Windows cache clear is a way to troubleshoot system issues and free up disk space. In this post, you will learn how to clean different caches on Windows 10/11.
Windows cache is a reserved storage area where Windows temporarily stores data to help your system run faster and smoother. Instead of repeatedly reading data from slower sources (like hard drives), Windows keeps frequently accessed data in the cache for quick retrieval. Think of it as a “shortcut” storage space.
✍ Types of cache in Windows:
● System cache: Stores frequently accessed system files to speed up processes.
● Temporary files cache: Holds leftover files from installations, updates, and other activities.
● DNS cache: Saves DNS lookup results to load websites faster on repeated visits.
● Browser cache: Keeps website images, scripts, and files to speed up web browsing.
● Windows update cache: Stores downloaded update files to streamline the updating process.
● Memory cache (RAM cache): Uses physical memory (RAM) to store active processes and data for quick access.
● Thumbnail cache: Saves thumbnail images of files and folders to avoid regenerating them repeatedly.
Just like clearing your browser cache, wiping the cache in Windows can help resolve system glitches, enhance performance, and reclaim valuable disk space. Follow these steps to clear the cache in Windows 10.
To remove temporary files, start by typing "Disk Cleanup" into the Start Menu search bar. Choose the "Disk Cleanup" app from the search results to launch it.
After opening, Disk Cleanup will quickly assess how much space you can free on your system drive—usually the C: drive. This scan typically runs swiftly, especially on modern SSDs. Once the results appear, look through the list and check the box for "Temporary Files".You can also select other areas to clear, like the "Recycle Bin" or "Downloads" folder.
Next, click the "Clean Up System Files" button.
Windows will then recalculate the available space to clear and return you to the selection screen. Review your choices once more, pick the files and locations you want to delete, and press "OK".
A confirmation prompt will pop up, asking if you want to permanently delete these files. Confirm by clicking "Delete Files".
Disk Cleanup will then proceed to remove the selected unnecessary files. Depending on the amount of data, this process may take a few minutes to complete.
To clear the DNS cache on your Windows 10 PC, start by opening Command Prompt with administrative privileges. Click the Start button and type "Command Prompt" into the search bar. When the app appears in the results, right-click it and choose "Run as Administrator",or select "Run as Administrator" from the options on the right.
Once the elevated Command Prompt window opens, type the following command and press Enter:
ipconfig /flushdns
After running this command, you’ll see a confirmation message indicating that the DNS Resolver Cache has been successfully cleared.
To clear the Windows Store cache, press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. In the text field labeled “Open”, type WSReset.exe and click OK.
A black command window will briefly appear. There’s no need to interact with it—just wait a few moments as the cache clears. After this, the Windows Store will launch with a blank screen and a loading icon.
Once the Store window closes automatically, the cache has been successfully cleared. You can then close the Windows Store app if you wish.
To clear the location cache on your Windows PC, start by clicking the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner to open the Start menu. Then, select the Gear icon to access Windows Settings. Alternatively, press Windows + I to open the Settings app directly.
Within the Settings window, scroll down and click on Privacy.
In the Privacy settings, look at the left sidebar and choose Location under the “App Permissions” section.
Next, scroll down to the Location History on This Device section and click the Clear button to erase your location cache.
While built-in Windows tools can help remove various cache files, the process can feel overwhelming. Different types of cache require different utilities, and sometimes you have to enter specific commands to target certain files. This complexity can be frustrating, especially for users who aren’t tech-savvy.
To simplify this, the free tool AOMEI Partition Assistant for Cleanup offers an all-in-one solution. With its dedicated Cleanup functions, AOMEI Partition Assistant efficiently removes unnecessary cache files, system junk, and residual data that slow down your system.
✍ Key cache cleaning features include:
✔️ Clean Junk Files: Automatically detects and deletes cached system files, browser cache, and temporary files.
✔️ Delete Large Files: Identifies and removes large, unnecessary cached files consuming valuable disk space.
✔️ Find Duplicate Files: Locates duplicate cached data, helping you free up space quickly and easily.
Designed for professionals and beginners alike, AOMEI Partition Assistant ensures a safer, smoother, and more responsive system by eliminating unwanted caches without risking important data.
Free Up Disk Space To Keep Your PC Running Smoothly and Efficiently
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Cleanup. Click the "Clean Junk Files" tab.
Step 2. Click the "Scan Now" button to start the process of scanning junk files.
Step 3. After the scan process is finished. All system junk files (including recycle bin files, temporary files, log files, invalid shortcuts, and so on) and registry junk files (including DLL registry, system registry, and program registry) will be displayed.
Step 4. You can also click the button behind to view the junk files details.
Step 5. And, you can click the button behind to locate the file.
Step 6. By default, the program will select some junk files to clean up, for example, temporary files, log files, and so on. You can also manually check to select more or uncheck to deselect fewer listed junk files. Or, click "Select All" to select all junk files to clean up if you need to clean up all.
After selecting junk files that are not needed anymore, you can click the "Clean Now"button to start the cleanup.
Step 7. The process of the cleanup might take time, and the selected files will be cleaned up. After the process is finished, you will get a cleanup completed window displaying how many files you have cleaned and not yet cleaned.
Windows cache stores temporary data to boost system performance. Over time, accumulated cache can slow down your PC. Clearing system cache, DNS cache, Windows Store cache, and location cache helps free up space and resolve glitches. While Windows offers manual cleanup tools, using a professional cleaner like AOMEI Partition Assistant for Cleanup simplifies the process by clearing all cache types and junk files efficiently, making it ideal for both beginners and advanced users.
