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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe safest way to delete the Windows-managed DirectX Shader Cache is: open Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files, select DirectX Shader Cache, and choose Remove files. This works in Windows 10 and Windows 11, although labels can vary slightly between builds. If the option is missing, use Disk Cleanup and select Clean up system files.
Clearing the cache is generally safe, but it does not uninstall DirectX or guarantee higher FPS. Windows and your games will recreate shader data, so the first launch afterward may take longer or stutter briefly.
What the DirectX Shader Cache does
Games and graphics applications use shaders to describe how the GPU should render lighting, textures, shadows, effects, and other visual elements. Compiling shaders repeatedly can increase loading time and cause interruptions, so Windows and graphics drivers save compiled shader data in caches for reuse.
“DirectX Shader Cache” is not necessarily one universal folder. It may refer to several separate caches:
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- Windows-managed Direct3D cache: the cache targeted by Windows Storage cleanup and Disk Cleanup.
- NVIDIA or AMD driver caches: separate vendor-managed data that may remain after Windows cleanup.
- Game or application caches: files controlled by a particular game, launcher, engine, or graphics application.
- Working-directory caches: some Direct3D applications store cache data in their own folders rather than the normal Windows-managed location.
Microsoft documents disk-backed Direct3D caches as persistent between application runs and notes that cache versions can be discarded and recreated when required. Microsoft’s D3D12 shader-cache documentation also describes exceptions for application-owned working-directory caches.
Delete the DirectX Shader Cache through Settings
Close games, launchers, recording tools, GPU control panels, and other graphics-heavy applications before starting.
Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings.
- Go to System > Storage.
- Open Temporary files. On some Windows 11 builds, the equivalent controls may appear under Cleanup recommendations or a similarly named storage-cleanup page.
- Check DirectX Shader Cache.
- Select Remove files.
Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings.
- Go to System > Storage > Temporary files.
- Select DirectX Shader Cache.
- Choose Remove files.
Microsoft’s Storage cleanup guidance covers temporary-file removal in both Windows 10 and Windows 11. The exact wording and layout depend on your Windows release.
Use Disk Cleanup when the option is missing
Disk Cleanup is the most useful built-in fallback, particularly when the Settings page does not show the cache.
- Press the Windows key and search for Disk Cleanup.
- Open the desktop app.
- Select the Windows system drive, normally C:, and choose OK.
- Select Clean up system files.
- Select C: again if Windows asks you to choose a drive.
- Check DirectX Shader Cache.
- Select OK, then Delete Files.
If you want to remove only the DirectX cache, leave the other categories unchecked. Disk Cleanup can remove additional temporary and system files, so review the list before confirming. Microsoft specifically documents Disk Cleanup as a way to clear the default disk-backed Direct3D cache. See Microsoft’s D3D12 shader-cache flags documentation.
Should you manually delete %LOCALAPPDATA%D3DSCache?
%LOCALAPPDATA%D3DSCache is a commonly encountered Windows DirectX cache location, but manual deletion should be a fallback rather than the first step. Microsoft’s documented ordinary-user method is Storage cleanup or Disk Cleanup, not indiscriminate folder removal.
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If you must inspect this location:
- Close all games, launchers, browsers using hardware acceleration, and graphics utilities.
- Press Win + R, enter
%LOCALAPPDATA%D3DSCache, and press Enter. - Delete the cache contents, not unrelated parent folders.
- Skip any file Windows reports as locked.
- Restart Windows and retry Disk Cleanup if necessary.
Do not delete DirectX DLLs, Windows system folders, or arbitrary folders merely because their names contain dxcache or Cache.
Clear NVIDIA shader caches separately
Windows cleanup does not necessarily remove every NVIDIA driver cache. NVIDIA’s current support procedure, updated May 25, 2026, uses the NVIDIA App and identifies these locations under your local AppData folder:
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Use this procedure only when troubleshooting appears NVIDIA-specific, such as crashes, visual artifacts, or problems that began after a driver update:
- Open the NVIDIA App.
- Go to Graphics > Global Settings.
- Find Shader Cache Size.
- Set it to Off and apply the change.
- Restart Windows.
- Press Win + R, enter
%USERPROFILE%AppDataLocal, and press Enter. - Open
NVIDIAand delete the contents ofDXCacheandGLCache. - Open
NVIDIA Corporationand delete the contents ofNV_Cache. - Reopen the NVIDIA App and return Shader Cache Size to Driver Default.
- Restart Windows again.
NVIDIA says these files are recreated when applications run again. Its support page lists the current Driver Default as 16 GB as of May 25, 2026; that setting can change in future driver or app releases. Read NVIDIA’s current cache-cleanup instructions before following vendor-specific steps.
An optional PowerShell equivalent for the deletion step is:
Remove-Item "$env:LOCALAPPDATANVIDIADXCache*" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Remove-Item "$env:LOCALAPPDATANVIDIAGLCache*" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Remove-Item "$env:LOCALAPPDATANVIDIA CorporationNV_Cache*" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinueDo not run these commands while a game, the NVIDIA App, or another graphics-intensive process is using the cache.
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Clear AMD shader caches separately
AMD GPUOpen has published Windows commands for AMD-specific DirectX and OpenGL cache directories:
rmdir /s /q "%LOCALAPPDATA%AMDDxCache"
rmdir /s /q "%LOCALAPPDATA%AMDGLCache"Run them from Command Prompt after closing games and graphics applications. These commands target AMD-specific directories; they do not necessarily clear the Windows-managed DirectX Shader Cache. Folder names and availability can vary by AMD driver version and workload, and the directories may be recreated later. The commands are attributed to AMD GPUOpen’s optimization presentation, rather than presented as a universal Windows procedure.
What happens after you clear the cache?
- DirectX is not uninstalled. Runtime files remain in Windows.
- Your games and applications are not removed.
- The cache is rebuilt automatically when supported games and applications run.
- The first launch may take longer. Shader compilation can also cause temporary stutter, CPU activity, or disk activity.
- The cache may begin filling immediately. That is normal and does not mean the cleanup failed.
Clearing the cache can help when compiled data is stale or corrupted, particularly after a game, Windows, or graphics-driver update. It is not a general FPS optimization. Performance may briefly be worse until shaders are compiled again, and there is no guarantee of a lasting frame-rate improvement.
If Windows will not delete the files
Files are in use
Close the game and its launcher, including Steam, Epic Games Launcher, Xbox, or other launchers. Also close hardware-accelerated browsers, screen-recording software, overlays, GPU control panels, and monitoring tools. Restart Windows, then run Disk Cleanup before reopening any of them.
Use Safe Mode only as an advanced fallback if ordinary cleanup continues to fail. Avoid third-party force-delete utilities unless you have a specific troubleshooting reason and understand what they are removing.
“DirectX Shader Cache” is missing
The cache may be empty, not currently detected, managed by a vendor or application, or hidden by differences between Windows builds. Try these steps:
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- Open Disk Cleanup and select Clean up system files.
- Confirm that you selected the Windows system drive.
- Restart Windows and check again.
- If the issue is NVIDIA- or AMD-specific, inspect the relevant vendor procedure.
- Do not delete random cache folders or DirectX system files.
The cache returns immediately
That is expected. Shader caches exist to be regenerated and reused. A large game library can create substantial cache data, but unusually rapid growth combined with crashes, artifacts, or repeated compilation failures points to a broader problem with the game, driver, storage device, or system stability.
What clearing the cache will not fix
Cache deletion cannot repair a faulty or incompatible graphics driver, damaged game installation, unsupported hardware, overheating, an unstable overclock, defective memory, or another hardware fault. It also does not clear every temporary cache on your PC, including Microsoft Store, Windows Update, Delivery Optimization, game-managed shader-precache data, or application working-directory caches. Microsoft documents those cleanup categories separately in its Windows storage-cleanup guidance.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to delete the DirectX Shader Cache?
Yes, deleting it through Windows Storage or Disk Cleanup is generally safe because the cache contains disposable compiled shader data. Windows and supported applications can regenerate it.
Will deleting the cache improve FPS?
Not necessarily. It may help stale or corrupted shader data, but it is a troubleshooting step rather than a guaranteed performance upgrade. The first launch may temporarily stutter.
Does Windows recreate the DirectX Shader Cache?
Yes. The cache is normally recreated as games and graphics applications compile shaders again.
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Why is DirectX Shader Cache missing from Disk Cleanup?
The cache may be empty, hidden by the Windows build’s interface, managed elsewhere, or unavailable in the basic Disk Cleanup view. Select Clean up system files, confirm the system drive, and restart Windows before trying again.
Should I delete NVIDIA DXCache and GLCache too?
Only if you are troubleshooting an NVIDIA-specific problem or unusually large vendor caches. NVIDIA’s driver caches are separate from the Windows-managed DirectX cache.
Why does my game stutter after clearing the cache?
The game is likely recompiling shaders. Initial loading and stutter can improve after the required shaders have been rebuilt and cached again.
Can I delete the entire D3DSCache folder?
Use Storage cleanup or Disk Cleanup first. If manual cleanup is necessary, close graphics applications and delete only the cache contents, not unrelated parent folders.
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There is no routine schedule. Clear it when troubleshooting corruption, update-related problems, unexpected cache growth, or disk-space pressure. Repeated clearing removes useful data and forces recompilation.
The Bottom Line
For most Windows 10 and Windows 11 users, use Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files > DirectX Shader Cache > Remove files. If that option is unavailable, use Disk Cleanup with Clean up system files. Clear NVIDIA or AMD caches separately only when the problem is vendor-specific, and expect temporary shader-compilation stutter afterward.
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