What clearing your Steam download cache does

Clearing your Steam download cache removes temporary files that Steam stores while downloading and installing games. These files normally get deleted automatically once installation finishes, but sometimes they pile up and can cause download problems, slow performance, or take up disk space. Clearing the cache manually is safe — it will not delete your installed games or game saves.

You might need to clear the cache if Steam downloads stall, fail partway through, or run slowly. Some players also clear it before major updates or when troubleshooting installation errors. The process takes a few minutes and requires no technical knowledge.

Key Takeaways

  • Steam's download cache holds temporary files during installation and normally clears itself, but manual clearing can fix download problems.
  • You can clear the cache through Steam's settings menu without uninstalling games or losing save data.
  • On Windows, the cache folder is usually in your Steam installation directory under steamapps\downloading.
  • After clearing the cache, restart Steam completely before downloading or installing games again.
  • If downloads still fail after clearing the cache, changing your download region or verifying game files are the next steps to try.

How to clear the cache through Steam settings

The easiest way to clear your cache is through Steam's built-in settings. Open Steam and go to Settings (on Windows, this is in the top-left menu; on Mac, it is in the Steam menu at the top of the screen). Click Downloads in the left sidebar, then look for the button labeled Clear Download Cache. Click it, and Steam will show a confirmation message.

Steam will ask you to confirm the action. Click OK, and the cache will clear immediately. You do not need to restart Steam right away, but it is a good idea to close and reopen Steam before starting a new download. This ensures Steam fully reloads its download settings.

Manually clearing the cache folder on Windows

If the settings method does not work or you want to clear the cache folder directly, you can do it manually. First, close Steam completely. Then open File Explorer and navigate to your Steam installation folder. For most users, this is C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam or C:\Program Files\Steam, depending on your Windows version and whether you installed Steam in a custom location.

Once you are in the Steam folder, look for a folder named steamapps. Open it, then look for a folder called downloading. This is where temporary download files live. Select all the files and folders inside downloading and delete them. You can safely delete everything in this folder — Steam will recreate what it needs the next time you download a game.

After deleting the files, close File Explorer and reopen Steam. The cache is now cleared.

Clearing the cache on Mac

On Mac, the process is similar but the folder location is different. Close Steam, then open Finder. Press Command + Shift + G to open the "Go to Folder" dialog. Paste this path: ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/downloading. Press Enter, and Finder will take you directly to the cache folder.

Select all files in the downloading folder and move them to the Trash. Empty the Trash, then reopen Steam. Your cache is now cleared.

What to do if clearing the cache does not fix your problem

If downloads still fail or stall after clearing the cache, the issue may be something else. Try changing your download region in Steam's settings. Go to Settings > Downloads and look for Download Region. Pick a different region (usually one geographically closer to you) and try downloading again.

Another step is to verify the game files. Right-click the game in your library, select Properties, go to the Local Files tab, and click Verify Integrity of Game Files. This checks whether any files are corrupted or missing and re-downloads only what is broken. If problems persist after both of these steps, the issue may be with your internet connection or Steam's servers rather than your cache.

How much disk space clearing the cache frees up

The amount of space the cache takes up varies. If you have not downloaded anything recently, the cache folder might be nearly empty. If you have been downloading large games or have had failed downloads, the cache could contain several gigabytes of temporary files. Clearing it will free up whatever space those temporary files were using.

To see how much space the cache is taking before you clear it, right-click the downloading folder, select Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac), and look at the size. This tells you how much disk space you will recover by clearing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing the cache delete my installed games?

No. The cache folder only holds temporary files created during downloads. Your installed games are stored in separate folders within steamapps and are not affected by clearing the cache.

Will I lose my game saves if I clear the cache?

No. Game saves are stored separately from the cache, usually in your user profile folder or in the cloud through Steam Cloud. Clearing the cache will not touch them.

How often should I clear the cache?

Most users never need to clear it manually — Steam cleans up after itself automatically. Only clear it if you are having download problems, or if you notice the cache folder is taking up a lot of disk space.

What if I cannot find the downloading folder?

Make sure you are looking in the correct Steam installation folder. If you installed Steam in a custom location, navigate there instead of the default path. You can also check where Steam is installed by opening Steam, going to Settings > Storage, and looking at the path listed there.

Do I need to restart my computer after clearing the cache?

No. Simply closing and reopening Steam is enough. You do not need to restart your computer.