How to Clear Media Cache in Premiere Pro (3 Easy Steps)

If your Premiere Pro timeline playback is choppy, the media cache may be the cause. Over time, these files accumulate and consume a significant amount of space, especially if you work on many projects. The good news? Clearing them out is super easy and totally safe. Here’s how to do it.

1. Open Media Cache Settings

First, launch Premiere Pro and head over to the settings:

• Click on Edit > Preferences > Media Cache (Windows)
• Or Premiere Pro > Preferences > Media Cache (Mac)

This will open a window where you can manage everything related to cached files.

2. Delete Unused Cache Files

Inside the Media Cache settings, look for this button:

“Delete…”

Clicking it will bring up two options:

• Delete unused media cache files
• Delete all media cache files from the system

If you're just doing a quick cleanup, go with the first option. It deletes old files that aren’t linked to any current projects.

If you want a full reset, choose the second option. Just know that Premiere will need to rebuild those files next time you open a project.

3. Manually Clear the Cache Folder (Optional)

For a deeper clean, you can go straight to the folder where these files live:

• You’ll see the folder path listed under “Media Cache Files” and “Media Cache Database” in that same settings window.
• Open those folders using File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
• Quit Premiere Pro first, then delete everything inside those folders manually.

This step is optional but helpful if you're running low on disk space or want to start fresh.

Final Tip: Set a Custom Location for Your Cache

By default, Premiere stores cache files on your system drive. If you're editing big projects regularly, consider changing this location to an external SSD or another drive with more room. You can do this right in the same Media Cache settings window by clicking “Browse.”

It helps keep your main drive from getting overloaded and can even speed things up a bit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I clear the cache in Premiere Pro?

1. Go to Edit > Preferences > Media Cache (Windows) or Premiere Pro > Preferences > Media Cache (Mac).
2. Click “Delete…”
3. Choose either unused files or all cache files and confirm.

Is it safe to delete Premiere Pro media cache files?

Yes, it’s completely safe. These are temporary files that Premiere creates for faster performance. If deleted, they’ll just be rebuilt when needed again.

How do I clear my Adobe cache?

Each Adobe app has its own way of handling cache:

• For Premiere Pro: Use Preferences > Media Cache.
• For After Effects: Go to Preferences > Media & Disk Cache.
  You can also manually delete folders listed under each app’s settings.

How to clear Premiere Pro system memory?

To free up memory while editing:

1. Close unused apps running in the background.
2. In Premiere, go to Edit > Preferences > Memory (Windows) or Premiere Pro > Preferences > Memory (Mac).
3. Adjust RAM reserved for other apps.
4. Restart Premiere after making changes.

Let me know if you want help setting up automatic cleanup or managing large project workflows!