# How to Clear Steam Cache

> Clear Steam cache without uninstalling games. Use Steam for download cache and MangoDisk to review supported Windows interface caches, then find what is taking up disk space.

You do not need to uninstall your games to clear Steam cache. But the **Clear Download Cache** button in Steam settings and the caches used by its store and library interface handle different things.

**For download or update problems, try Steam's download cache option. To tidy up supported interface caches on Windows, use MangoDisk to check their sizes and locations before clearing them.** Neither method requires deleting installed games.

## Review Steam interface caches with MangoDisk

Steam's store and library screens generate cache files too. They are not necessarily in your game installation folder, and the surrounding files can include login data and settings.

MangoDisk lists the Steam interface caches it supports, along with their sizes and paths. You can see whether they are worth clearing without hunting through folders or guessing which files belong to your account.

On Windows:

1. Close your games, pause downloads or updates, and fully exit Steam, including its system tray icon.
2. Open MangoDisk, run a scan in [Deep Cleanup](/docs/features/deep-clean), and review the results.
3. Under **Application caches**, expand **Steam interface rendering cache**. Check the paths and sizes, deselect anything else you want to keep, and select only the Steam caches you have reviewed.
4. Check the cleanup confirmation before proceeding. If Steam is still running, exit it first rather than forcing deletion of files in use.

![MangoDisk Deep Cleanup on Windows showing cache categories, sizes and selected items](https://assets.mangodisk.app/images/screenshots/windows/en/light-01-deep-cleanup.jpg)

This rule targets known interface cache locations. It excludes account data, cookies, settings, installed games, game downloads and game shader caches. The exact scope is documented in the [public Steam cleanup rule](https://github.com/harry0703/MangoDisk/blob/v1.1.6/src-tauri/crates/mangodisk-core/rules/filesystem/windows/application/app.steam-rendering-cache.toml).

Some interface content will be downloaded or generated again afterward. **MangoDisk deletes files permanently rather than moving them to the Recycle Bin.** Review the selected paths first; see the [safe cleanup guide](/docs/safety) for details.

## Clear download cache in Steam settings

If a game download is stuck or an update is failing, try Steam's own option:

1. Open **Steam → Settings** from the top-left menu.
2. Select **Downloads**, then **Clear Download Cache**.
3. Confirm and sign back in when prompted.

Steam says this will not affect installed games, but you will need to log in again. Make sure you can access your account before proceeding. This is a troubleshooting step, not a way to delete the whole game download folder or a guarantee of a large space saving. [Steam's download cache instructions](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/6AD7-820D-8BE5-E51F)

**MangoDisk's interface cache cleanup does not replace Steam's download cache option.** Choose the method that matches your problem; there is no need to run both every time.

## Steam folders to keep out of routine cache cleanup

A large Steam folder is not necessarily disposable. Even a folder with `cache` in its name can contain more than temporary files.

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Location
    </th>
    
    <th>
      What to watch for
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      <code>
        steamapps/common
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Usually contains installed games, not routine cleanup files
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <code>
        userdata
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      May contain saves, screenshots and other user data; do not clear the whole folder
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <code>
        %LOCALAPPDATA%\Steam\htmlcache
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Contains login data and settings as well as interface caches; do not delete the entire directory
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Game shader caches
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Separate from Steam interface caches; clearing them may require recompilation
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

MangoDisk selects specific cache locations within `htmlcache`, not the parent folder. You can review the actual cleanup scope instead of deciding based on a folder name.

## Find what is actually using your disk space

If Steam's caches are small, repeatedly clearing them will not make much room. Installed games, recordings, installers or another app may be taking up far more.

Scan your drive or game library folder with MangoDisk's [Disk Space Analysis](/docs/features/disk-analysis). Larger folders appear as larger blocks in the treemap. Follow those blocks to locate the biggest files without opening the properties of every folder.

![MangoDisk Disk Space Analysis on Windows showing folder sizes and proportions in a list and treemap](https://assets.mangodisk.app/images/screenshots/windows/en/light-05-disk-space-analysis.jpg)

Once you know where the space is going:

- **Games you still play:** use **Steam → Settings → Storage** to move them to another library. Back up important saves first; do not delete game folders from the disk analysis results. [Steam's guide to moving games](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/4BD4-4528-6B2E-8327)
- **Games you no longer play:** uninstall them through Steam after checking your save backups.
- **Old recordings and installers:** use [Large File Cleanup](/blog/find-large-files-windows-11) to filter by size and type. Confirm that you no longer need them before deleting; this deletion is permanent too.

[Download MangoDisk](/) to see how much space Steam interface caches and other files are using. It is free and open source, with no signup or login required. Scans run locally on your computer.

Related reading: [AppData taking up too much space](/blog/windows-11-appdata-too-large) and [app cache cleanup guides](/blog/topics/app-cache-cleanup).