How to Clear Computer Cache in Windows 10 and Windows 11

To clear temporary files on Windows 10, open Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files, review the categories, and select Remove files. To clear cached website files, use your browser’s separate controls and select only Cached images and files if you want to keep cookies and browsing history.

There is no single button that clears every computer cache. Start with the method that matches your problem: Windows storage cleanup for a nearly full drive, or browser cleanup for a website showing outdated or broken content. These instructions cover Windows 10 and Windows 11, with their menu differences identified; our Windows 11 temporary-file guide covers that version’s additional cleanup options.

Before You Delete Anything

Save your work and read each selected category’s description. Downloads contains personal files, and the Recycle Bin may contain items you still want to restore. Leave them unchecked unless you have reviewed their contents and intend to remove them.

Removing Previous Windows Installation(s), or Windows.old, also removes the option to return to that previous installation. That removal cannot be undone. A cleanup category being available does not establish that you no longer need its contents.

For example, if Windows offers thumbnails and Downloads, you can leave Downloads alone while choosing thumbnails. Those are separate decisions; an old downloaded document is not automatically disposable cache.

Clear Temporary Files in Windows 10 Settings

Microsoft’s Windows performance instructions document this manual route. Use the Windows 10 section of that page.

1. Open Start > Settings > System > Storage. The storage categories help identify where disk space is being used.
2. Select Temporary files and allow Windows to finish calculating the available categories.
3. Read the descriptions and select only the categories you intend to delete. Apply the Downloads, Recycle Bin, and previous-installation warnings above.
4. Select Remove files and review any confirmation before proceeding. Wait for cleanup to finish.
5. Check the available space again. Stop when you have addressed the storage problem instead of deleting more categories solely to make every box empty.

If an older guide calls this Free up space now, look for the Temporary files category on your build. Use Disk Cleanup below if that route is unavailable. Avoid applying Windows 11’s Cleanup recommendations instructions to a Windows 10 screen.

Clear Windows 11 Temporary Files and Cache

In Windows 11, open Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files, wait for the categories, review them and choose only what you intend to remove. Select Remove files and let cleanup finish. Check available storage afterward. Keep Downloads, Recycle Bin and previous installations unless you have checked their contents and accepted the consequences. Microsoft’s drive-space guide distinguishes the available cleanup methods.

For more Windows 11 categories and automatic cleanup, use our temporary-file guide. The Edge and Chrome website-cache steps below also apply on Windows 11. For a failing Store, press Windows + R, enter wsreset.exe and select OK, following Microsoft’s Store help. These are separate caches; do not delete an entire AppData or Windows folder.

Use Disk Cleanup as an Alternative

Microsoft’s drive-space guide documents this Windows 10 method:

1. Search the taskbar for Disk Cleanup and open it.
2. Choose the drive when asked, then select OK.
3. Select a category name to read its description. Check the types you want removed, such as Thumbnails, and uncheck anything you want to retain.
4. For additional system categories, select Clean up system files, choose the drive again, and review the new results. The Windows.old warning still applies.
5. Select OK, then Delete files only when the selection is correct.

Review Automatic Cleanup With Storage Sense

For recurring storage cleanup, open Settings > System > Storage and select Configure Storage Sense or run it now. Review its rules before enabling it.

• Choose when cleanup runs and inspect the temporary-file option.
• Review the Recycle Bin deletion period. Choose Never for Downloads if you prefer to manage downloaded files yourself.
• Review any cloud-content option separately. Making a cloud file online-only frees its local space, but downloading it again needs connectivity and available storage.
• If the rules match your needs, enable Storage Sense. Under Free up space now, Clean now applies the reviewed cleanup immediately.

Microsoft explains that Storage Sense works on the system drive and settings belong to your user account. Files marked Always keep on this device are excluded from its cloud-content management.

Clear Website Cache in Microsoft Edge

1. Open Edge and select Settings and more (three dots) > Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
2. Find Clear browsing data and select Choose what to clear next to Clear browsing data now.
3. Select a time range and check Cached images and files.
4. Leave cookies, history, passwords, and other categories unchecked for cache-only cleanup. Review the list, then select Clear now.

These steps follow Microsoft’s Edge documentation. Broader deletion can affect synced information across devices. Our complete Edge cache guide explains the individual categories and alternatives.

Clear Website Cache in Google Chrome

1. Open Chrome and select More (three dots) > Delete browsing data.
2. Choose a time range, such as All time for a complete cache cleanup.
3. Check Cached images and files. Uncheck other types if you want to keep them.
4. Review the selection and select Delete data, then reload the affected website.

Google’s deletion guide distinguishes cache from cookies, history, and other stored information. Clearing cookies can remove website sessions or preferences; deleting synced account information can affect other signed-in devices.

What to Expect After Cleanup

Cached website files normally help pages load faster. After removal, a browser needs fresh copies of those resources. Cache can therefore return during normal use, and a first visit can take longer. Repeated cleanup is not a guaranteed speed improvement.

If a website still fails, compare another site or browser before deleting more data. If disk space fills again quickly, inspect which storage category is growing rather than repeatedly clearing everything. Don’t manually delete an entire AppData or Windows folder to chase a missing cleanup category.

Start with one method, check its result, and keep any personal files you still need. Storage cleanup and website-cache troubleshooting solve different problems.

Update Discord Before Clearing Its Cache

For the Discord desktop app on Windows 11, finish your call or other activity, then right-click its notification-area icon and choose Quit Discord. Reopen Discord from Start and let any update-check, download or installation screen finish. If the app offers a restart to apply an update, use it and allow Discord to open again. Check that the app reaches its normal interface and repeat the task that was failing. This is separate from refreshing Discord in a browser, which does not update the installed desktop app.

If the desktop updater repeatedly fails, record the displayed error and use Discord’s official troubleshooting guide. It recommends the latest app and a fresh official download when needed. Obtain the Windows installer from discord.com/download, review its setup prompts, complete installation and reopen the app. Do not delete the entire AppData folder or disable security software merely to try an update. Cache-only cleanup below is a separate option for stale display/loading data; it does not establish that the app updated. Check the original problem after each change rather than promising that an update fixes every outage.

Clear Discord’s Desktop Cache on Windows 11

For the desktop Discord app, save anything you need and quit Discord from its notification-area menu. Check that it has closed, including background windows, before touching its files. Discord’s official troubleshooting guide lists the Windows cache under the user’s AppData Discord folder. Browser-based Discord uses that browser’s cache instead; the Windows temporary-file cleanup above is a separate operation.

Open File Explorer and enter %appdata%\discord in its address bar. Confirm you are inside the intended user’s Discord folder. Open Cache and remove only its cache contents; use ordinary Delete so recoverable files can remain in the Recycle Bin. Older desktop layouts also have Code Cache and GPUCache; if present, limit any additional cleanup to those named cache folders. Do not delete the entire Discord or AppData directory, Local Storage, or unfamiliar folders as part of this cache-only procedure. If the expected folder is absent, stop and check the installed app/version rather than guessing another path.

Reopen Discord and test the original loading or display problem. Cache files can reappear during normal use, and cleanup is not a guaranteed performance improvement or a fix for an outage. If you removed the wrong files, quit the app and restore recoverable items from the Recycle Bin before trying more changes. Keep account access information available; cache cleanup is different from signing out, resetting the app or performing a full reinstall. A web-only problem should use the browser-specific steps above.