What clearing cache does and why you might need to
Cache is temporary data your Switch stores to load games and apps faster the next time you use them. Over time, this cached data can become corrupted or outdated, which causes freezing, slow loading, or games that won't start. Clearing the cache wipes this temporary storage without deleting your saved games, screenshots, or any games themselves.
You'll know you need to clear cache when a specific game starts acting up — taking forever to load, crashing partway through, or refusing to launch at all. Sometimes a game update leaves behind old cached files that conflict with the new version. Clearing cache is the first troubleshooting step before you consider deleting and reinstalling the game.
The process is different depending on whether you want to clear cache for one game or for your entire Switch. Both take less than five minutes and require no special tools or knowledge.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing cache removes temporary game data but leaves your saved games and all installed games untouched.
- For a single game, go to System Settings, Data Management, Manage Software, select the game, and choose Clear Cache.
- To clear cache for your entire Switch, go to System Settings, System, and choose Format Console (this keeps your games and saves but wipes all temporary data).
- After clearing cache, restart the game or your Switch to let it rebuild the temporary files it needs.
Clearing cache for one specific game
This is the most common fix and takes about two minutes. Start by pressing the Home button on your controller to reach the main Switch menu. From there, go to System Settings — it's the gear icon at the bottom of the menu.
Once in System Settings, scroll down and select Data Management. Then choose Manage Software. You'll see a list of every game installed on your Switch. Find the game that's giving you trouble and select it. A menu will appear with several options, including Clear Cache. Select that option and confirm when the Switch asks if you're sure.
After the cache clears, close System Settings and launch the game again. It will take slightly longer to start the first time because it's rebuilding the cache from scratch, but it should run normally after that.
Clearing cache for your entire Switch
If multiple games are acting up or you want a complete reset of all temporary data, you can clear cache system-wide. This is less common but useful if your Switch feels sluggish across the board. Go to System Settings and scroll down to System. Then select Format Console.
The Switch will warn you that this action clears all cached data. Your games, saved games, and user accounts stay on the console — only the temporary files go. Confirm the action and let your Switch restart. This takes a few minutes and your Switch will be slower than usual for a short while as it rebuilds cache for everything.
Do not turn off your Switch during this process. Wait until it finishes restarting and shows the normal home menu before you do anything else.
What happens after you clear cache
Once cache is cleared, your Switch needs to rebuild it the next time you use each game. The first launch after clearing cache will be noticeably slower — sometimes 30 seconds to a minute longer than normal. This is expected and not a sign something went wrong. Subsequent launches will be back to normal speed.
If clearing cache didn't fix the problem and the game still won't start or keeps crashing, the issue is likely something other than corrupted cache. At that point, you might need to delete and reinstall the game itself, or contact Nintendo Support if the problem persists across multiple games.
When to clear cache versus when to reinstall
Clear cache first if a game is running slowly, freezing partway through, or taking forever to load. These are signs of corrupted temporary data. Reinstalling is the next step if clearing cache doesn't help, or if a game won't launch at all and you see an error code.
Reinstalling means deleting the entire game and downloading it fresh from the Nintendo eShop. This takes much longer than clearing cache — anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour depending on the game size and your internet speed. But it fixes problems that cache clearing can't, like corrupted game files themselves.
Clearing cache on a Switch Lite or OLED model
The steps are identical on Switch Lite and Switch OLED models. Both use the same System Settings menu and the same Data Management path. The only difference is the button layout on the controller, but the Home button location is the same across all Switch models.
If you have multiple user accounts on your Switch, clearing cache affects the entire console, not just one account. You don't need to be logged into a specific account to clear cache — any account can access System Settings and run the clear cache function.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my saved games?
No. Saved games are stored separately from cache and are never affected by clearing cache. Your progress in every game stays exactly where you left it.
Do I need to clear cache regularly?
No. You only need to clear cache when a game starts acting up. There's no benefit to clearing it on a schedule, and most people never need to do it unless they run into a specific problem.
What's the difference between clearing cache and clearing data?
Cache is temporary files that speed up loading. Data includes your saved games and account settings. Clearing cache is safe and won't affect your games. Clearing data deletes everything, including saves, and should only be done as a last resort.
Can I clear cache while a game is running?
No. You must close the game completely before you can clear its cache. Go back to the home menu, then open System Settings to access the clear cache option.
How much storage space does cache take up?
Cache is usually small — typically a few hundred megabytes per game. It's rarely the reason your Switch runs out of storage. If you're low on space, deleting unused games is more effective than clearing cache.