Reference

Game cache & downloads

Game cache and downloads are the temporary and stored files PC game launchers keep — download buffers, update files, shader caches, and pre-allocated install data. Much of it is reclaimable, but installed games and save files are not part of the clearable cache.

Storage conceptsGeneral

Game cache & downloads

Also known as: game download cache, storefront cache, game shader and download cache

Mix of installs, downloads, updates, and shader cache
Download and shader caches are safe to clear
Installed games and unsynced saves are not cache

What sits inside a game launcher

Storefronts like Steam, Epic Games, and others keep several kinds of data: the installed game itself, downloaded update and patch files, a download cache used while installing, and per-game shader caches. Cloud-synced save files may also live locally until they upload.

The reclaimable parts are the download cache, leftover update files, and shader caches. These can swell to many gigabytes across a large library and are what you target when freeing space without uninstalling games.

What is safe to clear

Clearing the launcher download cache and shader caches is safe — they rebuild on the next download or launch. Most launchers expose this directly (for example, Steam > Settings > Downloads > Clear Download Cache).

Be careful with anything labeled as a save or game data folder: deleting installed content means re-downloading the whole game, and removing local saves that have not synced can lose progress. When in doubt, uninstall games through the launcher rather than deleting folders by hand.

Related terms

Keep reading the reference.

WindowsShader cacheA shader cache stores the compiled GPU programs (shaders) a game or app builds the first time it renders a scene, so they do not have to be recompiled on later runs. It is safe to clear: the cache rebuilds automatically, at the cost of brief stutter or a slower first launch afterward.WindowsGeneral WindowsDirectX shader cacheThe DirectX Shader Cache is the Windows folder where the DirectX graphics system stores compiled shaders for games and apps. It is reclaimable junk: Windows Disk Cleanup lists it for removal, and DirectX rebuilds it automatically as you run programs again.Windows Storage conceptsTemporary filesTemporary files are short-lived data an app or the operating system creates while working — during installs, downloads, edits, or printing. They are meant to be deleted automatically, but stalled tasks and crashes can leave them behind, taking up space.General WindowsDisk CleanupDisk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) is the built-in Windows utility that removes temporary files, caches, Recycle Bin contents, and old update files to free space on a drive. It is safe to run and only deletes data Windows considers expendable.Windows

Act on it

Guides and tools for this topic.

Storage cleanup helpers