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There is no well-supported universal “clear all VS Code caches” command. First identify which folder is using space, then choose a cleanup method that matches its owner: uninstall an extension you no longer need, or use that extension’s documented cache controls. Avoid routinely deleting workspaceStorage or globalStorage; these can contain extension-managed state, not disposable cache files.
Find what is using disk space before deleting anything
Use your operating system’s storage tools to locate the large directory. VS Code’s reviewed documentation does not establish a built-in disk-usage analyzer. Before acting, determine whether the folder belongs to your current VS Code profile, a portable installation, or a remote environment such as SSH, a dev container, or WSL. Those distinctions affect where data lives and what a local cleanup can reach.
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VS Code distinguishes workspace-specific extension state from global extension state. Its Extension API exposes workspaceState, globalState, storageUri, and globalStorageUri for these different storage scopes. The API says, “VS Code manages the storage and will restore it when the same workspace is opened again.” That is not a blanket instruction to delete the directories: the reviewed documentation does not provide a general safe-delete procedure for workspace or global storage. VS Code Extension API: Data Storage.
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Remove extensions you no longer use
If the space belongs to an extension you do not need, remove it through VS Code’s Extensions view rather than deleting files from its installation folder. To identify installed extensions from the command line, use code --list-extensions; uninstall a specific one with code --uninstall-extension publisher.extension, replacing the example identifier with the extension’s actual publisher and name. The documented default per-user extension folders are %USERPROFILE%.vscodeextensions on Windows and ~/.vscode/extensions on macOS and Linux. The location can differ if --extensions-dir or VSCODE_EXTENSIONS is configured. VS Code: Uninstall extensions.
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Clear a cache using the owning extension’s instructions
Cache locations and cleanup controls are extension-specific. Do not treat one extension’s path or setting as a general VS Code cache-cleaning method. Check the current documentation for the extension that owns the files; if it documents a supported clear operation or setting, use that rather than deleting unrelated storage.
Microsoft C/C++ IntelliSense cache
The Microsoft C/C++ extension documents its IntelliSense cache, named ipch, in these locations:
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- Windows:
%LocalAppData%/Microsoft/vscode-cpptools - Linux:
$XDG_CACHE_HOME/vscode-cpptools/, or$HOME/.cache/vscode-cpptools/ifXDG_CACHE_HOMEis not defined - macOS:
$HOME/Library/Caches/vscode-cpptools/
For this extension, the C_Cpp.intelliSenseCacheSize setting controls an approximate cache-size limit; setting it to 0 disables the IntelliSense cache. The limit is approximate, not a guarantee of a particular amount of reclaimed disk space. These paths and controls apply to the C/C++ extension, not to VS Code extensions generally. See the C/C++ extension FAQ.
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Keep settings and workspace configuration intact
Settings files configure VS Code; they are not generic cache targets. User settings are stored in different locations by operating system:
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- Windows:
%APPDATA%CodeUsersettings.json - macOS:
$HOME/Library/Application Support/Code/User/settings.json - Linux:
$HOME/.config/Code/User/settings.json
Single-folder project settings are commonly in .vscode/settings.json. A multi-root workspace can store settings in its .code-workspace file. Preserve these files unless you intend to change configuration. See VS Code settings and VS Code workspaces.
Check portable and remote installations
Portable mode
Supported portable installations keep VS Code data beside the application: in a data directory for supported Windows ZIP and Linux TAR.GZ distributions, or code-portable-data on macOS. That data can include user data, extensions, and session information, so do not assume the folder is disposable. On Windows, portable mode is supported for the ZIP distribution, not the User or System installer. Installation type matters; see VS Code portable mode.
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Remote windows and Settings Sync
Extensions are not synchronized to or from remote windows such as SSH, dev containers, and WSL. A local extension listing or cleanup may therefore not describe what is installed in the remote environment. Settings Sync also provides local backups: run Settings Sync: Open Local Backups Folder from the Command Palette to open them. Check which environment owns the large folder before removing data. See VS Code Settings Sync.
A safe cleanup sequence
- Use your operating system’s storage tools to identify the specific large directory.
- Establish whether it belongs to your current profile, a portable installation, or a remote environment.
- If an installed extension is no longer needed, uninstall it through the Extensions view or with
code --uninstall-extension publisher.extension. - If the directory is a known extension cache, follow that extension’s current documentation. For Microsoft C/C++, adjust
C_Cpp.intelliSenseCacheSizeif an approximate limit or disabling the cache suits your needs. - Leave workspace/global extension state, settings files,
.vscodeconfiguration, and.code-workspacefiles alone unless you have extension-specific guidance and understand the effect of removing them. - Restart or reopen the affected workspace, confirm the extension behaves as expected, and check disk usage again.
The official sources cited here do not establish a general amount of space any cleanup will recover. The result depends on the specific files present and the extension or installation that owns them.
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