How To Clear Discord Cache on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS

Discord’s cache is one of those behind-the-scenes features that most users never think about until their app starts acting up. Your cache stores temporary files, images, voice data snippets, and other information that Discord uses to run faster and more smoothly. Over time, this cache can grow to hundreds of megabytes or even gigabytes, and clearing it can solve loading issues, lag, storage problems, and outdated content that won’t refresh properly.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what Discord cache is, why you should clear it, and how to clear it on every platform you might be using.

What Is Discord Cache and Why Should You Clear It

When you use Discord, the app downloads and stores temporary files on your device. These include message previews, user avatars, emoji graphics, voice chat audio fragments, and data about servers you’ve visited. This cache lets Discord load faster the next time you open it because it doesn’t have to download the same images and files again.

However, cache can become corrupted, outdated, or simply too large. Corrupted cache might cause Discord to display old avatars, broken images, or messages that should have been deleted but still appear. A massive cache eats up your device’s storage space, which matters especially on phones with limited storage. And outdated cache sometimes prevents fresh content from loading, so you see old versions of things instead of new ones.

Clearing cache solves these problems without affecting your account, login credentials, server memberships, or personal settings. When you clear cache, Discord simply deletes those temporary files. The next time you open the app, it downloads fresh copies of what it needs. Your servers, friends, and messages stay exactly where they were.

What Gets Deleted vs What Stays When You Clear Cache

This is the most important thing to understand. When you clear Discord cache, only temporary files are deleted. Everything else stays put.

What gets deleted: cached images and avatars, downloaded emoji, voice chat audio fragments, previews of links, message thumbnails, server icons and banners, and other temporary data Discord uses for faster loading.

What stays: your login credentials and password, your personal Discord settings, your username and account information, all your servers and channel memberships, your messages and message history, your friends list, your roles and permissions in servers, two-factor authentication settings, and any files or links you’ve saved.

In short, clearing cache affects only the temporary stuff. Your account is completely safe, and nothing you care about gets touched.

When You Should Clear Discord Cache

You don’t need to clear cache weekly or monthly. But there are specific situations where it solves real problems.

Clear cache if Discord is loading slowly or taking forever to start. Clear it if messages, images, or emoji aren’t loading properly. Clear it if you’re experiencing lag or stuttering during voice calls. Clear it if you see outdated avatars or server icons that should have been updated. Clear it if your device is running out of storage space and Discord is taking up an unusual amount. Clear it if Discord keeps showing you deleted messages or old content that was supposed to be removed. Clear it if you just updated Discord and something looks broken. Clear it if you’re getting permission errors or Discord won’t let you access certain channels.

How To Clear Discord Cache on Windows

On Windows, Discord cache lives in your AppData folder, which is hidden by default. You’ll need to show hidden files first, then navigate to the cache location and delete it.

Step 1: Close Discord completely. Right-click the Discord icon in your system tray at the bottom right of your screen and select “Quit Discord.” Make sure the app is fully closed before proceeding.

Step 2: Open File Explorer by pressing Windows key + E, or click the folder icon on your taskbar.

Step 3: Show hidden files. Click the “View” tab at the top of File Explorer. Check the box next to “Hidden items.” This reveals hidden folders including AppData.

Step 4: Navigate to the cache folder. In the address bar at the top of File Explorer, type this exactly: %appdata%\Discord\Cache

Press Enter. You’ll see a folder full of numbered files with no extensions. These are cache files.

Step 5: Select all files in the Cache folder. Press Ctrl + A to select everything in this folder.

Step 6: Delete the files. Press Delete or right-click and select “Delete.” When Windows asks if you’re sure, click “Yes.” The files will go to Recycle Bin (not permanently erased yet).

Step 7: Empty Recycle Bin (optional). Right-click your Recycle Bin on the desktop and select “Empty Recycle Bin” to permanently delete these cache files. This step is optional and reclaims the storage space immediately.

Step 8: Restart Discord. Open Discord again. It will rebuild its cache with fresh files as you use it.

If you want to also clear the Code Cache (a separate cache folder that stores compiled data), repeat steps 4-7 but navigate to %appdata%\Discord\Code Cache instead. This is optional and not necessary for most users.

How To Clear Discord Cache on Mac

On Mac, Discord cache is stored in your Library folder. The process is similar to Windows but uses Finder instead of File Explorer.

Step 1: Close Discord completely. Click the Discord icon in your menu bar at the top right. Select “Quit Discord.” Wait a moment to ensure it’s fully closed.

Step 2: Open Finder. Click the Finder icon on your Dock (it looks like a smiling face), or press Command + Space to open Spotlight, then type “Finder” and press Enter.

Step 3: Show hidden files in Finder. Press Command + Shift + Period (.) to toggle hidden files visible. You’ll now see files and folders that start with a dot, which are normally hidden on Mac.

Step 4: Navigate to the cache folder. In the Finder menu at the top, click “Go” then “Go to Folder.” Type this exactly: ~/Library/Application Support/discord/Cache

Press Enter. Finder opens that folder, showing cache files.

Step 5: Select all files. Press Command + A to select every file in the Cache folder.

Step 6: Delete the files. Press Command + Delete, or right-click and select “Move to Trash.” Confirm when prompted.

Step 7: Empty Trash (optional). Click the Trash icon in your Dock and select “Empty Trash.” This permanently removes the cache files and reclaims storage space.

Step 8: Restart Discord. Open Discord again. It will rebuild cache as you use it.

Like Windows, you can also clear Code Cache by navigating to ~/Library/Application Support/discord/Code Cache and repeating steps 5-7, but this is optional.

How To Clear Discord Cache on Android

Android makes cache clearing simple because it’s built into the app settings. You don’t need to navigate hidden folders or use a file manager.

Step 1: Open your Android device’s Settings app. This is usually the gear icon.

Step 2: Go to Apps (or Application Manager). The exact name varies by phone manufacturer. Samsung phones call it “Apps,” while other Android versions might say “Application Manager” or “Installed Apps.”

Step 3: Find Discord in the list. Scroll down until you see Discord, then tap it to open its app settings page.

Step 4: Tap “Storage” or “Storage and cache.” This shows how much storage Discord is using.

Step 5: Tap “Clear Cache.” You’ll see a confirmation message asking if you’re sure.

Step 6: Confirm by tapping “OK” or “Yes.” The cache is cleared instantly.

Step 7: Restart Discord. Close and reopen the Discord app. It will rebuild cache from fresh data as you use it.

Important: Do not tap “Clear Storage” or “Clear Data” on the Android app settings page. This deletes everything including your login credentials and will log you out. Only tap “Clear Cache” to remove temporary files while keeping your account intact.

How To Clear Discord Cache on iOS

iOS handles cache differently than Android. There’s no built-in “Clear Cache” button like on Android, so you have a few options depending on how thorough you want to be.

Option 1: Offload and Reinstall (Fastest)

Step 1: Go to your iPhone Settings app.

Step 2: Tap “General” then “iPhone Storage.”

Step 3: Find Discord in the list and tap it.

Step 4: Tap “Offload App.” iOS removes the app but keeps your data. It shows “Offload App” then changes to show the app size.

Step 5: Tap “Reinstall App.” iOS downloads Discord fresh and reinstalls it. This clears all cache while preserving your login and settings.

Option 2: Delete and Reinstall (Complete Reset)

If you want a total clean slate, delete Discord entirely and reinstall it from the App Store. This clears all cache, temporary files, and app data. Your account stays safe because your login is tied to Discord’s servers, not your device. When you log back in, your account is exactly as you left it.

Step 1: Long-press the Discord app icon on your home screen.

Step 2: Tap “Remove App” then “Delete App.”

Step 3: Open the App Store, search for Discord, and tap “Get” to reinstall it.

Step 4: Open Discord and log back in. Your account, servers, and messages are all there waiting.

Option 3: Wait for iOS to Auto-Clear (Slowest)

iOS automatically clears app cache when your device storage gets low. You don’t have to do anything. However, this isn’t practical if you need to clear cache right now.

How To Clear Discord Cache in Browser Version

If you use Discord through a web browser instead of the app, cache clearing works differently because it’s the browser’s cache, not Discord’s app cache.

On Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, you clear the cache through your browser settings, not Discord itself.

Chrome: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac). Select “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.” Choose “All time” under the time range. Click “Clear data.”

Firefox: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac). Make sure “Cache” is checked. Click “Clear Now.”

Safari: Go to Safari menu, click “Clear History.” Choose “all history” and click “Clear History.”

Edge: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete. Select “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.” Choose “All time.” Click “Clear now.”

After clearing browser cache, refresh Discord by pressing Ctrl + R (Windows) or Command + R (Mac). The page reloads with fresh data.

How Much Storage Does Discord Cache Take

Cache size varies hugely depending on how long you’ve had Discord installed and how active you are. New installs with light usage might have 50-200 MB of cache. Active users who’ve had Discord installed for years can accumulate 500 MB to over 1 GB of cache.

On phones with 64 GB or 128 GB of storage, even 1 GB of cache doesn’t matter much. But on phones with 32 GB of storage, a large cache makes a noticeable difference. If your phone keeps telling you it’s out of storage, clearing Discord cache might free up enough space to matter.

You can check cache size before clearing it. On Windows, right-click the Cache folder and select “Properties” to see its size. On Mac, click the folder once and press Command + I to see details. On Android, the Settings app shows cache size under Discord’s app info. On iOS, Settings shows Discord’s storage usage.

Automatic Cache Management Discord Does

You don’t have to manually clear cache on a schedule. Discord automatically manages cache in the background. When cache gets too large, Discord deletes the oldest files first to make room for new ones. When your device storage is low, Discord doesn’t keep cache as aggressively.

However, Discord’s automatic management doesn’t always keep up with problems like corrupted cache or outdated content. Manual clearing solves these specific issues that automatic management can’t fix.

Cache vs App Data vs Cookies: What’s the Difference

People often confuse three different types of temporary storage: cache, app data, and cookies. Understanding the difference prevents you from accidentally deleting something important.

Cache is temporary files that the app downloaded, like images and video previews. Clearing cache is safe and doesn’t affect your account.

App data is settings and information the app created while running, like your last viewed channel or notification preferences. Some app data can be cleared safely, but some is tied to your account.

Cookies are small files that websites (or web versions of apps) store on your browser to remember who you are. Clearing cookies can log you out of Discord’s web version.

On mobile, “Clear Cache” only removes temporary files. “Clear Data” or “Clear Storage” removes everything including login information. Never tap “Clear Data” unless you want to completely log out and reset the app.

What To Do If Clearing Cache Didn’t Fix Your Problem

If Discord still has issues after clearing cache, try these steps in order.

First, restart your device completely. Turn it all the way off and back on. This clears memory and can fix bugs that clearing cache doesn’t touch.

Second, try clearing cookies on browser Discord if you use the web version. In your browser settings, find Discord specifically and clear cookies just for that site. Then log back in.

Third, restart your router and modem. Unplug both for 30 seconds, then plug them back in. Sometimes Discord connection issues are actually network problems.

Fourth, flush DNS on your computer. On Windows, press Windows + R, type “cmd,” then type “ipconfig /flushdns” and press Enter. On Mac, open Terminal and type “sudo dscacheutil -flushcache” then press Enter. This clears your system’s DNS cache in case Discord’s servers aren’t resolving properly.

Fifth, reinstall Discord. This is more aggressive than clearing cache. Uninstall the app completely, restart your device, then download and install Discord fresh from the official source. Log back in and see if the issue is gone.

Clearing Cookies on Browser Discord

If you use Discord through a web browser, you might also need to clear cookies, not just cache. Cookies store login information and preferences. Clearing them logs you out but fixes some login and permission issues.

In Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, go to Settings, then Privacy or History. Find the option to clear browsing data. Make sure “Cookies and site data” or “Cookies” is checked. Select “All time.” Clear. Then reload Discord and log back in.

Flushing DNS if Discord Won’t Load

If Discord won’t load at all, it might be a DNS problem, not a cache problem. DNS is how your device translates “discord.com” into an IP address. If your DNS cache is corrupted, your device can’t find Discord’s servers.

Flushing DNS clears your device’s DNS cache and forces it to look up Discord’s servers again. On Windows, open Command Prompt and type “ipconfig /flushdns.” On Mac, open Terminal and type “sudo dscacheutil -flushcache.” This usually fixes load issues faster than clearing Discord’s app cache.

Reinstalling Discord as a Last Resort

If nothing else works, completely uninstall Discord, restart your device, and reinstall it fresh. This fixes corrupted app files, broken installations, and issues that clearing cache can’t solve.

On Windows, go to Settings, Apps, find Discord, and click “Uninstall.” On Mac, open Applications folder, drag Discord to Trash, and empty Trash. On Android, long-press Discord and select “Uninstall.” On iOS, long-press Discord and select “Remove App” then “Delete App.”

After uninstalling, restart your device. Then download Discord fresh from the official source: discord.com on web, the Microsoft Store or discord.com/download on Windows, the Mac App Store or discord.com/download on Mac, Google Play on Android, or the App Store on iOS.

When you reinstall and log back in, your account, servers, and messages are all there unchanged. Only the app files are fresh.

How Often Should You Clear Discord Cache

There’s no set schedule. You don’t need to clear cache weekly or monthly unless you’re experiencing problems. If Discord works fine, leave cache alone.

Clear cache when you notice issues like slow loading, lag, or outdated content. Clear cache if your device is low on storage. Clear cache after major Discord updates if the app feels broken. Most users clear cache only once or twice a year, or whenever they specifically need to troubleshoot.

Discord’s Storage Settings in the App

Discord has its own storage settings separate from device-level cache clearing. These settings control how Discord stores files you download from servers.

On desktop, go to User Settings (the gear icon), then “Voice & Video.” Look for “Advanced” and check “Automatically delete old files.” This makes Discord automatically clean up old downloaded files instead of keeping them forever.

On mobile, go to User Settings, then “Storage” or “Data & Storage.” You might see options for “Auto-cleanup” or automatic deletion of old downloaded files.

These in-app storage settings work alongside manual cache clearing. Both help manage how much space Discord takes up.

Related Issues: How To Clear Cache if Discord Won’t Close

Sometimes Discord won’t close properly, especially on Windows. If Discord is stuck open and you can’t quit it normally, you need to force-close it before clearing cache.

On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Escape to open Task Manager. Find “Discord” in the list, click it, and click “End Task.” This force-closes Discord. Now follow the normal cache-clearing steps.

On Mac, press Command + Option + Escape to open Force Quit dialog. Select Discord and click “Force Quit.” Then follow the normal steps.

On Android, go to Settings, Apps, Discord, and tap “Force Stop.” Then try opening Discord again.

On iOS, swipe up from the bottom (older iPhones) or swipe down from top-right (newer iPhones) to see active apps. Find Discord, swipe up on it to close it. Then open it again.

Summary

Discord cache is temporary storage that can get corrupted, outdated, or too large. Clearing cache removes these temporary files while keeping your account, login, servers, and messages completely intact. The process is different on Windows (AppData folder), Mac (Library folder), Android (Settings app), and iOS (Offload and Reinstall), but the result is the same: faster loading and fresh content.

Clear cache when Discord loads slowly, shows outdated content, lags during calls, or your device is running out of storage. If clearing cache doesn’t solve your problem, try restarting your device, flushing DNS, or reinstalling Discord. For most users, cache clearing once or twice a year is enough.

For more Discord tips and how-to guides, check out our complete collection of resources. Learn how to react on Discord, how to see deleted messages on Discord, and what to do if you encounter Discord messages failed to load errors. If you’re dealing with performance issues, find out how to turn off Discord overlay or check if your friend blocked you on Discord. You can also learn about how to appear offline on Discord and how to change your nickname.