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To clear the RedM client cache, close RedM and every CitizenFX process, open %LOCALAPPDATA%RedMRedM.appdata, delete the temporary cache folders, and leave cachegame intact. RedM will rebuild the deleted data the next time it starts and reconnects to a server.

The exact folder names can differ between RedM builds. Confirm that the folders belong to your RedM installation before deleting anything, and back up custom settings first.

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What clearing the RedM client cache actually does

RedM stores downloaded browser data, server resources and other temporary files in its local data directory. Removing those temporary folders gives the client a clean set of temporary files to rebuild. This is useful when a server resource is stuck, the interface behaves incorrectly, or an update leaves stale files behind.

Cache clearing does not reinstall RedM, repair a damaged Red Dead Redemption 2 installation, or remove the game files that RedM needs to launch. It also does not guarantee that a server-side problem will disappear. If the same server resource is broken for everyone, deleting local files cannot fix the server.

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The procedure below is for a Windows RedM client. Folder names are based on paths reported by current troubleshooting guides and can vary by build, so use the folders you can verify on your own installation rather than deleting similarly named files elsewhere.

Before deleting anything

Close RedM and its background processes

Exit RedM normally, then open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc. In the process list, end any remaining RedM.exe and CitizenFX processes. A running process can keep files locked, causing an incomplete cleanup or a “file in use” message.

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Back up personal customizations

Copy any files you have edited or added to another folder before cleaning. In particular, preserve custom keybind configuration such as a client.lua file where you use one, saved server favorites, and custom user-interface modifications. The standard cache folders are intended to be disposable, but a personal modification stored beside them may not be.

Make sure you are cleaning the client, not the game installation

RedM’s client data is under your Windows local application data directory. Do not delete files from the Red Dead Redemption 2 installation folder or from the game launcher’s verification directories as part of this procedure.

Find the RedM data folder

Primary path reported for current installations

  1. Press Windows+R to open the Run dialog.
  2. Enter %localappdata% and press Enter.
  3. Open RedM, then RedM.app, then data.

The resulting location is normally:

%LOCALAPPDATA%RedMRedM.appdata

You can paste that complete path into File Explorer’s address bar as well. If a folder in the sequence is missing, do not create a replacement just to continue; check the alternate layouts below.

Path names used by other builds

Some newer builds are reported to place server cache data at:

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%LOCALAPPDATA%RedMRedM.appdataserver-cache

Older installations and launcher projects may instead show RedM Application Datadata beneath %LOCALAPPDATA%RedM. In that layout, the folder may appear as:

%LOCALAPPDATA%RedMRedM Application Datadata

Older guides also point only to %LOCALAPPDATA%RedM and then a data or cache folder. These naming differences do not make every folder safe to erase. Open the candidate directory and look for the RedM cache structure described in the next section.

Which folders to delete—and which to keep

Inside the verified RedM data folder, the temporary locations commonly listed for cleanup are:

Folder Action Purpose or caution
cachebrowser Delete its contents Temporary browser/interface data.
cachesubprocess Delete its contents Temporary subprocess data.
server-cache Delete its contents Downloaded server resources that can be rebuilt when you reconnect.
server-cache-priv Delete its contents Private server cache data.
nui-storage Delete its contents Cached NUI (in-game web interface) storage.
cachegame Keep Base Red Dead Redemption 2 assets. Reports place its size at roughly 4–8 GB; removing it can trigger a full re-download or prevent RedM from launching.

If one of the listed temporary folders is not present, skip it. Do not substitute an unrelated folder merely because its name contains “cache.” Deleting the contents is safer than deleting the entire parent data directory, because the parent can contain configuration or other files RedM expects.

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Manual cache-clearing procedure

1. Open the verified location

Use File Explorer to open the RedM data folder you confirmed above. Keep the address bar visible so you can verify that you are under RedM rather than under your game’s installation directory.

2. Remove the temporary cache contents

Open each of these folders if it exists and delete the files and subfolders inside it:

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  • server-cache
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You can select all items in a folder with Ctrl+A, press Delete, and confirm. If Windows reports that an item is in use, return to Task Manager, end any remaining RedM or CitizenFX process, and try again. If the lock remains, restart Windows and repeat the deletion before launching RedM.

3. Leave the game cache alone

Do not open cachegame and delete its contents as part of a normal client-cache reset. That directory contains the large base-asset cache. A full removal can require several gigabytes to be downloaded again and may leave the client unable to start until those files return.

4. Empty the Recycle Bin only if you need the disk space

Normal deletion moves files to the Recycle Bin. You may leave them there while testing the next launch, which gives you a limited recovery option. Empty the bin later if the cleanup solved the problem and you need to reclaim space.

5. Start RedM and reconnect

Launch RedM normally. The first start can be slower because the client is rebuilding local data. When you join a server, RedM may download that server’s resources again, so the first connection can also take longer than usual. Do not interrupt the process simply because the initial launch is slower.

What to expect after the reset

  • Temporary folders may be recreated immediately or only after you open the client and join a server.
  • The first launch and first server connection can take longer while resources are rebuilt.
  • Server downloads can temporarily use additional bandwidth and disk space.
  • Your server favorites, keybinds and interface modifications should remain available if they were stored outside the deleted cache folders; restore your backup if a custom file was removed.

A cache reset is therefore a diagnostic step, not a performance guarantee. If the same error appears after the rebuilt cache is complete, investigate the game installation, RedM version, server resource or Windows environment instead of repeatedly deleting the same files.

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Troubleshooting when clearing the cache does not help

RedM will not let you delete a folder

  1. Open Task Manager and end every visible RedM.exe and CitizenFX process.
  2. Check whether another File Explorer window, antivirus scan or backup program has the folder open.
  3. Restart Windows, do not launch RedM, and try the deletion again.

Only remove the folders listed for cleanup. A permission error is not a reason to take ownership of the entire RedM directory or delete unrelated files.

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The same crash or loading failure returns

One troubleshooting approach is to remove caches.xml together with the temporary cache folder, then restart RedM. This file is not necessarily present in every installation; if you cannot find it, skip it rather than deleting a similarly named system file.

Next, verify the Red Dead Redemption 2 installation with the launcher where you own the game—Steam, Epic Games or the Rockstar Games launcher—and install any available RedM update. Verification repairs missing or corrupted base-game files; it is separate from clearing RedM’s downloaded server data.

Only one server is affected

Clear the local server-cache folders once, then try another server. If other servers work and one server still fails, the problem may be that server’s resource or configuration. Contact that server’s administrators rather than repeatedly deleting your local cache.

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Your custom controls or interface disappeared

Stop launching and deleting files, then restore the backup you made before the cleanup. Check the location of the custom file you used, including any client.lua-based keybind setup, and reapply only files you recognize. Avoid downloading replacement configuration files from an unknown source.

The data folder is not where the guide says

Use the path variants above and search from %LOCALAPPDATA%RedM for folders named server-cache, server-cache-priv and nui-storage. Confirm that the surrounding directory also contains RedM application data. If no matching structure exists, reinstalling or changing random folders is premature; first check which RedM build and launcher layout you are running.

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Automated cache cleaners and launchers

Manual deletion gives you the clearest control over what is removed and makes it easier to preserve personal files. Third-party utilities can automate the same task, but they introduce a separate trust and maintenance decision.

Method Advantages Risks and checks
Manual File Explorer cleanup You can inspect every path and keep cachegame and personal files. Requires identifying the correct RedM build and folders.
Community RedM Launcher (RWELabs) Reported to clear server-cache and server-cache-priv before launch. It is third-party open source; its maintenance status in 2026 has not been independently verified. Review its code, releases and permissions before use.
Standalone cleaner utilities One action can remove server cache files. Projects such as sdmactech/RedMCacheCleanern and Madgrimmrock/MGR-CacheCleaner still require you to inspect the repository, executable and requested permissions before running them.

No automated tool should be allowed to delete the entire RedM data directory by default. Before using one, verify exactly which folders it targets, whether it runs with elevated privileges, when it was last maintained, and whether it creates a backup. If you cannot answer those questions, use the manual procedure.

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When to clear the cache again

Repeat the cleanup only when you have a specific symptom—such as a persistent loading failure, broken interface data or a server-resource error—and the client is fully closed. Routine deletion after every session is unnecessary and causes avoidable re-downloads. If clearing the temporary folders repeatedly fixes the problem only for a short time, the underlying cause is likely outside the cache: a damaged base-game file, an outdated client, a broken server resource or a conflicting modification.

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Quick checklist

  • Back up custom keybinds, favorites and UI modifications.
  • Close RedM, then end RedM.exe and CitizenFX in Task Manager.
  • Open the RedM data folder under %LOCALAPPDATA%.
  • Delete contents of cachebrowser, cachesubprocess, server-cache, server-cache-priv and nui-storage when present.
  • Keep cachegame; its reported 4–8 GB of base assets may otherwise need to be downloaded again.
  • Restart RedM and allow extra time for the first launch and server connection.
  • If the issue remains, consider caches.xml, game-file verification and a RedM update instead of deleting more folders.

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