What clearing Adobe cache does

Adobe applications store temporary files called cache on your computer to load documents faster the next time you open them. Over time, this cache can grow large and slow down your computer, or cause Adobe programs to behave oddly. Clearing the cache removes these temporary files and forces Adobe to rebuild them fresh, which often fixes freezing, crashes, or display problems.

The cache lives in a hidden folder on your hard drive. You do not need to uninstall Adobe or lose any of your actual work — clearing cache only removes the temporary files, not your documents or settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Adobe cache is stored in a hidden system folder that you access through your operating system, not through Adobe itself.
  • The exact folder location depends on whether you use Windows or Mac, and which Adobe application you are clearing cache for.
  • You should close all Adobe programs before deleting cache files, or the programs may recreate them immediately.
  • Clearing cache typically frees up between 100 MB and several gigabytes, depending on how long since you last cleared it.

How to clear Adobe cache on Windows

On Windows, Adobe cache is stored in a hidden folder. You need to show hidden files first, then navigate to the cache location and delete the files.

Step 1: Close all Adobe programs. This includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Premiere Pro, or any other Adobe application you have open. If Adobe is running, it may recreate cache files as soon as you delete them.

Step 2: Open File Explorer by pressing Windows key + E, or clicking the folder icon on your taskbar.

Step 3: Show hidden files. At the top of the File Explorer window, click the View tab. Check the box next to "Hidden items". You will now see folders that were previously invisible.

Step 4: Navigate to the cache folder. In the address bar at the top, type this exact path and press Enter:

%appdata%\Adobe\Common\Media Cache Files

File Explorer will jump directly to the Adobe cache folder. If this folder does not exist, your Adobe cache may be stored elsewhere — try the path below instead:

%localappdata%\Adobe\Common\Media Cache Files

Step 5: Delete the cache files. Select all files in this folder by pressing Ctrl + A, then press Delete. Windows will move them to the Recycle Bin. You can empty the Recycle Bin afterward if you want to free up the space immediately, though Windows will do this automatically over time.

How to clear Adobe cache on Mac

On Mac, the cache folder is hidden by default. You can reveal it using Finder's Go menu, or by using a keyboard shortcut to show hidden files system-wide.

Step 1: Close all Adobe programs. Quit Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Premiere Pro, or whichever Adobe application you use. Check the menu bar at the top to make sure no Adobe processes are still running.

Step 2: Open Finder and click the Finder menu at the top left, then select Preferences. Under the General tab, check the box next to "Show these items on the desktop" — this is optional but makes navigation easier.

Step 3: Show hidden files. Press Command + Shift + Period (the period key). This toggles hidden files on and off in Finder. You will now see folders that start with a dot, which are normally hidden.

Step 4: Navigate to the cache folder. Open Finder, then press Command + Shift + G to open the "Go to Folder" dialog. Type this exact path and press Enter:

~/Library/Caches/Adobe

Finder will open the Adobe cache folder. If you see multiple folders inside, you can delete the entire Adobe folder, or navigate into it and delete only the Media Cache Files subfolder.

Step 5: Delete the cache files. Select all files by pressing Command + A, then press Command + Delete to move them to Trash. Empty the Trash afterward if you want to free the space immediately.

Clearing cache for specific Adobe applications

If you only want to clear cache for one Adobe program instead of all of them, you can target that program's cache folder directly. The process is the same as above, but you navigate to a more specific folder path.

For Photoshop on Windows, use this path instead:

%appdata%\Adobe\Photoshop\[version number]\Cache

Replace [version number] with your Photoshop version, such as 2024 or 2023. For Premiere Pro on Windows, use:

%appdata%\Adobe\Common\Media Cache Files

On Mac, the application-specific caches are usually inside the main Adobe cache folder you navigated to above. Open the Adobe folder in ~/Library/Caches/ and you will see subfolders for Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Acrobat, and others. Delete the cache files from whichever application is giving you trouble.

What to do if cache clearing does not fix your problem

If your Adobe program still freezes or crashes after clearing cache, the issue may be something else. Try restarting your computer first — this clears temporary memory and sometimes fixes problems that cache clearing does not.

If the problem continues, check that you have the latest version of your Adobe application. Open the program, click Help at the top menu, then look for an option like "Check for Updates" or "Updates". Adobe releases fixes for crashes and performance problems regularly.

You can also try clearing the Adobe preferences file, which stores your program settings. This is more drastic than clearing cache — it will reset your preferences to defaults, but it sometimes fixes crashes that cache clearing does not. The preferences file is in the same hidden folder as the cache, and is usually named something like "Adobe Photoshop Prefs.psp" or similar. Delete it the same way you deleted the cache files, then restart Adobe.

How often to clear Adobe cache

You do not need to clear Adobe cache on a schedule. Most people only need to clear it when they notice their Adobe programs running slowly, freezing, or crashing. If you use Adobe applications heavily every day, clearing cache once every few months can help keep performance smooth.

If you are running low on hard drive space, clearing Adobe cache can free up gigabytes depending on how much media you have worked with. Check how much space the cache is using before you delete it — right-click the cache folder, select Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac), and look at the size. If it is more than a gigabyte, clearing it will noticeably free up space on your drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my documents or projects?

No. Cache contains only temporary files that Adobe uses to speed up loading. Your actual documents, projects, and settings are stored elsewhere on your computer and are not affected by clearing cache. You will not lose any work.

Do I need to restart Adobe after clearing cache?

You do not have to, but it is a good idea. Close all Adobe programs completely, then open the one you want to use. Adobe will rebuild the cache from scratch, which takes a few seconds the first time you open a document, but then performance returns to normal.

What if I cannot find the Adobe cache folder?

Make sure you have shown hidden files — on Windows, check the View tab in File Explorer; on Mac, press Command + Shift + Period. If the folder still does not exist, your version of Adobe may store cache in a different location. Try searching your computer for "Adobe" or "Cache" to locate it, or check the Adobe support website for your specific application version.

Can I clear cache while Adobe is running?

You can, but you should not. If Adobe is running, it may recreate the cache files immediately after you delete them, or it may lock the files so you cannot delete them at all. Always close all Adobe programs first to make sure the cache deletion actually sticks.

How much space will clearing cache free up?

It depends on how much media you have worked with and how long it has been since you last cleared cache. For most users, clearing cache frees up between 100 MB and 2 GB. Heavy users who work with video or large image files daily might see 5 GB or more freed up. Check the folder size before deleting to see how much space you will recover.