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How To Clear The Cache On Your Console/PC

BY 2K Mike

PUBLISHED:

UPDATED:

 

With games on consoles and PC, a common solution for a wide variety of issues is to clear the cache. 

That said, we've often received questions from players about how to do this, so we're providing the info. To clear the cache, follow the steps below.

Nintendo Switch

  1. Open "System Settings" in the HOME menu.
  2. Then select "System", choose "formatting options" and then select "Reset Cache."
  3. Select the user you'd like to clear the cache for, then follow the on-screen instructions.

PlayStation 3

When you play a game for the first time on the Playstation 3 it will automatically install any necessary game data into a system folder called the "Game Data Utility." This folder is also the location for any patches or updates your games may receive.

  1. While in the Playstation 3 Cross-Menu Bar (XMB) navigate to the "Game" section.
  2. Scroll through this section until you find a folder called "Game Data Utility"
  3. Open the folder to populate the Game Data list
  4. Scroll though the Game Data list until you find the game you are experiencing issues with.
  5. With the game entry you need highlighted, press the Triangle button
  6. An options menu associated with the game you have highlighted will appear on the right hand side of the menu.
  7. Select "Delete" and press X to confirm.
  8. Once you have deleted the cache data you will then be prompted to re-install the missing data when you next play. 

NOTE: If the data you deleted was a game patch, you will only be prompted to re-download the information again the next time your console is connected to the internet. Choosing not to re-download patch data may affect your associated game experience as any bug fixes installed with the patch will no longer be in place. 

PlayStation 4

The PlayStation 4 doesn't actually have a cache to clear. That said: It never hurts to power down/power up your console if you're encountering performance issues in the console. 

  1. Press and hold the PlayStation button on your controller. 
  2. Select "Turn Off PS4". 
  3. Let the PlayStation 4 fully power down and wait for 10 to 20 seconds.
  4. Restart the PlayStation 4.

PlayStation 5

  1. Turn off your console by holding the power button for three seconds. The power indicator will blink for a few moments before turning off.
  2. Once the console is off, press and hold the power button again. Release it after you hear the second beep — one beep will sound when you first press, and another seven seconds later.
  3. Connect the controller with the USB cable and press the PS button on the controller.
  4. Select "Clear System Software Cache"

Xbox 360

  1. Press the Guide button on your controller, go to Settings, and select System Settings.
  2. Select Storage or Memory.
  3. Highlight any storage device, and then press Y on your controller. (It doesn't matter which storage device you select; the cache will be cleared for all storage devices.)
  4. Select Clear System Cache.
  5. When prompted to confirm storage device maintenance, select Yes. 

Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X

  1. Hold down the power button continuously for 10 seconds.
  2. This will cause your console to fully shutdown, wait for it to complete.
  3. Once it's entirely shut down, please press the power button and restart your console.

Quick Resume: The quick resume feature can sometimes lead to issues when trying to clear your cache.

  1. From the XBOX “Home” highlight the intended game, click “Menu" button
  2. Select “Quit” to close the game.
  3. Next go to “My games & apps” in Xbox guide.
  4. Select “Quick Resume”
  5. Highlight the game you want to disable
  6. Now click on the “Menu button” on the controller
  7. Then click on “Remove from Quick Resume”
  8. This will disable 'Quick Resume' for the selected game

Steam 

  1. Launch Steam
  2. Go to Settings and select Downloads
  3. Select the "Clear Download Cache" button at the bottom
  4. Select "OK" to confirm and acknowledge that you'll need to login to Steam again

Verify Integrity of Game Files

  1. Right click the game from within the Steam library
  2. Select Properties
  3. Click on Installed Files tab
  4. Select option to "Verify Integrity of Game Files"

Epic Games

  1. Open Launcher
  2. Go to your Library
  3. Underneath the game icon, it will say ‘Launch’ and have a three dots next to it
  4. Click on the three dots or right-click on the game icon
  5. On the drop-down navigation, click 'Manage'
  6. Once open, click 'Verify' from the list of options
  7. Depending on the size of the game it may take a few minutes to verify all your files