How to Clear Discord Cache on Windows, Mac, iPhone & Android

If Discord feels sluggish, keeps crashing, or images aren’t loading properly, the fix might be simpler than you think. Learning how to clear Discord cache takes less than two minutes on any device and can instantly resolve performance issues, free up storage space, and fix visual glitches — without deleting a single message or losing access to your servers. This guide covers every platform: Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android.

What Is Discord Cache and Why Should You Clear It?

Discord stores temporary files on your device — including images, GIFs, video thumbnails, profile pictures, and server icons — so it doesn’t have to re-download them every time you open the app. This is called the cache, and it’s designed to make Discord faster.

Over time, though, these files pile up. When the cache gets too large or contains corrupted data, you may start noticing:

• Slow loading times or freezing when switching channels
• Images and GIFs failing to display
• Unexpected app crashes
• Discord taking up much more storage than it should
• Old or outdated thumbnails appearing instead of current ones

Clearing the cache forces Discord to rebuild fresh temporary files. Your messages, account, servers, and friends list are all stored on Discord’s servers — none of that gets touched.

How to Clear Discord Cache on Windows

On Windows, Discord’s cache is stored in a hidden folder inside AppData. Here’s how to find and delete it:

1. Fully close Discord — right-click the Discord icon in the system tray and select “Quit Discord.” Make sure it’s not running in the background.
2. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
3. Type %appdata%\discord and press Enter.
4. Inside the Discord folder, you’ll see several subfolders. Delete the following three:
   • Cache — temporary media files
   • Code Cache — compiled JavaScript cache
   • GPUCache — graphics rendering cache
5. Right-click each folder and select “Delete.”
6. Empty your Recycle Bin to free up the storage immediately.
7. Reopen Discord. The first launch may be slightly slower while it rebuilds the cache.

These folders recreate themselves automatically the next time Discord runs, so there’s no risk in deleting them.

How to Clear Discord Cache on Mac

On macOS, Discord stores its cache inside the Library folder. Here’s how to access and clear it:

1. Quit Discord completely — click Discord in the menu bar and select “Quit Discord,” or press Cmd + Q.
2. Open Finder and click “Go” in the top menu bar.
3. Hold the Option key — the hidden “Library” option will appear. Click it.
4. Navigate to Application Support → discord.
5. Delete the following folders:
   • Cache
   • Code Cache
   • GPUCache
6. Right-click the Trash icon in the Dock and select “Empty Trash” to fully reclaim the space.
7. Relaunch Discord.

Alternatively, you can open Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G, and paste this path directly: ~/Library/Application Support/discord/

How to Clear Discord Cache on Android

Android makes it easy to clear app cache directly from your device settings — no file browsing required:

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Tap “Apps” (or “Apps & Notifications” depending on your device).
3. Scroll down and tap “Discord.”
4. Tap “Storage” (or “Storage & Cache”).
5. Tap “Clear Cache.”

That’s all. The cache is cleared instantly and you remain logged in. Your messages and account data are completely unaffected.

Important: Do not tap “Clear Data” or “Clear Storage” unless you want to fully reset the app — that will log you out and erase all local app settings.

How to Clear Discord Cache on iPhone (iOS)

iOS doesn’t have a direct “Clear Cache” button for individual apps, but there are two ways to clear Discord’s cache on iPhone:

Option A — From Inside the Discord App (Newer Versions)

Some versions of Discord for iOS include a built-in cache clearing option in developer settings:

1. Open Discord and tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
2. Tap the gear icon (⚙️) to open Settings.
3. Scroll all the way down to find the “Dev Only” or “Developers Only” section.
4. Tap “Clear Caches” and confirm.

If this section doesn’t appear in your version of Discord, use Option B below.

Option B — Offload the App from iPhone Settings

1. Open your iPhone’s Settings.
2. Tap “General” → “iPhone Storage.”
3. Scroll down and tap “Discord.”
4. Tap “Offload App.”
5. Confirm by tapping “Offload App” again.

Offloading removes the app and its cache but keeps your account data and documents intact — you won’t lose your login or settings. After offloading, tap “Reinstall App” on the same screen to get Discord back with a clean cache.

If you want a complete wipe, tap “Delete App” instead, then reinstall from the App Store. You’ll need to sign back in to your account.

Does Clearing Discord Cache Delete Messages?

No — and this is one of the most common concerns. Clearing your Discord cache only removes temporary local files like images, thumbnails, and rendering data. All of your messages, servers, friends, channels, and account settings are stored on Discord’s servers, not on your device. None of that data is affected in any way when you clear the cache.

How Often Should You Clear Discord Cache?

There’s no strict rule, but clearing the Discord cache once a month is a reasonable habit — especially if you’re in multiple active servers with lots of media. You should also consider clearing it any time you notice Discord slowing down, crashing unexpectedly, or showing display errors. It’s a quick fix that takes under two minutes and often solves the problem immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions