How to Clear After Effects Cache (Step-by-Step)

If your After Effects project is starting to lag or you're getting weird glitches, there's a good chance your cache is the culprit. Over time, After Effects stores a bunch of temporary files that help speed things up, but they can also pile up and cause problems.

The good news? Clearing the cache is super easy. Here's how to do it.

1. Open Preferences

First, launch After Effects and head over to Edit > Preferences > Media & Disk Cache (on Windows) or After Effects > Preferences > Media & Disk Cache (on Mac).

This is where all the cache settings live.

2. Check Your Cache Location

Before you delete anything, take a quick look at where your disk cache is stored. You’ll see a file path listed under Disk Cache. If you’re curious, you can open that folder manually later to see what’s inside.

But for now, just note it in case you want to double-check that files are actually being cleared.

3. Click “Empty Disk Cache”

Now for the main event: click the Empty Disk Cache button. After Effects will ask if you're sure, just confirm it.

This clears out all those preview files that have been saved on your hard drive. Depending on how much has built up, this might take a few seconds or a couple of minutes.

4. Clear the Memory Cache Too

While you're here, it's also worth clearing the memory cache (this one's stored in RAM). Just go up to the top menu and click:

• Edit > Purge > All Memory & Disk Cache (Windows)
• After Effects > Purge > All Memory & Disk Cache (Mac)

This clears out anything stored temporarily while you're working, like previews or undo history that's sitting in memory.

5. Restart After Effects

Once you've cleared everything out, go ahead and restart After Effects. This helps make sure everything resets properly and gives you a clean slate moving forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you clear memory cache in After Effects?

To clear memory cache, go to Edit > Purge > All Memory & Disk Cache on Windows or After Effects > Purge > All Memory & Disk Cache on Mac. This removes temporary RAM data like previews and undo history stored during your session.

Is it OK to delete After Effects disk cache?

Yes, it's totally safe. Deleting the disk cache just removes temporary preview files that After Effects creates while you're working. It won't affect your actual project files or saved work at all.

How do you clear your Adobe cache?

Each Adobe app has its own method, but for After Effects specifically:

1. Go to Preferences > Media & Disk Cache
2. Click Empty Disk Cache
3. Then use Purge > All Memory & Disk Cache from the top menu

That clears both disk and RAM-based caches.

Where is my After Effects cache?

You can find it by going to Preferences > Media & Disk Cache, then checking the file path listed under Disk Cache Location. You can also manually open that folder from Finder or File Explorer if needed.