What Photoshop cache is and why you might need to clear it

Photoshop cache is temporary data that the program stores on your hard drive to speed up common tasks. When you open an image, apply filters, or undo recent changes, Photoshop saves copies of those operations in a hidden folder so it can retrieve them faster next time. Over weeks or months, this cache can grow to several gigabytes — sometimes larger than the actual files you're working on.

You should clear your cache if Photoshop is running slowly, if you're running low on disk space, or if you notice the program is using unusual amounts of memory. Clearing cache won't delete your saved projects or undo history within an open document — it only removes the temporary files Photoshop created in the background.

Key Takeaways

  • Photoshop cache lives in a hidden folder on your hard drive and can grow to several gigabytes without affecting your actual project files.
  • The fastest way to clear cache is through Photoshop's own menu: Edit > Purge, then select the type of cache you want to remove.
  • On Windows, cache is stored in C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Adobe\Common\Media Cache; on Mac, it's in ~/Library/Caches/Adobe/Common/Media Cache.
  • Closing Photoshop before clearing cache manually ensures the program doesn't try to write new cache while you're deleting old files.
  • If Photoshop crashes or freezes during startup, clearing cache from outside the program may fix the problem.

Clearing cache through Photoshop's menu (the easiest method)

The simplest way to clear cache is to use Photoshop's built-in purge function. Open Photoshop and go to Edit in the top menu bar, then scroll down to Purge. You'll see four options: Undo, Clipboard, All, and Video Cache.

Choose All to clear everything at once — this removes undo history, clipboard data, and temporary files in one action. If you only want to clear specific types of cache, select Undo to remove the undo stack, Clipboard to clear copied images, or Video Cache if you work with video files. The purge happens instantly, and you'll see a confirmation message.

This method works while Photoshop is running and is safe — it won't affect your open documents or saved files. However, it only clears cache that Photoshop actively manages. For a more thorough cleanup, you may need to delete cache files manually.

Manually clearing cache on Windows

If Photoshop is crashing on startup or the purge menu isn't working, you can delete cache files directly from your hard drive. First, close Photoshop completely — make sure it's not running in the background. Then open File Explorer and navigate to the cache folder.

Type this path into the address bar at the top of File Explorer: C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Adobe\Common\Media Cache. Replace [Your Username] with your actual Windows username. If the AppData folder is hidden, click View in the File Explorer menu and check the box next to Hidden items.

Once you're in the Media Cache folder, select all files (Ctrl+A) and delete them (Delete key or right-click and choose Delete). You can also delete the entire Media Cache folder itself — Photoshop will recreate it the next time it runs. Empty your Recycle Bin afterward to free up the space.

Manually clearing cache on Mac

On Mac, cache is stored in a Library folder that's hidden by default. Close Photoshop first, then open Finder and click Go in the top menu. Hold down the Option key and you'll see Library appear in the dropdown — click it.

Navigate to Caches > Adobe > Common > Media Cache. Select all files in the Media Cache folder (Command+A) and move them to Trash (Command+Delete). You can also delete the entire Media Cache folder — Photoshop will create a new one when you restart the program.

After deleting, empty your Trash to complete the process. If you're not comfortable navigating hidden folders, you can use a third-party cleaning tool like CleanMyMac or Disk Diag, though the manual method is free and takes only a few minutes.

How much space you'll actually free up

The amount of space varies depending on how long you've been using Photoshop and what types of files you work with. Users who edit large images or video files regularly may have cache folders that are 2 to 5 gigabytes or larger. Someone who uses Photoshop occasionally might only free up a few hundred megabytes.

To see how much space your cache is using before you delete it, right-click the Media Cache folder (on Windows) or Get Info on it (on Mac) and check the folder size. This gives you a realistic sense of whether clearing cache will meaningfully help your disk space situation.

When to clear cache and how often

There's no harm in clearing cache regularly — once a month is reasonable if you work with large files or notice Photoshop slowing down. If you're not experiencing performance issues, you don't need to clear it at all. Cache only becomes a problem when your hard drive is nearly full or when Photoshop starts crashing.

If Photoshop freezes during startup or won't open at all, clearing cache is one of the first troubleshooting steps to try. Corrupted cache files can sometimes prevent the program from launching, and deleting them forces Photoshop to rebuild its cache from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my Photoshop projects or settings?

No. Cache is temporary data only. Your saved PSD files, preferences, and custom brushes are stored separately and won't be affected. Clearing cache only removes temporary copies Photoshop created to speed up operations.

What's the difference between clearing cache through the menu and deleting it manually?

The menu method (Edit > Purge) is safer and works while Photoshop is running. Manual deletion is more thorough and necessary if Photoshop won't start. Both accomplish the same goal — removing temporary files — but manual deletion ensures nothing is left behind.

Should I clear video cache separately from other cache?

Only if you work with video files regularly. Video cache can grow large quickly, so clearing it separately lets you keep other cache intact if you want. If you don't use Photoshop's video features, you can ignore the Video Cache option entirely.

Can I clear cache while Photoshop is running?

Yes, using the Edit > Purge menu is safe while the program is open. Manually deleting cache files while Photoshop runs is not recommended — the program may try to write new cache while you're deleting, which can cause errors. Always close Photoshop before manually deleting cache folders.