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To delete the DirectX shader cache in Windows 11, use the built-in cleanup tools. Go to Start > Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations and check the Temporary files category, or open Disk Cleanup and select DirectX Shader Cache if it is listed. Either route removes temporary cache data that applications can rebuild as they run. It does not guarantee a set amount of freed space, and it does not speed up your PC.
What the DirectX shader cache holds
Shader cache files store compiled graphics shader data that games and graphics-heavy programs can reuse. Microsoft Q&A Independent Advisors describe these files as the part that helps applications load faster, not the act of deleting them. The Direct3D 12 documentation says default caches are kept in temporary storage and can be cleared by Disk Cleanup. Some applications, however, point their cache to a working directory instead, and Disk Cleanup does not clear those.
Before you delete anything
- Close games and graphics-heavy applications so the cache files are not in use while you clean up.
- Expect that the next launch of some programs may be slower while they rebuild their cache entries.
- Remove only the DirectX Shader Cache entry. Do not select other categories unless you have a separate reason to remove them.
Method 1: Delete it with Cleanup recommendations
This route is the most direct on current Windows 11 builds. Microsoft’s storage guidance describes it as a way to review cleanup categories and see how much space Windows estimates each will free.
- Select Start, then open Settings > System > Storage.
- Select Cleanup recommendations.
- Review the categories and their estimated space. Look for Temporary files.
- Expand the Temporary files section and select only the items you intend to remove, including DirectX Shader Cache if Windows lists it.
- Select Clean up for that section and confirm.
Method 2: Delete it with Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup lets you choose file categories directly and is the route Microsoft’s Direct3D 12 documentation connects with clearing default temporary caches.
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- Type Disk Cleanup in the taskbar search box and open the app.
- Choose the Windows drive (usually C:) and select OK.
- Select Clean up system files. Windows then scans the drive again.
- In the list of file types, tick DirectX Shader Cache and leave the other boxes as they are unless you want to remove them too.
- Select OK, then choose Delete files to confirm.
Comparing the two routes
| Feature | Cleanup recommendations | Disk Cleanup |
|---|---|---|
| Where to find it | Settings > System > Storage | Taskbar search for “Disk Cleanup” |
| Shows estimated space before deleting | Yes, per Microsoft’s storage guidance | Not stated in the cited Microsoft documentation |
| Lets you select categories individually | Yes, within the sections shown | Yes |
| Lists DirectX Shader Cache | Only if Windows shows it in that section | Only if it appears in the file list |
| Microsoft documentation ties it to default D3D12 cache clearing | Not stated | Yes |
If DirectX Shader Cache does not appear
Microsoft’s storage guidance does not promise that this category label appears in every Windows 11 version or configuration. If it is missing from both tools, work through these checks:
- Check Temporary files in Cleanup recommendations, then check the list in Disk Cleanup. Use whichever shows the entry.
- If neither lists it, Windows is not offering that cache through these tools. That is the expected result in that configuration, not a fault to fix by hand.
- If the application stores its cache in a working directory, use the application’s own settings or documentation. Disk Cleanup will not remove it.
What happens after deletion
Deleting the cache clears temporary data. It does not, by itself, improve performance, and the amount of space recovered depends on what is stored on your system. Some applications may recreate entries the next time they run. A Microsoft Q&A Independent Advisor, DaveM121, answered a question about this on 2021-04-28, in a Windows 10 context:
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“That indicates that those Shader cache files speed up application loading times, not that deleting the files will do that . . .”
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That is an individual community answer, not a formal Microsoft guarantee. The question readers most often ask is whether deleting the cache affects anything else; the Microsoft Q&A thread on that point is at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3195734/directx-shader-cache. The Direct3D 12 statement on default storage is in the D3D12_SHADER_CACHE_FLAGS enumeration reference, last updated 2024-02-22.
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Why you should not delete cache folders by hand
Microsoft’s D3D12 documentation for ID3D12ShaderCacheSession::SetDeleteOnDestroy warns applications against manually deleting caches stored outside their working directory. Browsing into graphics-driver or application folders and removing files yourself can therefore remove data an application expects to find. Use the Settings or Disk Cleanup routes above instead.
For the official cleanup instructions that apply to Windows 11 and Windows 10, see Microsoft’s guide, Free up drive space in Windows.
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