To clear the RedM client cache, close RedM and its background processes, back up personal files, open the RedM data folder under %LOCALAPPDATA%, delete the cache subfolders (but not cache/game/), and relaunch. The first startup will be slower while RedM rebuilds files and downloads server resources again.
Folder names vary between RedM builds, so confirm that the folders you see match the names below before deleting anything.
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What clearing the RedM cache actually does
RedM stores temporary browser, subprocess, server and interface data in its local data directory. Removing those temporary folders gives the client a clean set of local files. When you reconnect to a server, RedM downloads the server resources it needs again.
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Cache deletion is a troubleshooting operation, not a replacement for the base game installation. The cache/game/ directory contains core Red Dead Redemption 2 assets and is reported to occupy roughly 4–8 GB. Deleting it can trigger a complete re-download or prevent RedM from launching, so it must remain in place.
No reliable maintenance schedule is established for RedM cache deletion. Use the procedure when you are troubleshooting loading failures, stale server resources or cache-related crashes rather than deleting files routinely without a specific reason.
Before you delete anything
Prepare the installation first. Deleting files while RedM is still running can leave files locked and result in an incomplete cleanup.
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- Close RedM normally. Exit the client and any open server session.
- End remaining processes. Open Windows Task Manager and end every
RedM.exeandCitizenFXprocess that is still running. Check the process list again after ending one, because more than one related process may be present. - Back up personal files. Copy your custom keybind file (often named
client.lua), saved server favorites and any custom user-interface modifications to a separate folder, such as your Documents folder. Keep the backup outside the RedM directory so it cannot be removed accidentally. - Do not delete the entire data directory. The goal is to remove selected temporary subfolders, not the game assets or every configuration file.
Find the RedM data folder
The primary path reported for current installations is:
%LOCALAPPDATA%RedMRedM.appdata
To open it using Windows Explorer:
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
- Enter
%localappdata%and press Enter. - Open
RedM, thenRedM.app, thendata.
Builds do not all use identical naming. If the primary path is absent, check these reported alternatives:
%LOCALAPPDATA%RedMRedM Application Datadata— an older naming pattern used by some launcher projects.%LOCALAPPDATA%RedMRedM.appdataserver-cache— a newer layout in which the server cache is visible directly under the data directory.%LOCALAPPDATA%RedMwith adatafolder inside — an older guide layout.
These are path variants, not instructions to create new folders. Open the RedM folders that actually exist on your computer and confirm that they contain the cache names listed in the next section. If none of the variants exists, stop and verify where your RedM installation is located instead of deleting an unrelated folder.
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Which folders to remove
From the RedM data directory, remove the following temporary folders. The first two are inside cache; the remaining names are normally alongside that directory.
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|---|---|---|
browser |
cache/browser/ |
Delete the folder and its contents. |
subprocess |
cache/subprocess/ |
Delete the folder and its contents. |
server-cache |
server-cache/ |
Delete the folder and its contents. |
server-cache-priv |
server-cache-priv/ |
Delete the folder and its contents. |
nui-storage |
nui-storage/ |
Delete the folder and its contents. |
game |
cache/game/ |
Keep it. It contains base game assets and is reported at about 4–8 GB. |
Folder capitalization is not important in Windows, but the names and locations are. Do not substitute a similarly named folder, and do not remove the whole cache directory if it contains game.
Manual cache-clearing procedure
- Close RedM and verify its processes are gone. Use Task Manager to end all
RedM.exeandCitizenFXentries. A running process can keep a file locked, leaving part of the old cache behind. - Back up your custom data. Copy
client.luaif you use custom keybinds, export or copy saved server favorites, and preserve custom UI modifications. Place the copies somewhere outside%LOCALAPPDATA%RedM. - Open the data directory. Use the Run-dialog route above and select the path that exists on your installation.
- Open the
cachefolder. Selectbrowserandsubprocess. Leavegameuntouched. - Delete only the temporary folders. Remove
cache/browser/,cache/subprocess/,server-cache/,server-cache-priv/andnui-storage/. You can select the folders and press Delete, or right-click and choose Delete. - Check the result. Before emptying the Recycle Bin, confirm that
cache/game/is still present and that your backup is stored elsewhere. If Windows says a file is in use, cancel the operation, return to Task Manager and close the remaining RedM or CitizenFX process. - Start RedM again. Launch the client normally and reconnect to the affected server. RedM will recreate the removed local data as needed.
What to expect on the next launch
The first launch after deletion can take noticeably longer because RedM is rebuilding local resources. This delay is expected and does not by itself indicate that the cleanup failed. Server resources are downloaded again when you reconnect, so the first connection to a server may also take longer than usual.
Do not interrupt the rebuild simply because the first startup is slow. If RedM eventually reaches the main interface and can connect, the cache reset completed its intended job. Your backed-up keybinds, favorites and interface modifications can then be restored carefully if they were removed or need to be re-applied.
If clearing the cache does not fix the problem
Cache files are only one possible cause of a crash or loading failure. Work through these additional checks without deleting cache/game/.
Remove the cache index file with the temporary cache
One troubleshooting procedure recommends deleting caches.xml together with the cache folders when problems persist. First close RedM and its processes again, then locate caches.xml in the same RedM data area. Delete it only after confirming the path belongs to your RedM installation, and relaunch so the client can recreate the file.
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Verify the base game installation
Use the file-verification feature in the launcher that installed your copy of Red Dead Redemption 2—Steam, Epic or the Rockstar launcher. Verification checks the underlying game files, which cache deletion does not repair. Follow the launcher’s own verification prompts and allow any repair or replacement operation to finish before testing RedM again.
Update RedM
An outdated client can continue to fail even after its temporary files are removed. Install the current RedM update offered by its launcher, then repeat the test with the cleaned data folders if necessary.
Recheck the folders you removed
If the problem returns immediately, confirm that you used the data directory belonging to the active RedM installation. A second installation or an older RedM Application Data directory can leave the active cache untouched. Compare the actual folder names on your computer with the variants above rather than assuming every build uses RedM.app.
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Common mistakes and how to recover
Deleting cache/game/
This is the most consequential error. Because that directory contains the base game assets, removing it can force a multi-gigabyte re-download or keep RedM from starting. Stop further deletion, restore the folder from a backup if you made one, or allow the required game data to be restored through the appropriate installation process. Do not treat a missing game directory as a normal cache reset.
Deleting the whole RedM folder
Removing the parent folder can also erase personal settings and custom files. If you have already done this, restore your backed-up keybinds, favorites and UI modifications only after RedM has recreated a valid data directory. Reinstall or repair the client only if it still cannot launch after the base files and data path are restored.
Windows reports that files are in use
Cancel the deletion and close every RedM.exe and CitizenFX process in Task Manager. Reopen the data directory and try again. Do not force-delete unrelated files simply to make the operation complete.
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The expected folder is missing
Do not create an empty replacement and do not guess at another user profile. Check the path variants, including RedM Application Data, and confirm that you are looking under the Windows account that runs RedM. If the listed cache folders are not present, there may be nothing to clear in that location.
Personal settings disappear after cleanup
Restore only the files you backed up, one category at a time. Reintroducing a custom UI modification or keybind file can also reintroduce the original conflict, so test RedM between restorations.
Manual deletion versus automated cleaners
Manual deletion gives you direct control over which folders are removed and makes it easiest to protect cache/game/. Automated tools can save time, but they require trust in a third-party program and may not keep pace with changes to RedM’s folder layout.
| Method | How it works | Advantages | Risks and checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual Windows deletion | You close RedM, open the data directory and remove the five named temporary folders. | Full visibility; no extra software; you can preserve game assets and personal files. | Requires finding the correct path and selecting only the intended folders. |
| Community RedM Launcher | The RWELabs community launcher is described as clearing server-cache and server-cache-priv before launch. |
Automates recurring server-cache cleanup. | It is third-party open source, and its maintenance status in 2026 has not been verified. Review the project and its permissions before use. |
| Standalone cleaner utilities | Projects such as sdmactech/RedMCacheCleanern and Madgrimmrock/MGR-CacheCleaner are described as one-action RedM server-cache cleaners. |
Convenient when you understand and accept the tool’s behavior. | Inspect the source, release history and files before running any utility. A cleaner that targets the wrong installation could remove more than intended. |
For a one-time repair, manual deletion is the least ambiguous option. Consider automation only when you have checked exactly which directories it removes and confirmed that it does not touch cache/game/, backups or custom settings.
A safe decision checklist
- Are all RedM and CitizenFX processes closed?
- Is your backup of
client.lua, favorites and UI modifications outside the RedM directory? - Does the selected path contain the five temporary folders listed above?
- Have you left
cache/game/in place? - Are you deleting folders inside the active installation rather than an old or duplicate RedM directory?
- Can you allow extra time for the first relaunch and for server resources to download again?
If every answer is yes, the manual procedure is ready to perform. If any answer is no, resolve that item first; most failed cleanups come from a running process, the wrong data path or deletion of the game-assets directory.
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