What clearing cache does and why you might need to

Cache is temporary data that BeamNG.drive stores on your computer to load faster next time. When you play, the game saves things like vehicle models, textures, physics calculations, and map details in a folder so it doesn't have to rebuild them from scratch every session. Over time, this cache can grow large, become corrupted, or contain outdated files from game updates — which sometimes causes crashes, stuttering, or visual glitches.

Clearing the cache tells BeamNG.drive to delete these temporary files and rebuild them fresh the next time you launch the game. This often fixes problems where the game behaves oddly after an update, loads slowly, or crashes on startup. It's one of the first troubleshooting steps to try before reinstalling the game entirely.

Key Takeaways

  • BeamNG.drive stores cache files in a folder inside your user directory that you can delete without harming the game itself.
  • The cache folder location differs between Windows and Mac, but both are found in your user profile rather than in the game installation folder.
  • After you delete the cache, launch the game normally — it will rebuild the cache automatically on startup.
  • Clearing cache does not delete your save files, vehicle setups, or mods, so you won't lose progress or customizations.

Finding and deleting cache on Windows

On Windows, BeamNG.drive stores cache in a hidden folder. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\BeamNG.drive. If you don't see the AppData folder, click the View tab at the top of File Explorer and check the box labeled "Hidden items" — this shows folders Windows normally hides.

Inside the BeamNG.drive folder, look for a folder named cache. Right-click it and select Delete. The folder will move to your Recycle Bin. If you want to be thorough, empty your Recycle Bin afterward, though this step isn't necessary — the cache will straightforward stay deleted either way.

If you can't find the AppData folder even with hidden items enabled, use the address bar shortcut instead. Click in the address bar at the top of File Explorer, type %localappdata%\BeamNG.drive, and press Enter. Windows will take you directly to the folder.

Finding and deleting cache on Mac

On Mac, the cache location is ~/Library/process Support/BeamNG.drive/cache. The Library folder is hidden by default. Open Finder, click the Go menu at the top, hold down the Option key, and select Library from the dropdown. This takes you directly to your Library folder.

From there, navigate to process Support, then BeamNG.drive, then find the cache folder. Drag it to the Trash, or right-click and select Move to Trash. Empty the Trash afterward if you want, though it's optional.

What happens after you clear cache

Launch BeamNG.drive normally after deleting the cache folder. The game will take slightly longer to start the first time because it's rebuilding the cache from scratch. You'll see the game load assets and compile shaders — this is normal and expected. Depending on your computer's speed, this can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes.

Once the game finishes loading, it will run normally. The cache will rebuild itself as you play, and future launches will be fast again. If the problem you were experiencing — crashes, stuttering, or visual errors — was caused by corrupted cache, it should be gone now.

What clearing cache does not affect

Deleting the cache folder only removes temporary files. Your save games, vehicle setups, mod installations, and game settings all stay intact. You won't lose any progress, custom vehicles, or configurations. The cache is purely performance-related data that the game can recreate on its own.

If you're worried about losing something important, you can back up your entire BeamNG.drive user folder before clearing cache — but in practice, this step is unnecessary. The cache folder is separate from everything you've customized or saved.

When clearing cache doesn't fix the problem

If you clear the cache and the game still crashes or behaves oddly, the issue is likely something else. Try updating your graphics drivers, checking that your Windows or Mac installation is fully updated, or verifying the game files through Steam (right-click BeamNG.drive in your library, select Properties, go to the Local Files tab, and click "Verify integrity of game files").

If problems persist after those steps, the game installation itself may be corrupted. In that case, uninstalling and reinstalling BeamNG.drive is the next troubleshooting move. This is more drastic than clearing cache, but it rules out installation damage as the cause.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache make the game run faster?

Clearing cache won't make the game permanently faster, but it can fix slowdowns caused by corrupted cache files. If the game was stuttering or loading slowly because of bad cached data, clearing it may improve performance. If the game was already running smoothly, you won't notice a difference.

How often should I clear the cache?

You don't need to clear cache regularly. Only do it when you're experiencing problems like crashes, stuttering, or visual glitches. Most players never need to clear cache unless something goes wrong after a game update.

Can I delete the cache folder while the game is running?

No — close BeamNG.drive completely before deleting the cache folder. If the game is running, it may be writing to cache files, and deleting them while the game is active could cause problems. Always shut down the game first.

What if the cache folder doesn't exist?

If you navigate to the BeamNG.drive folder and there's no cache subfolder, the game hasn't created one yet or it's already been deleted. In that case, there's nothing to clear. Launch the game normally and it will create a fresh cache folder on startup.