How to clear computer cache on Windows 11?

Most of the system and app caches are hidden and it is pretty hard to find them manually. So the best way is to use a dedicated app such as CleanMate for efficiency and time saving. You can follow the steps here to easily and safely clean computer cache for Windows 11/10:

https://www.wizzgear.com/clear-computer-cache-on-windows

If you want computer cache cleaning software for Windows 11 mainly to reclaim space (especially browser cache) on Windows 11, these three are the most practical picks, just keep them focused on junk/cache/temp files and ignore any “registry cleaning/driver updater” extras.

Microsoft PC Manager

This is Microsoft’s own lightweight “maintenance” app, so it tends to be the least risky for beginners. Its cleanup features are designed around removing junk files, including browser + application caches, and it also has one-click “health check/boost” style options. If you want something simple that feels “Windows-native,” this is the easiest place to start.

BleachBit (free, open-source)

BleachBit is one of the best software for clearing computer cache on Windows 11 and Windows 10. It can clear cache, cookies, history, temp files, logs, and lots of app leftovers, and it supports cleaning many applications (including major browsers). The big advantage is control—you can see exactly what categories it will delete before you run it—so it’s great when browser cache has exploded and you want a thorough, transparent cleanup.

Wise Disk Cleaner (free, beginner-friendly)
Wise Disk Cleaner focuses on freeing disk space by cleaning useless/outdated junk files plus browser traces (cache/cookies/history), and it’s very “click-and-go.” It’s a nice middle ground if you want more cleaning coverage than PC Manager but don’t want to think through lots of checkboxes like BleachBit. During install, pay attention and decline any optional bundled offers.

If your goal is freeing space from cache (especially browser cache) on Windows 11, Microsoft PC Manager is the safest set-and-forget option because it’s built for Windows and includes storage cleanup tools. 
Microsoft PC Manager.

If you want the most control and the deepest cache cleanup across many apps, BleachBit is the strongest pick, just use Preview first and only tick cache/temp categories.  And if you prefer a simple, beginner-friendly cleaner that targets browser traces + junk files, Wise Disk Cleaner is an easy middle-ground (just be careful during installation and avoid any bundled extras).

Using ChromeCacheView is specifically designed for viewing and managing the cache files of Google Chrome browser. However, if your goal is to free or clear all system cache on your Windows 11 computer, ChromeCacheView is not the appropriate tool for that purpose.

ChromeCacheView:
 * Focuses solely on Chrome browser cache.
 * Useful for inspecting or deleting individual cached files within Chrome.
 * Does not clear other system caches or caches from other applications.

Clearing computer Cache Windows 11 with ChromeCacheView:

• While ChromeCacheView can help you delete specific cache files, it does not replace the built-in Chrome browser options for clearing cache.
• To clear computer cache Windows 11 efficiently, it’s generally better to use Chrome’s built-in "Clear browsing data" feature:
  1. Open Chrome.
  2. Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data.
  3. Select cached images and files, then click Clear data.

Should You Use ChromeCacheView?

• Use ChromeCacheView if:
  You want to inspect or selectively delete specific cached files.
  You need detailed info about Chrome’s cache.
• Do not rely solely on ChromeCacheView if:
  You want to do a complete cache wipe.
  You want to clear other system or application caches outside of Chrome.

If your intention is to free up all cache on your Windows 11 system, ChromeCacheView is not suitable.

Windows temporary folders can build up fast with leftover installer files, app caches, update fragments, crash logs, and other “safe-to-delete” junk. Clearing Windows Temp and User Temp is a simple way to free space and remove clutter, most of it is not needed anymore, and anything still required will usually be locked and can be skipped safely.

You can follow the steps in below to clear computer cache in Windows 11 for removing tmp files and folders.

1. Close apps you’re actively using (especially browsers, installers, and editors).
2. Press Win + R, type temp, then press Enter.
3. In the Temp folder, press Ctrl + A to select all → press Delete.
4. If you get a prompt saying some files are in use, choose Skip (do not force-delete).
5. Press Win + R again, type %temp%, then press Enter.
6. Press Ctrl + A → Delete again, and Skip anything in use.
7. (Optional, extra cleanup) Press Win + R, type prefetch, press Enter. Delete what it lets you (some may be protected/in use).
8. Empty the Recycle Bin to actually reclaim the space.
9. Restart your PC (optional, but it helps release locked temp files and smooth things out).

Deleting files in temp and %temp% is one of the safest manual ways to clear computer cache on Windows 11 without Disk Cleanup. Just delete what you can and skip anything locked, Windows and your apps will recreate needed temp files automatically.

Using CacheSet can be a useful tool for managing or clearing computer cache Windows 11 computer, especially if you're planning to clear or free up system cache. CacheSet allows you to view and manage different types of system caches, which can help improve system performance or troubleshoot issues.

Here are some key points to consider:

Purpose of CacheSet:
CacheSet is designed to help you view and control various cache types, such as system cache, DNS cache, and other temporary data.

Clearing Cache:
You can use CacheSet to selectively clear computer caches Windows 11 that are safe to remove, which can free up disk space and potentially improve system responsiveness.

Precautions:
Be cautious when clearing caches; some caches are used for system stability and performance. Clearing them might temporarily slow down some processes until caches are rebuilt.

Backup:
Always consider creating a system restore point before making significant changes to system caches, just in case you need to revert.

The browser cache such as Chrome or Edge may take so much space on Windows 11 and you have to clear it up.

Browser cache can quietly grow to multiple gigabytes because it stores copies of images, videos, website files, and “temporary” web data to speed up loading. Over time it can waste disk space, cause pages to display incorrectly, and even make the browser feel sluggish. Clearing the cache frees space fast and forces the browser to rebuild clean website files the next time you visit.

Clear computer cache on Windows 11 from web browser

Step 1: Close downloads/streams and save anything important in the browser (like a form you’re filling out).

Step 2: Use the fastest shortcut: open your browser and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete.

Step 3: Set Time range to All time (best for freeing the most space).

Step 4: Make sure you select Cached images and files (or Cache/Cached Web Content).

Step 5:If you don’t want to sign out of websites, do not select Cookies or Passwords.

Step 6: Click Clear:

• Microsoft Edge: Choose what to clear → check Cached images and files → Clear now
• Google Chrome: Clear browsing data → check Cached images and files → Clear data
• Firefox: Clear Data → check Cached Web Content → Clear
• Edge: Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Choose what to clear every time you close the browser → enable Cached images and files (if available).

Step 7:  Reopen a few sites you use often—first load may be slower, then it should normalize.

Clearing browser cache in Windows 11 is one of the quickest ways to reclaim storage on Windows 11, especially if your drive is getting tight. It’s usually safe and won’t delete bookmarks or files, and if you only clear “cached images and files,” you typically won’t get logged out—while still freeing a lot of space.

To free up and clear computer cache Windows 11, you can follow these methods:

1. Clear Browser Cache
If you're looking to clear cache from browsers like Chrome, Edge, or Firefox:

a) For Microsoft Edge:
1. Open Edge.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete.
3. Select Cached images and files and other data.
4. Click Clear now.

b) For Chrome:
1. Open Chrome.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete.
3. Choose Cached images and files.
4. Click Clear data.

2. Clear Store Cache
Windows Store cache can sometimes cause issues.

Steps:
  Press Windows + R to open Run.
  Type wsreset.exe and press Enter.
  A blank Command Prompt window will appear, and after a moment, the Microsoft Store will open. Cache is cleared.

3. Manually Delete Temp Files
You can manually delete temporary files to clear computer cache Windows 11:

Steps:
  Press Windows + R.
  Type %temp% and press Enter.
  Select all files (Ctrl + A) and delete them.

Clear DNS cache (network cache).

The DNS cache is a small “memory” Windows keeps of recent website address lookups (domain → IP). If it gets outdated or corrupted—after switching networks, using a VPN, changing DNS settings, or visiting a site that changed servers, you can see slow loading, wrong redirects, or "site can’t be reached" errors. Flushing the DNS cache forces Windows to fetch fresh DNS info the next time you visit sites.

How to clear computer cache on Windows 11 for DNS

Save any work and close apps that heavily use the internet (optional but helps avoid confusion during testing).

Right-click Start → choose Terminal (Admin) (or Windows PowerShell (Admin) / Command Prompt (Admin) depending on your system).

If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes.

In the terminal window, type the command below and press Enter:

ipconfig /flushdns

Confirm you see a message like: “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.”

Test your connection: reopen your browser and try loading the website(s) that were failing.

Restart your PC after the Winsock reset (this step is required for it to fully apply).

After reboot, test again—try the same site, and also try a different browser to compare.

Flushing DNS is quick, safe, and often fixes weird browsing or connection issues caused by stale DNS entries. If that alone doesn’t help, a Winsock reset can clear deeper network-related cache/config problems—but you should reboot afterward.

Using Disk Cleanup is a good idea if you're looking to free up space on your Windows 11 computer, especially to clear computer cache Windows 11 and temporary files. Disk Cleanup helps remove unnecessary files such as system cache, temporary files, and other unneeded data, which can improve your system's performance and free up storage.

Here's how you can clear computer cache Windows 11:

1. Press the Windows key + S to open the search bar.
2. Type "Disk Cleanup" and select the Disk Cleanup app from the results.
3. Choose the drive you want to clean (usually C:) and click OK.
4. Wait for Disk Cleanup to analyze the drive.
5. In the list of file types, check "Temporary files," "System cache," and any other items you'd like to delete.
6. Click "OK" and then confirm by clicking "Delete Files."

For more thorough cleanup, you can click on "Clean up system files" after the initial scan, which will include system files and more cache data.