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Deleting NVIDIA’s shader cache does not delete your game. It removes reusable compiled shader files stored in NVIDIA’s driver-cache folders; NVIDIA says those files are recreated when a game or application launches. The trade-off is that the first run after clearing the cache may take longer or stutter while shaders are compiled again. If cache files are damaged, however, NVIDIA says removing them can help address crashes, reduced performance, or visual artifacts.
Clearing the cache is best treated as troubleshooting or storage cleanup—not a routine way to increase FPS. The documented folders are separate from game installation and save locations, although NVIDIA’s instructions do not explicitly discuss saves or cover every possible game-specific cache.
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What happens when you delete the NVIDIA shader cache?
The NVIDIA shader cache stores reusable compiled shader files. A driver translates shader code into instructions the GPU can run, and caching those instructions lets the system reuse them instead of compiling them again every time. NVIDIA says the cache is automatically recreated the next time an application or game launches after the files are deleted.
That means deletion removes generated cache data, not the original game or its installed files. It also does not remove the shader code from the game itself: the cache can be generated again from what the game and driver provide. NVIDIA’s support instructions name folders used for driver cache, rather than game-save or installation folders.
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There is an important limit to that reassurance: NVIDIA’s support article does not explicitly say that game saves are unaffected, and its procedure does not claim to clear every cache a game might keep in a separate, game-specific location. The practical distinction is that following NVIDIA’s procedure means deleting the contents of the named NVIDIA cache folders—not deleting a game’s folder or save-data directory.
In other words, the cache is a set of generated files that can be rebuilt, not a copy of the game or a record of your progress. The cleanup does not make the driver forget how to render the game permanently; it means the relevant compiled shader data must be generated again as the software needs it.
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It can temporarily make the next game session less smooth, but deleting a healthy cache does not permanently reduce performance by itself. The first launch after clearing may require shaders to be compiled again; once the cache has been rebuilt, subsequent launches can reuse the newly generated data.
NVIDIA’s developer presentation explains that shader compilation can contribute to hitching. It says compile time depends on shader complexity and gives a broad range—from tens of milliseconds to thousands of milliseconds. That is general technical guidance, not a measurement of every modern game or a prediction of how long your particular game will pause.
The reason is that the driver must translate shader code into instructions suitable for the GPU. When those instructions are already cached, they can be reused; when the cache is gone, the system may need to do that work again. How noticeable the rebuild is depends on the shaders involved and the application. The cited time range is not a promise that every deleted cache will cause a pause of any particular length.
The effect depends on why you are clearing the files:
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| Situation | Likely trade-off | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| The cache is healthy | Short-term rebuild cost | The first launch may take longer or stutter while missing shaders are compiled. Later launches can use the rebuilt cache. |
| The cache files are damaged | Potential troubleshooting benefit | NVIDIA identifies damaged cache files as a possible cause of crashes, lower performance, or visual artifacts. Deletion lets the files be recreated. |
So a brief hitch after clearing is not necessarily evidence that anything went wrong. It may be the expected cost of rebuilding. If the same problem continues after the game has had a chance to recreate its cache, the cause may be something other than those deleted cache files.
For the technical background, NVIDIA’s developer presentation on stuttering and shader compilation describes why compiling shaders at runtime can cause hitches. Its examples are general and include older Direct3D material, so they explain the mechanism rather than establish performance figures for current games.
Does deleting the NVIDIA shader cache remove games or saves?
No game is removed when you delete only the contents of the NVIDIA cache folders listed in NVIDIA’s procedure. Those folders are driver-cache locations, not the folders where a game is installed or where its save files are normally stored.
For clarity, NVIDIA’s current procedure names these locations under your Windows user profile:
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%USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalNVIDIADXCache%USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalNVIDIAGLCache%USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalNVIDIA CorporationNV_Cache
The supported action is to delete the contents of those cache folders—not to remove your game’s installation directory, the entire AppData folder, or a save-data folder. If you navigate to a folder manually, check the full path before deleting anything. Do not assume that every folder with “cache” in its name is an NVIDIA shader cache; games and other software may have their own data in separate locations.
NVIDIA’s support page does not make a specific promise about game saves. The careful conclusion is that deleting the contents of the documented driver-cache folders is distinct from deleting game installations or save folders, and the NVIDIA cache is regenerated. Avoid extending that instruction to other directories unless you know what they contain.
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That distinction also answers the common question, “Will deleting shader cache delete my games?” Not when you follow the documented paths and remove only their contents. The cache cleanup is not an uninstall or a game repair operation. If a folder path does not match one of the listed locations, do not assume it is safe to clear just because its name includes “cache.”
How do you safely clear NVIDIA’s shader cache?
NVIDIA’s current support procedure uses the NVIDIA App to disable the cache temporarily, restarts Windows, clears the contents of the named folders, and then restores the default setting. Have administrator access if Windows asks for it, and close games and other graphics-intensive applications before starting.
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- Open NVIDIA App. Go to Graphics > Global Settings.
- Turn Shader Cache Size off. Set Shader Cache Size to Off, then apply the change.
- Restart Windows. NVIDIA’s instructions call for a reboot after turning the setting off.
- Delete the cache contents. In File Explorer, enter
%USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalNVIDIAin the address bar. OpenDXCacheandGLCache, and delete the files inside each. Then open%USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalNVIDIA CorporationNV_Cacheand delete the files inside that folder. - Restore the setting. Return to Graphics > Global Settings in NVIDIA App and set Shader Cache Size to Driver Default. Apply the change.
- Restart Windows again. After the restart, launch the affected game or application and allow it to rebuild the cache. The first run may be slower or less smooth than later runs.
NVIDIA’s support article, “Deleting NVIDIA Shader Cache files”, was updated May 25, 2026. It identifies Driver Default as 16GB on that page. That is the page’s stated current value, not a timeless guarantee or a setting every user must select; available choices and defaults can change with software updates.
The 16GB figure is a cache-size setting, not a promise that the cache currently occupies 16GB of disk space or that every system will use that amount. The important cleanup sequence is to switch the setting off, restart, remove the contents of the specified folders, then restore Driver Default and restart again. Do not leave Shader Cache Size set to Off as the final step if your goal is to follow NVIDIA’s published procedure.
If Windows says a file is in use, do not force-delete unrelated files or broaden the cleanup to other folders. Confirm that the named games and applications are closed, then follow the documented steps. NVIDIA’s procedure includes disabling the cache and restarting before deletion, which is intended to avoid clearing it while normal application activity is underway.
When is clearing the cache worth doing?
It is reasonable to try when you are troubleshooting crashes, visual artifacts, or unexplained performance problems that could involve damaged cache files. NVIDIA specifically lists those symptoms as possible effects of damaged NVIDIA shader-cache files and recommends deletion so they can be recreated.
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It is usually not worthwhile as a routine maintenance step just to seek higher FPS. A healthy cache exists to preserve compiled shader work for later launches. Clearing it discards that reusable work, so the immediate result can be extra compilation and hitching rather than a performance gain. Clearing it to reclaim space may still be a personal choice, but the benefit should be weighed against that temporary rebuild cost.
After clearing, judge the result over more than the first launch. The initial session is the one most likely to show the rebuild effect. If the original crashes, artifacts, or performance problem persists after the cache has been regenerated, clearing the same files repeatedly is unlikely to resolve a different underlying cause.
NVIDIA’s stated rationale is to let the files be recreated: “To resolve this issue, delete the NVIDIA Shader Cache files so they can be automatically recreated the next time an application or game is launched.” That is a troubleshooting instruction, not a claim that routine deletion improves frame rates. If you have no cache-related symptom and are not deliberately clearing storage, there is no performance reason in NVIDIA’s instructions to make deletion a regular habit.
Is DDU required to clear the shader cache?
No. NVIDIA documents the manual procedure above and also lists DDU’s Clean Shader Cache (Only) option as an alternative. DDU is optional; NVIDIA does not require it to clear these cache files.
If you use that option, be sure it is specifically the shader-cache-only cleanup described by NVIDIA. A broader cleanup or driver-removal operation is not necessary for the task described here. If you do not already use DDU, the manual method is a documented route and avoids treating an optional utility as a prerequisite.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should you expect after clearing it?
Expect the named cache files to be removed, then recreated as games or applications launch. The first launch can take longer or hitch while shaders are compiled; later launches may reuse the rebuilt cache. Clearing a healthy cache is therefore not a reliable FPS tweak, while clearing damaged files can be a sensible troubleshooting step.
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Most importantly, stay within the documented NVIDIA cache folders. That keeps this operation distinct from deleting a game, its installation, or its saves, without making a broader promise about every game-specific cache on the PC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the NVIDIA shader cache affect programs other than games?
Yes. NVIDIA describes the cache as being recreated when an application or a game launches, so it is not limited to games. A graphics application may also need to regenerate compiled shader data after the cache is cleared.
Should I leave Shader Cache Size set to Off after clearing the files?
NVIDIA’s published cleanup procedure says to restore Shader Cache Size to Driver Default after deleting the cache contents. Leaving it off is not part of the recommended cleanup sequence and could prevent the normal caching behavior the setting controls.
Can I delete only DXCache and leave the other folders alone?
NVIDIA’s documented manual procedure names DXCache, GLCache, and NV_Cache. If you are following that procedure, clear the contents of all three named folders rather than treating DXCache as the complete list.
Will deleting the NVIDIA shader cache delete my game or saved progress?
Deleting the contents of the documented NVIDIA driver-cache folders is distinct from deleting game installation or save folders. NVIDIA’s support page does not explicitly discuss saves, so do not extend the cleanup to other directories or assume every game-specific cache is covered.
Will the first launch stutter after I clear the cache?
It may. The missing compiled shader data has to be recreated as the game or application launches, and NVIDIA’s developer material identifies shader compilation as one possible source of hitching. The delay varies; NVIDIA’s broad technical range is not a prediction for a particular game.
Does clearing the cache increase FPS or free a guaranteed amount of space?
It is not a reliable FPS tweak. Clearing a healthy cache can create a temporary rebuild cost, while clearing damaged files may help troubleshoot crashes, reduced performance, or visual artifacts. NVIDIA’s listed 16GB Driver Default is a cache-size setting, not a guarantee of how much disk space will be reclaimed.
Do I need DDU to clear NVIDIA’s shader cache?
No. NVIDIA documents a manual method and lists DDU’s “Clean Shader Cache (Only)” option as an alternative. DDU is optional, not a requirement.
