Teams runs very slow on my Windows PC. How to remove the Microsoft Teams cache?

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Here’s a question from Dev:

I use Microsoft Teams at work almost on a daily basis. Lately i have seen that Teams is getting quite slow, and sometimes looks like it just hangs to a point i need to sign off and restart it. A colleague of mine told me that in such cases, their IT department recommends to delete the cache directory from File Explorer. Can you provide guidance on how to delete the Teams cache folder?

Teams cache clearing solutions: a technical overview

This tutorial will guide you through the process of locating and clearing the Microsoft Teams cache on different platforms. We’ll cover the desktop as well as the web version. Windows, macOS, and mobile devices to ensure comprehensive coverage regardless of your device ecosystem. The techniques involve accessing hidden folders, safely deleting cache files, and restarting the application properly. No special tools are required – just administrative access to your device.

In this tutorial you will find a step-by-step process for clearing your MS Teams cache. Note that deleting the cache doesn’t remove any files associated with your teams/channels or any of your 1:1 or group chat conversation history from your Teams account, as those are stored in SharePoint and OneDrive respectively. But just to be on the safe side, we recommend that before deleting the cache folder you backup the folder (by copying it into a local or cloud driver or a USB stick).

Teams Cache location

The Teams cache is located at the \%appdata%\Microsoft\Teams path. By default that will point to C:\Users\<your_windows_username>\appData\Roaming\Microsoft\Teams. To access it, open File Explorer (Windows +E) and paste the Teams cache path.

Delete the Teams Cache folder

  1. From Microsoft Teams, hit your profile icon / avatar and then go ahead and select Sign Out.
  2. If Microsoft Outlook is open, go ahead and close it.
  3. Now from your Windows Taskbar hit the Windows icon in you, type File Explorer and hit the Enter button.
  1. Alternatively, hit the Windows button on your keyboard +E to find the File Explorer.
  2. Next type %appdata%\Microsoft into the Address bar.
  3. Backup the Teams folder into your local or cloud drive.
  4. Now highlight the Teams folder, right click and select Delete.
  5. Hit Yes.
  1. Next, hit the Windows button on the taskbar and type Teams.
  2. Select the Microsoft Teams button
  3. Login to Teams using your Windows login and password credentials.
  4. That’s it!

Clearing cache in Microsoft Teams web version

If you are using the Team web app, you will be able to solve caching issues by clearing temporary data (such as previous browsing history) that is used by the browser. Here’s the procedure for Edge and Chrome.

Edge:

  • Open Microsoft Edge, then type on the three-dot icon at the right hand side.
  • Hit Settings.
  • In the Search Settings box at the top left side type the text clear browsing.
  • You will be presented the result of your search. Under Clear Browsing data, hit the Choose what to Clear button (located at the right hand side).
  • Under Time Range, select All time.
  • Select the type of Data you want to clear.
  • Hit Clear Now.
  • If needed close the dialog.
  • Now, navigate to your Microsoft Teams web URL, enter your login data and use Teams.

Chrome:

  • Open Chrome and if open, close the tab that displays the Teams Web app.
  • Hit the following key combination: Ctrl + Shift + Delete
  • In the Time Range dropdown, select All time.
  • Hit the Clear Data button.
  • Navigate to your Microsoft Teams web URL.
  • Enter your login data to access Teams.

macOS Teams cache location and removal

  • Quit Teams completely by right-clicking the Teams icon in the Dock and selecting Quit, or using Command+Q from within the application.
  • Access the Teams cache location by opening Finder, pressing Command+Shift+G, then entering ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams.
  • Remove cache folders including Cache, blob_storage, databases, GPUcache, IndexedDB, Local Storage, and tmp to clear the Teams application data.
  • Empty the Trash after deleting these folders to fully release disk space and ensure the cache files are completely removed from your system.
  • Restart Teams by launching it from your Applications folder or Dock, allowing it to rebuild a fresh, clean cache as it starts up.

Tip: For mobile users, accessing Teams app settings by tapping your profile picture, then navigating to Settings. If you’re having trouble locating your downloaded files after clearing cache, check your Teams download folder on Android to ensure everything is in order.

Troubleshooting Teams Performance Beyond Cache Clearing

If clearing the cache doesn’t resolve your slow Teams performance, several additional factors might be contributing to the issue. Network connectivity problems often manifest as Teams slowdowns – run a speed test to ensure you have adequate bandwidth (Microsoft recommends at least 1.5 Mbps for video calls). Check if other applications are consuming network resources simultaneously, as this can impact Teams’ real-time communication features.

Hardware limitations can also cause Teams to lag, particularly on older systems. Teams is resource-intensive, requiring at least 4GB RAM for optimal performance, though 8GB is recommended for frequent video conferencing. Monitor your Task Manager’s Performance tab while Teams is running – if CPU usage consistently exceeds 80% or available memory drops below 1GB, consider upgrading your hardware or closing unnecessary applications.

Teams Classic vs. New Teams Performance Considerations

Microsoft has been transitioning users from Teams Classic to the new Teams client, which offers improved performance and reduced memory usage. If you’re still using Teams Classic, consider switching to the new version, which typically loads 2x faster and uses up to 50% less memory. You can check your current version by clicking your profile picture and looking for “About” – new Teams will display “Microsoft Teams” while Classic shows “Microsoft Teams (classic).”

The new Teams client handles cache differently and includes built-in optimization features that reduce the need for manual cache clearing. However, if you must use Teams Classic due to organizational requirements, consider adjusting your presence settings to “Available” instead of letting it auto-detect, as this reduces background processing overhead.