Nowadays, almost any application or program uses a cache, where they store data for normal and efficient operation. But sometimes files with this data “break” or for some reason the cache is not cleared on its own, which can lead to errors in the program.Of course, Steam is no exception in this regard and many users encounter errors that can be fixed by clearing the cache in Steam. Let’s figure out how to do this.
Why you need to clear your cache .
Besides the fact that it can cause Steam itself to stop working, an overloaded cache can also cause other problems:
- Unable to download an available game. You have it in your library, but when you click the “Install” button, nothing happens? Such problems arise precisely because of an overloaded storage.
- Bugs and errors in games. Sometimes, due to corrupted files, some games from your library may not work correctly.
- Freezes and performance issues. If you’ve noticed that your FPS in games has decreased recently, and there was no reason for it, the cache may be the reason.
- Problems accessing Steam’s social features If you can’t add a friend or message them, try the tips below.
So, regularly clearing the cache will save you from many potential problems and save your nerve cells. We will talk about how to do this further.
How to clean it
In general, it is not difficult, just follow the simple instructions below.
- Open our Steam application and go to the “Settings” menu, depending on what language your Steam is in.
- Next, in the window that opens, on the left in the column, find the item “Downloads” or “Downloads”, and go to it.
- Well, then just look for the line “Clear download cache” and boldly click the button!
- After that, all you have to do is wait for Steam to finish the procedure. You may need to restart the application or even your computer, but this is usually not necessary.
If it didn’t work
Are you sure that the problem is in the cache, but after you did everything according to the instructions above – it did not help? Then you can try to reset the Steam cache manually. In this case, the process will be a little more complicated, so we advise you to make a backup copy of the system before starting the manipulations in order to restore the data if you break something.
Close Steam completely
To do this, you can end the program process via the “Task Manager”, which is available on the “Taskbar”. There may be several processes, so we close them all, including Client Service and Client WebHelper.
Find where it is installed
Next, we need to find the folder where we have Steam installed. The default path for the most popular systems looks like this:
- Windows 10 or 11 : C:Program Files (x86)Steam
- Windows 8 or 7 : C:Users[username]AppDataLocalSteam
- Ubuntu : /home//.local/share/Steam/
If you changed the path during installation, you will have to remember it or search the disk thoroughly. You can use the file search.
Delete folders and clear cache
Once you have found the directory where the Steam files are stored, you need to find the following two folders: steamapps and downloading. In the first, delete all files except the common folder and library_manifest.vdf (they are responsible for the installed games). In the second, you can safely delete all the contents.
What’s next?
Next, just in case, restart the system and open the Steam application again. All errors that were associated with your cache should disappear.
It still didn’t help!
If so, the error may be related to other program files or even to your system. In this case, you will need to completely reinstall the program and, accordingly, download all the games again. Yes, this is a long process, but it will definitely save you from all the errors.
We’ve figured out how to clean Steam. Use our instructions, and don’t forget to check the system for errors.