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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchIf a Windows game is crashing or showing visual artifacts, clearing its shader cache may help when cached shader data is damaged—but it is a troubleshooting test, not a guaranteed fix. The safe steps depend on your GPU and launcher. For NVIDIA, use NVIDIA’s current reset instructions; for AMD, the available support guidance does not provide a general file-deletion procedure. Steam’s download-cache command is separate and does not clear a graphics shader cache.
What a shader cache does—and what clearing it changes
A shader cache stores compiled shader data so the system can reuse it instead of compiling the same shaders again. AMD says this can speed game loading and reduce CPU use. Clearing the cache means relevant shaders must be generated again, so the first launch afterward may take longer or stutter during compilation. No reliable duration is established; it varies by game and system.
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NVIDIA says damaged shader-cache files can contribute to crashes at launch, lower performance, or visual artifacts. That makes clearing a reasonable diagnostic step when symptoms fit, but it does not establish that the cache is the cause or that a reset will resolve the issue.
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There is no single “game shader cache” whose deletion clears every layer. Depending on the setup, shader-related data may be managed by the graphics driver, operating system, game, or launcher. The procedures below cover only the specific layers documented by the cited support pages.
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- Note your GPU brand, Windows version, game, and launcher, and whether the issue began after a game or driver update.
- Distinguish a crash or visual artifact from missing textures or other missing game content. Missing content may point to installed game files rather than compiled shaders.
- Check the game maker’s support instructions first if they provide steps for your title. Avoid deleting folders based on generic online advice: locations and controls can differ by software version.
Reset the NVIDIA shader cache on Windows
NVIDIA’s support article, updated May 25, 2026, provides the reset sequence below. Follow its live instructions for the exact cache folders or files and any alternate deletion method; paths can change. Before deleting files, close games and other programs that use the GPU, including launchers and 3D tools.
- Open NVIDIA App > Graphics > Global Settings.
- Find Shader Cache Size, set it to Off, apply the change, and restart Windows.
- After the restart, follow NVIDIA’s current instructions to delete the shader-cache files. Its manual method begins at
%USERPROFILE%AppDataLocaland then the NVIDIA directory; use the live article for the specific folders and files: NVIDIA: How to clear the shader cache. - Launch the affected game or application and allow it to rebuild the shaders. The first run may take longer or stutter while compilation occurs.
- If you want caching enabled, return to the NVIDIA App setting and restore an appropriate Shader Cache Size value.
Closing GPU-using programs before file operations is also advised in Obsidian’s game-specific support instructions for The Outer Worlds 2; that precaution is useful, but its other troubleshooting steps are not universal: Obsidian: The Outer Worlds 2 known issues.
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AMD Radeon: check the setting, but don’t guess at file paths
AMD describes Shader Cache as storage for frequently used compiled game shaders, which can support faster loading and lower CPU use. Its support FAQ says the setting is AMD optimized by default and can be disabled globally. The FAQ does not provide a general procedure for deleting cache files, so changing that global setting should not be treated as equivalent to clearing existing files. Check the controls in your current AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition version or contact AMD support for an exact clear operation: AMD: Shader Cache.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsSteam download cache is not the graphics shader cache
Steam’s Settings > Downloads > Clear Download Cache action clears Steam client download or configuration data; it is not documented as a graphics shader-cache purge. Steam says you must sign in again afterward and that installed games are unaffected. Use it for a Steam download or client issue, not as a substitute for a GPU cache reset: Steam Support: Clear download cache.
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Steam Shader Pre-Caching is a separate feature. In a stability FAQ for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Eidos Montreal suggested trying to disable it for some slow-start and crash cases. That recommendation was published October 28, 2021, and edited November 23, 2022; it is specific to that title and should not be generalized to other games. Consult the game’s support guidance before changing the option: Eidos Montreal: Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy stability FAQ.
When textures or other game content are missing, verify the game files
If the symptom is missing textures or other installed content, check the game files separately from the shader cache. Steam’s documented route is:
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- Open Library and right-click the game, or select its gear menu.
- Choose Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files.
- Wait for verification to finish. Steam says it can take several minutes; avoid running it alongside system-intensive tasks or verifying several games at once.
Steam says verification can help when content is missing or a game crashes. It checks installed game files; it does not purge the graphics driver’s shader cache: Steam Support: Verify integrity of game files.
Choose the troubleshooting step that matches the problem
| Option | Scope | When it fits | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA driver shader-cache reset | NVIDIA driver cache on Windows | An NVIDIA cache issue is suspected and the current NVIDIA procedure applies. | Shaders rebuild after deletion; follow NVIDIA’s current steps and exact paths. Source: NVIDIA support. |
| AMD Radeon cache control | Global Radeon Software cache setting | You need to inspect or change the documented global behavior. | The cited AMD FAQ does not give a file-deletion procedure. Source: AMD support. |
| Steam Clear Download Cache | Steam client download/configuration data | A Steam download or some client launch problems are involved. | Requires signing in again; not documented as a shader-cache deletion. Source: Steam Support. |
| Steam Verify integrity of game files | Installed game files | Textures or other content are missing, or the game crashes. | Takes time and is not a driver-cache purge. Source: Steam Support. |
| Steam Shader Pre-Caching toggle | Steam pre-caching behavior | The game’s own support recommends trying it. | The cited advice is an older, title-specific recommendation for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Source: Eidos Montreal. |
If the problem remains after a reset
Do not keep clearing caches as a substitute for diagnosis. Follow the game maker’s support process, verify installed files if your launcher supports it, and consider other causes such as a driver or game update. The procedures here are for the Windows PC context documented by the cited support pages; they do not establish user-accessible cache-deletion steps for consoles.
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