How to Clear Shader Cache on Windows 10 and 11: Fix Game Stutters (2026)

What is the Shader Cache and Why Does It Cause Stuttering?

Modern video games written in DirectX 12 and Vulkan compile graphic shaders to match your specific GPU architecture and driver version. To avoid compiling thousands of mathematical rendering formulas every time you launch a game, your graphics driver and Windows store these compiled instructions on your SSD in a local repository called the Shader Cache.

While caching speeds up map loading under ideal conditions, driver updates and game patches frequently leave behind obsolete or corrupt cache files. When a game encounters a corrupt shader file, the engine stalls for several frames while trying to recompile the asset in the middle of gameplay. This produces severe hitching, micro-stutters during gunfights, and unexplained 0.1% low frame rate dips.

Clearing corrupted shader directories and running a dedicated FPS tweak tool refreshes your graphics pipeline, removes orphaned DirectX cache bloat, and restores smooth frame delivery across all titles.

Method 1: Clear DirectX Shader Cache via Windows Disk Cleanup (Windows 10 & 11)

Windows includes a native cleanup tool designed specifically to flush obsolete DirectX shader files without affecting your game saves or personal settings.

1. Press Windows Key + S, type Disk Cleanup, and open the application.

2. Select your system drive (usually C:) and click OK.

3. Click on Clean up system files. Windows will rescan the drive.

4. In the list of files to delete, uncheck everything except DirectX Shader Cache.

5. Click OK and confirm by selecting Delete Files.

6. Restart your PC to ensure the graphics driver initializes a fresh cache container.

System > Storage > Temporary files. Check ‘DirectX Shader Cache’ and click Remove files.”>Storage Sense Alternative on Windows 11

You can also clear shader cache in Windows 11 by navigating to Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files. Check ‘DirectX Shader Cache’ and click Remove files.

Method 2: Manually Delete NVIDIA Shader Cache Folders (DXCache & GLCache)

While Windows Disk Cleanup flushes native DirectX temporary assets, NVIDIA drivers maintain separate cache directories inside your AppData folders that can grow to tens of gigabytes over time.

Follow these steps to manually purge NVIDIA shader cache folders:

1. Close all running games, Steam, Discord, and your web browser.

2. Open NVIDIA Control Panel, click Manage 3D settings, scroll down to Shader Cache Size, and set it to Disabled. Click Apply. (This unlocks file locks on the cache folders).

3. Press Windows Key + R, type %localappdata%NVIDIA, and press Enter.

4. Open the folders named DXCache and GLCache. Select all files inside (Ctrl + A) and delete them. If a few files say they are in use, click Skip.

5. Press Windows Key + R again, type %appdata%NVIDIAComputeCache (or %localappdata%NVIDIA CorporationNV_Cache), and delete the contents.

6. Return to NVIDIA Control Panel and re-enable Shader Cache Size (set it to 10 GB or 100 GB).

For more detailed driver tweaks, read our in-depth NVIDIA Control Panel gaming guide.

Method 3: Clear AMD Radeon Shader Cache via Adrenalin Software

AMD makes clearing shader caches straightforward by providing a one-click reset button directly inside the driver settings interface.

1. Right-click your desktop and open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.

2. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner, then select the Graphics tab.

3. Scroll down to the bottom and click on Advanced to expand additional settings.

4. Locate the Reset Shader Cache option and click Perform Reset.

5. Click OK when prompted. The driver will immediately purge all cached AMD DirectX and Vulkan shaders.

How to Increase NVIDIA Shader Cache Size to 10GB or 100GB

By default, NVIDIA sets the Shader Cache Size to “Driver Default”, which caps cache storage at only 4GB. In modern titles using Unreal Engine 5 or heavy asset streaming (like Cyberpunk 2077, Modern Warfare 3, or Hogwarts Legacy), a 4GB cache fills up rapidly. When the limit is reached, older shaders are deleted, forcing the game to recompile them later.

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When Should You Clear Your Shader Cache?

Clearing your shader cache should not be done daily. You should clear your shader cache under the following specific circumstances:

• After a GPU driver update: Especially when using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) or switching between GPU vendors.

• After a major game patch: When a game update overhauls lighting models or rendering engines.

• When experiencing sudden stuttering: If a game that used to run smoothly starts micro-freezing during combat, follow our troubleshooting guide on how to fix stuttering in games on PC.

• When diagnosing low FPS: Check our comprehensive why is my FPS low troubleshooting guide to rule out driver-level asset corruption.

• After upgrading to Windows 11: To ensure clean operating system integration, review our guide to optimize Windows 11 for gaming.

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