How to clear cache in Windows 10 (step by step)

Learn how to clear the cache in Windows 10.

Temporary files

1. Click on the start menu button.

2. Click on Settings.

Or right-click on the start menu button and then click on Settings.

3. Click on System.

4. Click on Storage in the left menu.

5. Under Local Disk (C:), you click on Temporary files.

Note: If you don't see the Temporary files option, then click on Show more categories.

Windows will now search for temporary files that can be deleted.

6. Select the files you want to delete.

7. Click on the Remove files button.

The built-in cleanup tool will now delete unnecessary files on your PC. This process may take several minutes. And sometimes it seems like nothing is happening. But you must let the program complete the process.

DNS cache

1. Right-click on the start menu button and then click on Command Prompt (Admin).

Or type cmd in the Windows search bar, then right-click on Command Prompt and then click on Run as administrator.

2. When the User Account Control (UAC) window appears, you click on Yes.

Note: Depending on your settings, you might need to enter your administrator password first and then click on Yes.

3. Type the following command:

ipconfig/flushdns

4. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.

You will receive the “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache” message when it's complete.

Microsoft Store cache

1. Right-click on the start menu button and then click on Run to open a “Run” window.

You can also press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to open a “Run” window.

2. In the text field, you type WSReset.exe.

3. Click on the OK button or press the Enter key on your keyboard.

A black window will appear.

Windows will now clear the Microsoft Store cache.

Once the black window closes, the cache is cleared, and the Microsoft Store will launch automatically.

You can close the Microsoft Store if you want.

Location cache

1. Click on the start menu button.

2. Click on Settings.

Or right-click on the start menu button and then click on Settings.

3. Click on Privacy.

4. Click on Location in the left menu.

5. Scroll down to Location history.

6. Under Location history, you click on the Clear button.

Thumbnail cache

1. Click on the start menu button.

2. Click on Settings.

Or right-click on the start menu button and then click on Settings.

3. Click on System.

4. Click on Storage in the left menu.

5. Under Local Disk (C:), you click on Temporary files.

Note: If you don't see the Temporary files option, then click on Show more categories.

Windows will now search for temporary files that can be deleted.

6. Make sure the Thumbnails option is selected. You can also select other files you want to delete.

7. Click on the Remove files button.

The built-in cleanup tool will now delete thumnails and other unnecessary files on your PC. This process may take several minutes. And sometimes it seems like nothing is happening. But you must let the program complete the process.

Icon cache

1. Open File Explorer (Windows Explorer).

2. Open the (C:) drive.

3. Open the Users folder.

4. Open the folder with your user account name.

5. Open the AppData folder.

Note: If you don't see the AppData folder, then click on View located at the top, and check the checkbox next to Hidden items.

6. Open the Local folder.

7. Delete the IconCache.db file.

8. Restart your PC.