Discord stores images, videos, GIFs, and app code on your PC so channels load faster. Over time, this cache can grow to several gigabytes. A corrupted cache can also cause blank images, broken emoji, endless loading, or a grey screen. Clearing it is safe: you stay logged in, and your messages and servers are not affected. This guide covers clearing Discord’s cache on Windows 10 and Windows 11, plus the browser version, Android, iPhone, and Mac.
Quick Answer
Fully quit Discord: right-click its icon in the system tray and choose Quit Discord. Press Windows key + R, type %appdata%\discord, and press Enter. Delete the Cache, Code Cache, and GPUCache folders, then empty the Recycle Bin and restart Discord.
Step 1: Fully Close Discord
Clicking the X only minimizes Discord to the tray, and Windows won’t let you delete files it is using.
- Click the ^ arrow on the right side of the taskbar to show hidden icons.
- Right-click the Discord icon and choose Quit Discord.
- If it is still running, open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), select Discord, and click End task.
Step 2: Open Discord’s AppData Folder
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
%appdata%\discordand press Enter.
The full path is C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\discord. The AppData folder is hidden by default, which is why the Run box is the easiest way in. If you use Discord PTB or Canary, open %appdata%\discordptb or %appdata%\discordcanary instead.
Step 3: Delete the Cache Folders
| Folder | What it holds | Safe to delete? |
|---|---|---|
| Cache | Images, avatars, attachments, and GIF previews you have viewed | Yes |
| Code Cache | Compiled app code for faster startup | Yes |
| GPUCache | Graphics shader cache | Yes |
| Local Storage, Session Storage | Login session and local preferences | Deleting these signs you out and resets some settings, so leave them alone unless troubleshooting |
| settings.json | App settings | Leave it |
- Hold Ctrl and click Cache, Code Cache, and GPUCache.
- Press Delete. To skip the Recycle Bin, press Shift + Delete.
- Empty the Recycle Bin to actually free the space.
- Start Discord again. It rebuilds the cache as you use it, so the first launch may be a little slower.
Clear Discord Cache in a Browser
- Open Discord in your browser.
- Click the padlock or site information icon in the address bar.
- Choose Site settings or Cookies and site data, then clear the data for discord.com.
- Sign in again.
Clear Discord Cache on Android
- Open Settings > Apps > Discord.
- Tap Storage (or Storage & cache).
- Tap Clear cache. Do not tap Clear storage/data unless you want to sign in again.
Clear Discord Cache on iPhone and iPad
iOS doesn’t have a system-wide Clear cache button for apps. Depending on your app version, Discord may offer a cache option in its own settings. Look under your profile’s App Settings or Advanced section. If there isn’t one, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Discord. There, Offload App keeps your data, or Delete App removes everything, and you then reinstall Discord from the App Store.
Clear Discord Cache on Mac
- Quit Discord (Cmd + Q).
- In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder and enter
~/Library/Application Support/discord. - Move Cache, Code Cache, and GPUCache to the Trash, then empty it.
Troubleshooting
“The action can’t be completed because the folder is open in Discord”
Discord is still running. Quit it from the tray or end all Discord processes in Task Manager.
The Cache folder is back right away
That’s normal. Discord recreates it at startup. It should be much smaller than before.
Discord still shows a grey or blank screen
Try pressing Ctrl + R in Discord to reload it. Turn off Hardware Acceleration in User Settings > Advanced. Or uninstall Discord, delete %appdata%\discord and %localappdata%\Discord, and reinstall.
I cannot find the AppData folder
Use the Run box method above, or in File Explorer, click View > Show > Hidden items.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing Discord’s cache delete my messages?
No. Messages, servers, and friends are stored on Discord’s servers. Only local copies of media and app files are removed.
Will I be logged out?
Not if you delete only Cache, Code Cache, and GPUCache.
How often should I clear it?
Only when it takes up too much space or you have display problems. There is no need to do it on a schedule.
Is the process different on Windows 11?
No. The steps and folder locations are the same on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Summary
- Quit Discord from the system tray.
- Open
%appdata%\discordwith Windows + R. - Delete Cache, Code Cache, and GPUCache.
- Empty the Recycle Bin and reopen Discord.
- On Android, use Clear cache in the app’s storage settings.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.