Bottom Line: It is 100% safe to clear the Google Drive file_stream_cache folder. Clearing the cache will NOT delete your original files, Google Docs, or spreadsheets saved in Google Drive cloud storage.
What is the Google Drive file_stream_cache Folder?
Located at %LocalAppData%\Google\DriveFS on Windows or ~/Library/Application Support/Google/DriveFS on macOS, file_stream_cache is created by Google Drive for Desktop.
When you open or stream cloud files directly from Google Drive without downloading them permanently, Google Drive caches local temporary copies inside file_stream_cache. Over time, as you open large PDFs, videos, or raw photos, the cache folder hoards 10 GB to 40 GB+.
Can You Delete file_stream_cache?
✅ Yes, it is completely safe to delete.
- No cloud data loss: Files that have finished syncing to Google Drive online are 100% safe in the cloud.
- Auto-rebuilt: Opening a file in Google Drive later will simply download a fresh temporary stream copy.
How to Safely Clean Up Google Drive Cache
Method 1: Clear Cache via Google Drive Settings (Recommended)
- Click the Google Drive icon in your Windows system tray or Mac menu bar.
- Click the Settings (Gear Icon) > Preferences.
- Click Settings (Gear Icon) at the top right of the Preferences window.
- Scroll down to Local cached files directory and click Clear local cache.
Method 2: Manual Cache Deletion
- Quit Google Drive for Desktop.
- Delete the contents inside
%LocalAppData%\Google\DriveFS.
Related Guides
- Learn about deleting [OneDrive temp files]).
- How to clean up Dropbox cache.
- Check if you can clean [Windows Temp files].
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