NVIDIA Shader Cache (DXCache & GLCache)

Bottom Line: It is 100% safe to delete DXCache and GLCache. Clearing the NVIDIA shader cache will not delete your video games or save data, and is a well-known troubleshooting fix for game stuttering or graphical glitches after a GPU driver update.

What are NVIDIA DXCache & GLCache Folders?

Located at %LocalAppData%\NVIDIA\DXCache and %LocalAppData%\NVIDIA\GLCache (and under %AppData%\NVIDIA\ComputeCache), these folders store pre-compiled shader files for DirectX (DX11/DX12) and OpenGL/Vulkan games.

When you play PC games (like Cyberpunk 2077, Call of Duty, Fortnite, or Elden Ring), your NVIDIA graphics driver compiles shaders and saves them in this cache so the game doesn’t have to re-compile them on every load.

However, after multiple game updates or NVIDIA driver upgrades, old shader files become stale and orphaned, bloating the cache to 5 GB to 15 GB+ and sometimes causing stuttering.

Can You Delete DXCache and GLCache?

✅ Yes, it is safe to delete.

• No game corruption: Games and saves remain 100% untouched.
• Auto-rebuilds: The next time you launch a game, NVIDIA will simply rebuild fresh, clean shader cache files.

How to Safely Clear NVIDIA Shader Cache

Method 1: Delete Caches via File Explorer

1. Close all active video games and the NVIDIA Control Panel.
2. Press Win + R, type %LocalAppData%\NVIDIA, and press Enter.
3. Open the DXCache and GLCache folders.
4. Select all files and press Delete. (Note: If a few files say “In use”, skip them; those belong to currently running Windows background graphics processes).

Method 2: Reset Shader Cache Size in NVIDIA Control Panel

To prevent the shader cache from exceeding a specific size:

1. Right-click your desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
2. Go to Manage 3D settings under the 3D Settings section.
3. Scroll down in the Global Settings list to Shader Cache Size.
4. Set it to 10 GB or 1 GB (instead of Unlimited).
5. Click Apply.

Related Guides

• Learn about deleting DirectX Shader Cache.
• How to clean out Steam shadercache.
• Check if you can clean Epic Games VaultCache.