How to Clear Shader Cache
in Windows 10 & 11
Stale shader caches are a common cause of game stuttering, long load times, and visual glitches — especially after driver updates or major game patches. Here's how to clear them manually, and what to do if you want a faster way.
What is a shader cache?
When a game runs for the first time, it compiles shader programs — small pieces of code that tell your GPU how to render graphics. Compiling shaders takes time, so Windows and your GPU driver save the results to disk as a shader cache. The next time the game runs, it loads the pre-compiled shaders instead of rebuilding them from scratch, which makes startup and load times faster.
The problem is that these cached files can become stale. After a GPU driver update or a game patch, the cached shaders may no longer match the current version of the game or driver. Stale caches can cause stuttering mid-game, longer-than-normal load times, or in some cases graphical artifacts. Clearing the cache forces your system to rebuild fresh, valid shader data.
When should you clear your shader cache?
- —After installing a new GPU driver (NVIDIA or AMD)
- —After a major game update or patch
- —When you start experiencing stuttering that wasn't there before
- —When a game's load times have gotten noticeably longer
- —When you see visual glitches that weren't present on the first run
- —As general PC maintenance every few months
Clearing shader caches is completely safe. Your games will regenerate them automatically — you won't lose any save data, game files, or settings.
How to clear NVIDIA shader cache manually
NVIDIA stores shader cache files in your Local AppData folder. These include DX11, DX12, and OpenGL compiled shaders.
Close all games and applications that use your GPU.
Press Win + R, type %localappdata%, and press Enter.
Open the NVIDIA folder, then look inside for a DXCache or GLCache folder.
Select all files inside (Ctrl + A) and delete them.
Also check %localappdata%\D3DSCache for additional DirectX shader cache files.
Reboot your PC. Caches will rebuild the next time your games run.
How to clear AMD shader cache manually
AMD stores shader cache files similarly in AppData. The folder structure varies slightly depending on your driver version.
Close all games and applications that use your GPU.
Press Win + R, type %localappdata%, and press Enter.
Open the AMD folder, then open the DxCache folder inside.
Select all files inside (Ctrl + A) and delete them.
Also check %localappdata%\D3DSCache for Windows-managed DirectX shader cache files.
Reboot your PC. Caches will rebuild the next time your games run.
What about D3DSCache?
The D3DSCachefolder in Local AppData is managed by Windows itself — it stores DirectX shader cache data independently of your GPU brand. Both NVIDIA and AMD users can have files here. It's safe to clear and is often the source of stutter after driver or Windows updates.
The easier way
Skip the folder hunting — use ClearSpark
ClearSpark scans all shader cache directories automatically — NVIDIA, AMD, DirectX, and more — and shows you every file before anything is deleted. One click to scan, one click to clear. No digging through AppData required.
Common questions
Is it safe to delete shader cache files?
Yes. Shader caches are temporary files — your games and GPU driver rebuild them automatically the next time they run. Deleting them will not harm your games, save data, or GPU.
Will clearing shader cache delete my game saves?
No. Save files are stored in completely separate locations (usually in Documents or a game's AppData folder). Shader caches are in the GPU driver's own cache directories and have no connection to save data.
How often should I clear my shader cache?
There's no fixed schedule. The most useful times are after a GPU driver update, after a major game patch, or when you start experiencing new stuttering. Some people do it monthly as routine maintenance.
My game is still stuttering after clearing the cache. What else can I try?
Shader cache is one cause of stuttering but not the only one. Other common causes include an outdated GPU driver, background CPU load, insufficient RAM, or a game bug. Try updating your driver and checking for pending game updates after clearing the cache.