To clear cache files on windows 10 is a simple process and I’ll show you just how to do it which will include clearing CPU, DNS, RAM, JAVA, mapped network drive, and browser cache on windows 10.
Clearing cache files from your computer are part of the things you can do to improve your computer’s performance and there’s so much you could do with windows 10 to et the most performance.
Depending on why you are here, I recommend you navigate through the table of content to jump to your particular interest.
If you are interested in clearing every cache on your computer, then I recommend you follow every single step one after the other to completely clear cache on windows 10.
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What is a Cache?
A cache is a special high speed mechanism that can either be an independent high speed storage device or a reserve section of the main memory.
To break all that down, a cache is a component that could either be hardware or software which is used to store data.
The main function of a cache is to make future request of a specific data respond faster.
For example,
When you visit a web page for the first time, the data of this page will be stored or cached on your computer.
So, the next time you visit that web page, it loads a lot faster because your computer has already stored some data of that web page on your computer.
Now you can see the whole idea of cache is to help you load an already visited information much more faster.
Why You Should Clear Cache on Windows 10
Yes, caching will make your life much easier when you want to visit a piece of information you’ve visited in the past at a faster rate.
However, cached data could cause some issues to your computerand clearing it should resolve the problem on your computer.
It’s important to clear cache on your computer from time to time to avoid any future issue.
Here are reasons why should clear cache on windows 10.
1. Performance
It’s only convenient to use cache on your computer when you have enough storage, free RAM, and high performing computer.
If your computer doesn’t fall into any of that category, caching my slow down your computer overtime.
2. Storage
Storage is a major factor when cache comes to mind.
When you let cache accumulate data on your computer, the data becomes bigger in size and you might run out disk space overtime.
This could cause your computer to run into Blue Screen error or other unexpected problems.
3. Data Corruption
On windows 10, certain cache data is used to help your operating system.
This cache data can get corrupted overtime if you don’t clear your cache regularly.
And when your cache data get’s corrupted, it can affect the performance of your computer or simply crash it.
As you can see,
it should be a routine for to clear cache regularly on your windows.
I recommend you clear your cache every two weeks.
Where is Cache Stored on Windows 10?
On windows 10, the particular location to store cache isn’t fixed.
The location of a cache file depends on the source.
For example,
A browser cache location is different from DNS cache location.
Windows itself will save its cache data in different location because resources are different.
The know storage location for cache data on windows 10 is C:\Windows\Temp, which is where system temporary files are stored.
How To Clear The Temporary Files Cache on Windows 10
Here’s how to clear temp or temporary file cache on windows 10.
Follow the instructions carefully.
1. Press this key combination to open the run command box.
windows key + R
to open run command box
2. Type or copy and paste the following inside the run command box and click ok.
%temp%
to open the %temp% folder
3. Select every file in that folder and delete them.
4. Again, open the run command box by this combination key.
windows key + R
to open run command box
5. Now, type in or copy the following inside the run command box and click ok.
temp
to open temp folder
6. Delete every file inside the folder.
You can also clear tempt or temporary cache files using disk cleanup.
Here’s how,
How To Clear Temporary Files Cache Using Disk Cleanup on Windows 10
Follow the instruction carefully.
1. Click on Start, and then search for Disk Cleanup or Cleanmgr.
2. Select Disk Cleanup among the search results.
3. Choose the drive you want to clean up and the select ok. Drive “C:” is where your operating system is installed.
4. Check the box for the files you want to clean up. You can check all the boxes if you want to clean up everything.
5. Click on Clean up system files to begin clean up.
6. Select ok when clean up is done.
How to Delete Prefetch Files on windows 10
1. Open Run command box by pressing the following combination on your keyboard.
windows key + R
to open run command
2. Type in or copy and paste the following into the run command box and press ok.
prefetch
to open prefetch folder
3. Click on continue to grant you access.
4. Now, select every file in that folder and delete them.
How to Clear File Explorer History on Windows 10
Follow the instructions carefully.
1. Start by opening the File Explorer window. You can do this by clicking on this icon 
located in your taskbar.
2. Select the View tab located at the top.
3. Now click on Options.
4. Then click on options in the privacy section.
How To Clear Windows Thumbnail cache on Windows 10
1. Open File Explorer window by clicking on this icon in the taskbar.
2. Copy and paste the following in your navigation bar.
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
3. Change the Username to your PC username.
For example,
If the name of your PC is Michael, change the username to Michael and the press enter.
4. Now delete every file with the word thumbcache in their name.
How to Clear Windows Icon Cache on Windows 10
1. Open File Explorer window by clicking on this icon in the taskbar.
2. Copy and paste the following in your navigation bar.
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local
3. Change the Username to your PC username.
For example,
If the name of your PC is David, change the username to David and the press enter.
4. Now delete every file with the word iconcache in their name.
How to Clear Windows Update Cache on Windows 10
1. Open File Explorer window by clicking on this icon in the taskbar.
2. Copy and paste the following in your navigation bar.
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
3. Now delete every file in the download folder to clear windows update cache.
How to Clear DNS Cache on Windows 10
Here’s how to clear your DNS cache on windows 10.
1. On your keyboard, hold the windows key + R to open the run box.
2. Type in cmd in the run box to open command prompt.
3. In command prompt, type or copy and paste the following and press enter to flush the local cache.
ipconfig/flushdns
to flush local cache
Note – To view DNS resolver cache, simple input the following in command prompt.
ipconfig /displaydns
to view dns resolver cache
How to Clear DNS Cache on Windows DNS Server
This is very helpful when your server has a bad cache entry.
Follow the instructions carefully to successfully clear the cache on your windows server.
Windows Server 2016 will be used for this tutorial.
1. Simply open the DNS console.
2. Right click the DNS server.
3. Then select clear cache.
How to Clear DNS With PowerShell
1. Clear client cache the following command:
Clear-DnsClientCache
2. To clear the local DNS server cache, use this command:
Clear-DNsServerCache
3. Clear DNS cache on a specific DNS server with the following command:
Clear-DnsServerCache –ComputerName “DC1” -Force
Note – Change -ComputerName to the name of the server you want to clear.
How to Clear Java Cache on Windows 10
There are three ways to achieve this.
The first way is through command line, the second way is through command prompt and the third way is through java control panel.
Let’s get started.
Using Command Line
Follow the instructions carefully.
1. Press this key combination to open the run command box.
windows key + R
to open run command box
2. Type or copy and paste the following inside the run command box and click ok.
javaws -uninstall
to clear java cache
3. You will see a pause and then the java cache will be cleared.
Note – There won’t be any notification to tell you that the command was successful.
Using Command Prompt
Here’s how to clear your Java cache on windows 10.
1. On your keyboard, hold the windows key + R to open the run box.
2. Type in cmd in the run box to open command prompt.
3. In command prompt, type or copy and paste the following and press enter to flush the local cache.
javaws -uninstall
to clear java cache
Using Java Control Panel
1. Search for control panel in windows search.
2. Choose control panel among the result.
3. Inside control panel, make sure the view by is set to small icons.
4. Now click on java .
5. While in general tab, click on settings.
6. Now select delete files.
7. Make sure cached application and applets option is selected.
8. Then hit OK.
How to Clear Browser Cache Windows 10
You could be using Google Chrome or microsoft edge but, the pocess is similar.
Here’s how to clear browser cache on windows 10.
1. Click on option in your browser, it’s usually a three-dotted icon 
at the upper right corner.
2. Among the list of options, choose settings.
3. Navigate to the Privacy & Security section.
4. On Google Chrome, click on clear browse data while on Microsoft edge, click on choose what to clear.
5. Now select the data you want to erase and click on clear.
How to Clear Ram Cache on Windows 10
Here’s how,
1. Start by right clicking on the desktop.
2. Among the option, move your mouse arrow to new to reveal the options under new.
3. Now click on shortcut.
4. A box will pop up immediately.
5. Copy the following into the box.
%windir%\system32\rundll32.exe advapi32.dll, ProcessIdleTasks
to clear ram cache
6. Click on next.
7. Create a name for the shortcut. For the sake of this tutorial, i will save mine as bestsoltips.
8. Click on Finish.
9. Now, simply go back to your desktop and double tap on the shortcut you just created to clear your ram cache.
Note – Nothing will pop up when you double click on it.
How to Clear Mapped Network Drive Cache on Windows 10
According to WindowsReport, there are four ways to clear mapped network drive cache on windows 10.
They are:
- Windows or File Explorer
- Windows or File Explorer by erasing its shortcut
- Command Prompt by erasing its shortcut
- Command Prompt to delete mapped network drives
Let’s jump right into it.
Using File Explorer to delete a mapped network drive from Windows 10
1. Press this key combination to open file explore.
Win key + E
2. Select this PC on the left side of file explore.
3. All your mapped network drives are shown in the network location section.
4. Right click on the drive you want to clear or delete.
5. Click on disconnect among the options to delete a drive mapping toward a network location.
6. Click on delete among the options to remove a drive mapping towards a network folder or FTP site.
Using Command Prompt To Delete a Mapped Network Drive
1. Search for command prompt on windows search.
2. Click on command prompt among the result.
3. Enter the following command and press enter.
net use [Mapped Drive Letter] /delete
NOTE – the [Mapped Drive Letter] should be your drive letter without the bracket.
For example,
If your drive letter is Z, replace [Mapped Drive Letter] with Z.
Using Command Prompt To Delete All Mapped Network Drive
This is helpful when you have more that one mapped network drive and you want to clear everything all at once.
Here’s how
1. Search for command prompt on windows search.
2. Click on command prompt among the result.
3. Enter the following command and press enter.
net use * /delete.
4. Command prompt will show you all your mapped drive.
5. Type in Y to proceed and delete your drive or type in N to cancel.
Conclusion
With all the step by step guides i provided above to help you clear your windows cache on windows 10, your computer should perform better.
And if you followed my instructions correctly, your problem should be fixed by now.
I hope this article was helpful to you.
Did it work for you?
Are you still having troubles?
Is there anything you want to ask or share with me?
Please use the comment below, I will reply to you as soon as I can.
