How to Clear Your Microsoft Teams Cache on Windows or Mac

Microsoft Teams is a powerful tool for communication and collaboration, used by millions of people worldwide. However, like any software, it can occasionally run into performance issues. One common fix for these problems is clearing the Teams cache. Doing so can resolve issues like slow performance, incorrect or outdated information, and other glitches. Whether you're using a Windows or Mac computer, this guide will walk you through the steps to clear your Teams cache effectively. 

 What is a Cache and Why Clear It?

Before diving into the instructions, let’s briefly explain what a cache is. A cache is a collection of temporary data stored by an application to improve performance. Microsoft Teams, like many other apps, stores files and data locally on your computer to speed up loading times and improve the overall user experience. Over time, however, this cached data can become outdated or corrupted, leading to issues like slow performance or incorrect information.

Clearing the cache forces Teams to fetch fresh data from the server, which can often resolve these issues.

 How to Clear the Microsoft Teams Cache on Windows

If you're using a Windows computer, follow these steps to clear your Teams cache:

 Step 1: Close Microsoft Teams

Before clearing the cache, make sure Teams is fully closed. You can do this by following these steps:

1. Right-click the Teams icon in the system tray (near the clock) at the bottom-right corner of your screen.

2. Select "Quit" from the context menu.

Alternatively, you can use Task Manager to ensure Teams is not running in the background:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

2. Find Microsoft Teams in the list of running processes.

3. Select it and click "End Task".

 Step 2: Navigate to the Teams Cache Folder

Now that Teams is closed, it’s time to locate the cache folder:

1. Open File Explorer by pressing Win + E or clicking the folder icon in the taskbar.

2. In the address bar, type the following path and press Enter:  

   `C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Teams`

   Replace "YourUsername" with your actual Windows username.

   > Tip: If you can’t see the "AppData" folder, it might be hidden. You can enable viewing of hidden files by clicking on the "View" tab in File Explorer and checking the "Hidden items" box.

 Step 3: Delete the Cache Files

Within the Teams folder, you’ll find several subfolders. The ones you need to clear are:

- `Application Cache\Cache`

- `blob_storage`

- `Cache`

- `databases`

- `GPUCache`

- `IndexedDB`

- `Local Storage`

- `tmp`

1. Open each of these folders, select all the files inside, and delete them. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + A to select all files, then pressing Delete.

2. After deleting these files, close File Explorer.

 Step 4: Restart Microsoft Teams

Now that the cache has been cleared, you can restart Teams:

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. Search for Microsoft Teams and click on it to open the app.

3. Teams will rebuild the cache files automatically, so you may notice that it takes a little longer to load initially. However, this should resolve any performance or display issues you were experiencing.

 How to Clear the Microsoft Teams Cache on Mac

If you're using a Mac, clearing the Teams cache is also straightforward. Here’s how:

 Step 1: Quit Microsoft Teams

Ensure that Teams is not running:

1. Right-click the Teams icon in your Dock.

2. Select "Quit".

Alternatively, you can use Activity Monitor to make sure Teams is not running:

1. Open Activity Monitor from the Applications > Utilities folder.

2. Search for Teams in the list of processes.

3. Select it and click the "X" button in the top-left corner to quit the app.

 Step 2: Access the Teams Cache Folder

Next, navigate to the Teams cache location:

1. Open Finder.

2. In the menu bar, click "Go" and select "Go to Folder...".

3. Type the following path and click Go:  

   `~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams`

   > Note: The `~` symbol represents your user home directory, so you don’t need to modify the path.

 Step 3: Delete the Cache Files

Within the Teams folder, you’ll find similar subfolders as on Windows:

- `Application Cache/Cache`

- `blob_storage`

- `Cache`

- `databases`

- `GPUCache`

- `IndexedDB`

- `Local Storage`

- `tmp`

1. Open each of these folders, select all the files inside, and delete them by dragging them to the Trash.

2. Empty the Trash to ensure the files are permanently deleted.

 Step 4: Relaunch Microsoft Teams

Once the cache is cleared:

1. Open Microsoft Teams from your Applications folder or search for it using Spotlight.

2. Teams will create new cache files as needed, which should resolve any issues.

 Why Regularly Clearing the Cache is a Good Practice

Clearing the Teams cache periodically can help maintain optimal performance. If you notice Teams behaving sluggishly or showing outdated information, this quick procedure can often save the day. Plus, it's a safe operation—clearing the cache won't delete your Teams data or settings, just temporary files that the app can regenerate.

 Conclusion

Clearing your Microsoft Teams cache is a simple yet effective way to resolve performance issues and keep the app running smoothly. Whether you're on a Windows PC or a Mac, the steps outlined in this guide should help you clear the cache quickly and easily. Next time you encounter a problem with Teams, try clearing the cache before diving into more complex troubleshooting methods.