.

4] Clearing System Restore Cache¶

System Restore creates restore points, which are essentially backups of your system at a specific point in time. While these restore points are invaluable for system recovery, they can also consume significant disk space. Clearing old restore points can free up space.

Steps to Clear System Restore Cache (Delete Old Restore Points):

1. Search for “Create a restore point” in the Windows search bar and open System Properties.
2. Click on the System Protection tab.
3. Select your system drive (usually C:) and click Configure.
   
4. Click the Delete button to delete all restore points for the selected drive.
5. Click Apply and OK.

Caution: Deleting system restore points means you will lose the ability to restore your system to those previous states. Ensure you understand the implications before proceeding.

5] Flushing DNS Cache¶

The Domain Name System (DNS) cache stores the IP addresses of websites you’ve recently visited. Sometimes, outdated or corrupted DNS cache can cause issues with internet connectivity or website access. Flushing the DNS cache forces your computer to retrieve fresh DNS information.

Steps to Flush DNS Cache:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Search for “cmd” in the Windows search bar, right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator”.
2. In the Command Prompt window, type the command ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
   
3. You should see a confirmation message: “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache”.

6] Rebuilding Font Cache¶

The font cache helps Windows load fonts quickly. If you experience issues with fonts not displaying correctly or applications crashing due to font problems, rebuilding the font cache can resolve these issues.

Steps to Rebuild Font Cache:

1. Close all running applications.
2. Open File Explorer and navigate to the Services app. You can do this by typing services.msc in the Run dialog (Windows Key + R) or in File Explorer’s address bar and pressing Enter.
3. In the Services window, find the Windows Font Cache Service.
4. Right-click on Windows Font Cache Service and select Stop.
5. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local.
   Note: You might need to enable “Show hidden files and folders” in File Explorer’s View settings to see the AppData folder.
6. Delete the FontCache folder. If you can’t delete it, ensure the Windows Font Cache Service is stopped.
7. Go back to the Services window, right-click on Windows Font Cache Service, and select Start. This will rebuild the font cache.

7] Clearing Windows Installer Cache¶

The Windows Installer cache stores important files used for installing, updating, and uninstalling programs using the Windows Installer service (MSI). While it’s generally not recommended to manually delete files from this cache as it can cause issues with program uninstallation or updates, in some cases, cleaning up orphaned or corrupted entries might be necessary. Caution is advised.

Steps to Clear Windows Installer Cache (Using a Tool - Recommended):

Manually deleting files from the Installer cache is risky. It is recommended to use a dedicated tool from Microsoft called Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter (formerly known as Microsoft Fix it) to safely remove corrupted or problematic entries.

1. Download the Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter from the Microsoft website. Search for “Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter” to find the download link.
2. Run the troubleshooter.
3. Choose whether you are having problems installing or uninstalling a program.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to identify and remove problematic installer cache entries.

Avoid manually deleting files from the C:\Windows\Installer folder unless you are absolutely sure about what you are doing and understand the risks involved.

8] Cleaning Microsoft OneNote Cache Folder¶

Microsoft OneNote, like other applications, uses a cache to improve performance. Over time, the OneNote cache can grow in size, especially if you frequently use the application. Clearing the OneNote cache can help resolve sync issues or performance problems within OneNote.

Steps to Clear OneNote Cache:

1. Close Microsoft OneNote completely. Ensure it’s not running in the system tray either.
2. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type or paste %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneNote\ and press Enter. This will open the OneNote local app data folder.
4. Open the folder corresponding to your OneNote version (e.g., “16.0” for OneNote 2016 or “UWP” for the OneNote app from the Microsoft Store).
5. Inside the version folder, locate and delete the cache folder.
6. Restart OneNote. It will rebuild the cache when it starts.

9] Removing Internet or Browser Cache¶

Web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge store website data in their cache to speed up browsing. Regularly clearing your browser cache is good practice for privacy and performance.

Steps to Clear Browser Cache (Example for Chrome - Steps are similar for other browsers):

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click on the three vertical dots (Menu) in the top right corner.
3. Go to More tools > Clear browsing data…
   
4. In the “Clear browsing data” dialog box, select the Time range (e.g., “Last hour”, “Last 24 hours”, “All time”). To clear everything, choose “All time”.
5. Check the box next to Cached images and files. You can also choose to clear browsing history, cookies, and other data if desired.
6. Click the Clear data button.

Refer to specific instructions for clearing cache in other browsers like Firefox, Edge, Safari, etc., as the steps may vary slightly.

Related: loading

10] Clearing Outlook Cache¶

Microsoft Outlook also uses a cache to store email data, calendar information, and other items for faster access. Clearing the Outlook cache can resolve issues with Outlook performance, synchronization problems, or corrupted data.

Steps to Clear Outlook Cache (for Exchange Accounts in Outlook Desktop App):

Outlook cache for Exchange accounts is typically managed by Cached Exchange Mode. To clear it, you can disable and re-enable Cached Exchange Mode, or clear offline Outlook Data Files (.ost).

1. Close Outlook.
2. Open Control Panel. Search for “Control Panel” in the Windows search bar.
3. In Control Panel, go to Mail (Microsoft Outlook). (You might need to switch the “View by” to “Large icons” or “Small icons” to see “Mail”).
4. Click on Email Accounts….
5. Select your Exchange email account and click Change….
6. Uncheck the Use Cached Exchange Mode box.
7. Click Next, then Finish, and Close on the Account Settings and Mail Setup dialogs.
8. Restart Outlook. This will run Outlook without Cached Exchange Mode.
9. Close Outlook again.
10. Repeat steps 1-5, but this time, check the Use Cached Exchange Mode box to re-enable it.
11. Click Next, then Finish, and Close on the Account Settings and Mail Setup dialogs.
12. Restart Outlook. Outlook will rebuild the cache.

For other types of Outlook accounts (like POP3 or IMAP), the cache clearing process might involve deleting local data files, which is more complex and should be done with caution.

11] Clearing Display Cache¶

Windows maintains a display cache to store information about connected monitors and display settings. If you encounter issues after changing display configurations, such as incorrect resolution or monitor detection problems, clearing the display cache might help.

Steps to Clear Display Cache:

1. Open Device Manager. Right-click on the Start button and select “Device Manager”.
2. Expand the Monitors category.
3. Right-click on your monitor(s) listed under “Monitors” and select Uninstall device. Do this for all monitors listed.
4. In the confirmation dialog, check the box “Delete the driver software for this device” if available, and click Uninstall.
5. Restart your computer. Windows will automatically redetect your monitors and reinstall drivers, effectively clearing the display cache.

12] Clearing Windows Thumbnail & Icon Cache¶

Windows creates thumbnail images for files and icons for applications to display them quickly in File Explorer. If thumbnails or icons are not displaying correctly, are corrupted, or are slow to load, clearing the thumbnail and icon cache can resolve these visual issues.

Steps to Clear Thumbnail and Icon Cache using Disk Cleanup:

1. Search for “Disk Cleanup” in the Windows search bar and open the Disk Cleanup utility.
2. Select your system drive (usually C:) and click OK.
3. In the Disk Cleanup window, scroll down the list of “Files to delete” and check the box next to Thumbnails.
4. Click OK and then Delete files to confirm.

Alternative Method - Manual Deletion (More Advanced):

You can manually delete the icon cache file. However, this is more technical. Search online for “manual delete icon cache windows 11” for detailed steps if you prefer this method. Using Disk Cleanup is generally simpler and safer.

Methods to Clear System Cache More Broadly¶

While the above sections detail clearing specific types of cache, Windows also provides tools to clear various caches more broadly, simplifying the process.

1] Using the Disk Cleanup Tool¶

The Disk Cleanup utility is a built-in Windows tool that allows you to remove various types of unnecessary files, including several types of cache.

Steps to Use Disk Cleanup:

1. Search for “Disk Cleanup” in the Windows search bar and open the Disk Cleanup utility.
2. Select the drive you want to clean up (usually C:) and click OK.
3. Disk Cleanup will scan your drive and calculate how much space you can free up.
4. In the “Files to delete” list, check the boxes for the types of files you want to delete, including:
   • Temporary Internet Files (Browser cache)
   • Thumbnails (Thumbnail cache)
   • Temporary files (Temporary files cache)
   • Delivery Optimization Files (Windows Update related files)
   • Recycle Bin (If you want to empty the Recycle Bin)
5. Click OK and then Delete files to confirm.
6. To clean up system files as well, click the Clean up system files button in the Disk Cleanup window, select your drive again, and repeat steps 4-5. This option will include cleaning up Windows Update Cleanup and other system-related files.

2] Utilizing Storage Sense¶

Storage Sense is a Windows 11 feature that can automatically free up disk space by deleting temporary files and managing other types of content. You can configure it to run automatically or manually.

Steps to Use Storage Sense:

1. Open the Settings app (Windows Key + I).
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Storage.
4. Under the “Storage management” section, toggle Storage Sense to On to enable automatic cleanup.
5. Click on Storage Sense to configure its settings.
   
6. You can configure:
   • Run Storage Sense: Choose how often Storage Sense should run automatically (e.g., Daily, Weekly, Monthly, When disk space is low).
   • Keep Windows and app temporary files: Choose how long to keep temporary files in the Recycle Bin and Downloads folder before Storage Sense deletes them.
   • Automatically clean up user content: Configure OneDrive file management.
7. To run Storage Sense immediately, scroll down to the “Free up space now” section and click the Run Storage Sense now button.

3] Employing Third-Party Junk Cleaner Software¶

Numerous third-party applications are available that specialize in cleaning up junk files and various types of cache from your system. CCleaner is a popular example of such software. These tools often provide a more comprehensive cleanup than the built-in Windows tools and can offer additional features.

Using CCleaner (Example):

1. Download and install CCleaner from its official website.
2. Launch CCleaner.
3. In the CCleaner interface, go to the Easy Clean or Custom Clean section (depending on the version).
4. Select the types of cache and temporary files you want to clean up. CCleaner typically categorizes them clearly (e.g., Internet Cache, Temporary Files, etc.).
5. Click the Analyze button to scan for files to be cleaned.
6. Review the results and click the Run Cleaner button to delete the selected files.

Caution: When using third-party cleaner software, exercise caution and download from reputable sources. Be mindful of the settings and options you choose to avoid accidentally deleting important files.

Clearing your Windows 11 cache is a simple yet effective way to maintain your system’s performance and free up disk space. By understanding the different types of cache and utilizing the methods outlined in this guide, you can ensure your Windows 11 system runs smoothly and efficiently.

Do you have any favorite methods for clearing cache or any experiences with system performance improvements after clearing cache? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!