How to Clean Cache and Database in Adobe After Effects

Adobe After Effects constantly generates temporary preview files and database indexes to speed up timeline playback and rendering, but these files can rapidly consume hundreds of gigabytes of disk space and cause performance issues or project errors over time. This guide outlines the fastest and most effective methods to clear your media cache and database files using built-in software settings, purging options, and manual file deletion.

Method 1: Clear the Media Cache and Database via Preferences

Using the Preferences menu is the most comprehensive way to delete unused cache files and clean the tracking database simultaneously.

  1. Open Adobe After Effects.
  2. Open the Preferences window:
    • Windows: Go to Edit > Preferences > Media & Disk Cache.
    • macOS: Go to After Effects > Preferences > Media & Disk Cache.
  3. Under the Disk Cache section, click the Empty Disk Cache button. A dialogue box will appear stating how much space will be freed; click OK to confirm.
  4. Under the Conformed Media Cache section, locate the Clean Database & Cache option.
  5. Click Clean Database & Cache (or Clean Unused in some versions) to remove records of files that are no longer associated with active projects.
  6. Click OK at the bottom of the Preferences dialog to apply the changes.

Method 2: Purge Cache Directly from the Application Menu

If you are currently working on a project and need an immediate cleanup to release system memory and disk cache without altering preferences, use the Purge command.

  1. Navigate to the top menu and select Edit > Purge.
  2. Choose one of the following:
    • All Memory & Disk Cache: Deletes both the RAM preview files stored in active memory and the rendered cache frames on your storage drive.
    • All Memory: Clears active RAM without deleting disk files.
    • Disk Cache: Clears stored cache files from your drive while keeping loaded RAM intact.
  3. Confirm the prompt by clicking OK.

Method 3: Manually Delete Cache Files from Storage

If After Effects is crashing on startup, freezing, or failing to remove stubborn temporary files via internal settings, manually deleting the cache directories resolves the problem.

  1. Close Adobe After Effects and all other Adobe applications (including Premiere Pro and Media Encoder).

  2. Navigate to the default cache file directories on your operating system:

    • Windows:
      • C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Common\
      • Look for the folders named Media Cache and Media Cache Files. (Note: If AppData is hidden, enable "Hidden items" under the View tab in Windows File Explorer).
    • macOS:
      • Open Finder, press Shift + Command + G, and enter:
      • ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Common/
      • Locate the Media Cache and Media Cache Files folders.

  3. Select all files inside the Media Cache and Media Cache Files directories and delete them.

  4. Empty your system's Recycle Bin or Trash to permanently reclaim the disk space.

  5. Relaunch After Effects. The program will automatically create clean, empty directories.