# Which Windows Caches Can You Remove?

Browser caches, graphics shaders and package downloads build up as you use a PC. Some can be regenerated; others sit beside offline downloads or settings. A folder name alone does not tell you which kind you have.

## Separate caches from your files

| Content | What to check before cleaning |
| --- | --- |
| Browser images, code and graphics shader caches | Quit the owning app; its next launch may need to reload or compile them |
| Download caches such as npm and pip | A later install may download dependencies again; check what you need before working offline |
| Windows temporary files and error reports | Let the cleaner check its supported paths and age rules; leave files in use |
| Offline music, web app data and settings | Decide whether you still need them; they may not regenerate |
| Local AI models, conversations and work documents | Treat them as personal files, even when they live in AppData |

AppData is a storage location, not a cleanup category. It can contain passwords, chat history, sign-in state and files waiting to upload. Deleting the whole folder takes those with it.

## Review what Mole selected

Scan in Clean, then open the review. Regenerating caches are selected; mixed personal-data rows wait for your choice. Caches in use are skipped, so quitting the owning app can remove a file lock. The next browser or development-tool launch may take longer while it rebuilds its cache.

Administrator rows such as Windows temporary files require an individual choice. Select all leaves them unticked; the permission prompt comes when you clean. Declining keeps those rows. Delivery Optimization downloads are managed by a Windows service; Mole asks that service to remove completed cached downloads without taking ownership of its folder.

Ordinary caches use the removal method in Settings. Permanently deleted caches cannot be restored from the Recycle Bin. Review items such as old Scoop versions also deserve a separate decision; read the row before removing them.

## Why free space changes afterwards

Files in the Recycle Bin still occupy their original drive. Empty it only after deciding that you will not need to restore them. Apps also create new caches as you keep using them, so a smaller cache today may grow again next week.

Windows Storage Sense can handle temporary files too, under Settings › System › Storage. [Microsoft explains its separate settings](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/storage-filemanagement/manage-drive-space-with-storage-sense) for temporary files, the Recycle Bin, Downloads and cloud content. Check the chosen scope; your downloaded documents do not have to go with the caches.

If the drive is still full, continue with [finding large files on Windows](/windows/blog/find-large-files-on-windows). Models, games and virtual disks may be taking the space; repeated cache cleaning will not shrink them.


Canonical: https://mole.fit/windows/blog/windows-cache-cleanup