How to clear your computer's cache in Windows 10 and 11

Cache memory is beneficial for many reasons. It stores data so you don't have to enter it again, remembers your preferences, and helps the software and websites you use frequently load faster. However, this memory can also get corrupted, causing problems or taking up an undesirable amount of storage.

Like your Internet browser, clearing the cache in Windows is a great step for troubleshooting issues and recovering drive space. The following sections contain steps to clear the cache in various areas of Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Clear temporary files in System Settings

Clearing out the temporary files in Windows can free up a significant amount of space. Select your version of Windows in the list below and follow the steps.

Windows 11

1. Press the Windows key, type Settings, then press Enter. Or, press the keyboard shortcut Windows key+I.
2. In the Settings window, click System in the navigation menu on the left.

3. On the right side of the screen, scroll down and click the Storage option.

4. In Storage settings, scroll down and click the Storage Sense option.

5. In the Storage Sense settings window, click the Automatic User content cleanup toggle to the On position.

6. Scroll to the bottom of the Storage Sense settings window and click the Run Storage Sense now button.

Windows 10

1. Press the Windows key, type Settings, then press Enter. Or, press the keyboard shortcut Windows key+I.
2. In the Settings window, click System.

3. On the left side of the screen, click the Storage option.

4. On the right side of the window, click Configure Storage Sense or run it now.

5. In the Settings window, scroll to the bottom. Make sure the box next to Delete temporary files that my apps aren't using is checked (A), and then click the Clean now button (B).

Clear cache using Disk Cleanup

The Disk Cleanup utility in Windows 10 can be utilized to free up a significant amount of space. Here's how to use it.

1. Press the Windows key, type Disk Cleanup, and press Enter. Or, press Windows key+R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter.
2. Select a drive and click the OK button.

3. In the Disk Cleanup window, check the box next to the temporary file entries and any other entries you want to clean up, and click the OK button.

4. When prompted, click the Delete Files button.

Clear Microsoft Store cache

If you encounter errors with the Microsoft Store or its apps, clearing its cache helps. The following steps show you how.

1. Press the Windows key+R to open the Run box.
2. Type wsreset.exe in the text field, then press Enter.

3. A black window should appear temporarily and then close itself. When it closes, the Microsoft Store cache is cleared.

Clear DNS cache

Clearing the DNS (Domain Name System) cache helps ensure that web pages and online applications continue to load properly. The following steps show you how.

1. Press the Windows key and type Command Prompt (A).
2. In the search results, use the arrow keys to highlight the Command Prompt program (B).
3. On the right side of the screen, click Run as administrator (C).

4. Click the Yes button on the prompt.
5. When the Command Prompt opens, type ipconfig /flushdns, and then press Enter.

6. If you entered the command correctly, a message that says Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache is displayed.