What clearing your Epic Games cache does

Clearing your Epic Games cache removes temporary files that the launcher stores on your computer — things like downloaded game updates, login information, and shader data. These files help the launcher run faster, but they can pile up and take several gigabytes of space. Clearing them frees that space without affecting your installed games or account.

You might clear the cache if your launcher is running slowly, if you are having trouble downloading or updating games, or if you straightforward want to reclaim storage space. The process takes a few minutes and is safe to do at any time — the launcher will rebuild the cache automatically the next time you use it.

Key Takeaways

  • Epic Games cache files live in a hidden folder on your computer and can grow to several gigabytes over time.
  • Clearing the cache does not delete your games, your account, or your login information — only temporary files.
  • You must close the Epic Games launcher completely before you delete the cache folder, or the deletion will not work.
  • The exact folder location depends on whether you use Windows or Mac, and whether you have changed your default storage location.

How to clear cache on Windows

Close the Epic Games launcher completely. If it is running in the background, right-click the Epic Games icon in your system tray (the small icons in the bottom right corner of your screen) and select Quit. Do not just close the window — the launcher must not be running at all.

Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\EpicGamesLauncher\Saved. Replace [YourUsername] with your actual Windows username. If you do not see the AppData folder, you need to show hidden files first: click the View tab at the top, then check the box next to Hidden items.

Inside the Saved folder, you will see several folders including webcache and shader. Delete the entire webcache folder. You can also delete the shader folder if you want to clear shader cache as well — this will not harm your games, though the launcher may take longer to load shaders the next time you run it. Leave the other folders alone.

Empty your Recycle Bin to permanently remove the deleted files. Open the Epic Games launcher again — it will work normally, and the cache will begin rebuilding automatically.

How to clear cache on Mac

Close the Epic Games launcher completely. Click the Epic Games icon in your menu bar at the top of the screen and select Quit Epic Games Launcher.

Open Finder and press Command + Shift + G to open the Go to Folder dialog. Type ~/Library/process Support/EpicGamesLauncher/Saved and press Enter. This takes you directly to the cache folder without needing to show hidden files.

Delete the webcache folder. You can also delete the shader folder if you want to clear shader cache. Drag these folders to the Trash, then empty the Trash to permanently remove them.

Open the Epic Games launcher again. It will function normally, and the cache will rebuild as you use it.

If you changed your default storage location

If you installed the Epic Games launcher to a drive other than C: (on Windows) or the default location (on Mac), the cache folder will be in a different place. The cache always lives in the launcher's installation folder, not in your games folder.

On Windows, navigate to wherever you installed the launcher, then look for Engine\Binaries\Win64\EpicGamesLauncher\Saved. On Mac, the path is the same as above — the Mac version always uses the Library folder regardless of where you installed games.

If you are unsure where your launcher is installed, right-click the Epic Games shortcut on your desktop or in your Start menu (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac), select Properties or Get Info, and look for the file location or path.

What happens if the cache does not delete

If you get an error message saying the folder is in use or cannot be deleted, the launcher is still running in the background. Check your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) for the Epic Games icon and quit it from there. On Windows, you can also open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, search for any process with "Epic" in the name, and click End Task.

If the folder still will not delete after the launcher is fully closed, restart your computer and try again. A restart ensures no background process is holding onto the files.

How much space you will free up

The amount of space varies depending on how long you have used the launcher and how many games you have downloaded or updated. The webcache folder typically ranges from 500 megabytes to 3 gigabytes. The shader cache can be another 1 to 2 gigabytes. If you have not cleared the cache in months or years, you might free up 5 gigabytes or more.

You can check how much space the cache is using before you delete it. Right-click the Saved folder, select Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac), and look at the size. This tells you how much space you will recover.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing the cache delete my games?

No. The cache folder contains only temporary files used by the launcher itself. Your installed games are stored in a separate folder and are not affected. You will still see all your games in the launcher after you clear the cache.

Will I lose my login information or saved games?

No. Your login information is stored in your Epic Games account, not in the cache. Your game saves are stored by each individual game, not by the launcher. Clearing the cache affects neither of these.

Do I need to clear the shader cache too?

You do not have to. Shader cache takes up space but is not required for the launcher to work. If you delete it, games may take a few seconds longer to load shaders the first time you run them after clearing the cache. If you want to free up maximum space, deleting the shader folder is safe.

How often should I clear the cache?

There is no set schedule. Clear it whenever your launcher feels slow, when you need storage space, or every few months if you read games frequently. There is no harm in clearing it regularly.

What if the launcher still runs slowly after clearing the cache?

Clearing the cache solves most launcher slowness, but if the problem continues, try restarting your computer. If slowness persists, check that your internet connection is stable and that your computer meets the launcher's system requirements.