Learning how to clear Microsoft Teams cache clutter might not seem particularly important at first. But you’d be surprised how much a cluttered cache can harm your Microsoft Teams experience.
Microsoft Teams might be one of the most innovative communication and collaboration tools, but it’s still computer software. As such, it’s plagued by the same problems any software can encounter. Teams uses a “cache” to store temporary data and other recently accessed files.
The Microsoft Teams cache is a valuable but often overlooked part of the ecosystem. By storing temporary data, Teams ensures users can reaccess the same information quickly, with minimal lag. However, like any cache, the Teams storage system can only handle so much.
The more information you store in your Teams cache, the slower the app will likely run. You might even find your app starting to take up extra storage space on your system.
Here’s how to clear the Microsoft Teams cache and get your app back on track.
Why Clear the Microsoft Teams Cache?
Clearing an application’s cache is common practice in the digital world. While Teams and many other applications can suffer from performance issues for various reasons, sometimes the core reason for a slow or broken app is an overfilled cache.
Just as too much information on a computer, tablet, or smartphone can slow down its performance, a cluttered cache on Teams can make it harder to access your files and collaborate efficiently.
If Teams starts running slowly for you or your employees, clearing the cache could be the easiest way to fix the issue. The good news is learning how to clear Microsoft Teams cache clutter is relatively straightforward (and safe).
Just remember, deleting your cache on Teams will remove previously cached settings, such as icons, thumbnails, and other information.
When you clear the cache on Teams, it forces the clients to re-download fresh files. However, you shouldn’t lose any data or message history because Microsoft stores this information in the cloud via Office 365. If you’re concerned, you can always back up any critical data from Teams first.
How to Clear Microsoft Teams Cache Data (Windows and Mac)
There are a few ways to clear the cache for Microsoft Teams, depending on your operating system or device. The process is slightly different if you’re using Teams 2.0 or the “New Teams” service.
Before you start fiddling with anything complex, we recommend simply closing the Teams (quitting out altogether) and restarting the app (or your computer). Sometimes, this is enough to clear the cache and eliminate any other simple operating problems.
You can also sign out of Teams and back in to “restart” the system.
How to Clear Microsoft Teams Cache Data on Windows (Classic Teams)
To clear your Microsoft Teams cache on a Windows device, start by quitting out of Microsoft Teams. Right-click the Teams icon on your taskbar, and select Quit. Next:
- Open the Run dialog box on Windows by pressing R and the Windows logo key.
- When the dialog box opens, type %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams and hit OK.
- Right-click on the Teams folder and select Delete. Or delete all the files and folders in the Teams directory.
- Restart the Teams client.
How to Clear the Cache on Windows (New Teams)
If you’re using the new Microsoft Teams app, designed to run faster and take up less computing resources in the first place, there are two ways to clear the cache. Your first option is to simply “reset” the app. This deletes all of the existing app data on your device. However, it will also remove any personalized settings you’ve configured.
Tap the windows key on your keyboard, and type Settings into the form that comes up. Click on the Settings app in the results. Then:
- Navigate to Apps > Installed Apps and search for “Microsoft Teams.”
- Locate the Microsoft Teams app and select the More Options (…) button on the right.
- Select Advanced Options, and in the Reset section, click
- Relaunch your Teams application.
Alternatively, you can delete the files in your cache manually. To do this, you’ll first need to right-click the Teams icon in your taskbar and select Quit. Then, open the Run dialog box using your Windows key and the R key:
- In the Run dialog box, enter: %userprofile%\appdata\local\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams, then click
- Delete all the files and folders in the directory.
- Relaunch Teams.
How to Clear Microsoft Teams Cache Data on MacOS (Classic Teams)
Clearing your Microsoft Teams cache on MacOS includes many of the same steps you’d use for a Windows device. If Teams is running, right-click the icon, select Quit, or use the shortcut Command+Q. Next:
- In the Finder application, open the Applications/Utilities
- Double-click on Terminal.
- Enter the command: rm -r ~/Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft/Teams
- Hit Return
- Restart your Teams client.
How to Clear Microsoft Teams Cache Data on MacOS (New Teams)
If you’re using the new Teams version, the process is similar for Mac users. If Microsoft Teams is still running, right-click the Teams icon and select Quit. Or use the Command+Q shortcut to close the application.
- In Finder, open the Applications/Utilities folder and double-click
- Enter the command: rm -rf ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.com.microsoft.teams, and hit return.
- Then enter the command: rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.teams2 and hit return.
- Relaunch Teams.
Clearing Cache Data on Chrome, iOS, and Android
As most Microsoft Teams fans know, Teams isn’t just available as a desktop app. Users can also access the application on smartphones and directly on their browsers. The steps are slightly different if you need to clear the cache for a web or mobile Teams version.
How to Clear the Microsoft Teams Cache on a Browser
If you’re using a browser to access Microsoft Teams, the location of the data cache will vary depending on the browser you choose. You should be able to search for “cache” information about any popular browser online.
However, here’s a quick guide to how you can clear your browser on Chrome:
- Go to the web interface for Microsoft Teams on your browser.
- Click on the padlock icon in your URL bar (next to the URL).
- From the menu, click on Site Settings.
- Select Clear data.
- Restart your browser.
How to Clear the Microsoft Teams Cache on iOS or Android
Clearing an app’s cache on Android is simpler than on iOS devices. On Android, you only need to open your smartphone’s Settings page and go to Apps. From there, scroll down to Teams and tap on the app.
Select the Storage option, and click Clear cache. This should empty your cache without affecting the functionality of the Teams software. On iOS, the process is slightly more unusual due to the complex security settings on Apple devices.
The only effective way to clear cache files on an iOS phone or tablet is to offload, uninstall, and reinstall the Teams app. To do this:
- Open your device’s Settings app and tap
- Select the Storage option for your device.
- Locate and tap on the Teams
- Choose to either Offload or Delete the app.
Offloading the app will remove all temporary Teams data on your device, including information within the cache. However, the app icon and other vital data will still be accessible. If you uninstall the app, you’ll need to reinstall it again before accessing Teams.
How Often Should You Clear the Teams Cache?
Learning how to clear Microsoft Teams cache data is a valuable way to improve app performance. However, you shouldn’t need to do this too regularly. This is particularly true if you’re using the latest version of Microsoft Teams, built on more efficient architecture.
Microsoft has already said this new Teams version will offer better performance and a reduced user memory footprint. Still, occasionally clearing out your cache, no matter which version of Teams you’re using, is an excellent way to ensure your app can perform at its best.
FAQ
What is cache storage in Teams?
Like most apps, Microsoft Teams uses a cache to store temporary information like files and chat history. The cache is crucial for improving the app’s performance but can also gradually slow down the app as it becomes more cluttered.
Why clear cache in Teams?
Clearing your Teams cache can help to improve the app’s performance and resolve problems like display errors or slow loading. Clearing your cache regularly helps to ensure either version of Teams (new or classic) will continue to run smoothly.
Does clearing Teams cache delete chat history?
Your chat files will typically be stored in OneDrive, while Teams files are logged in SharePoint, so you shouldn’t use any essential data. Your conversion history and other factors should be unaffected, but you might need to personalize your app again.
Is it safe to delete Microsoft cache?
Deleting your Microsoft Teams cache is perfectly safe. It only removes temporary information from Teams, not any essential files or features you might need. Usually, after you delete your cache, your Teams system will sync any historical data to your app again automatically.
What happens if you delete all cache files?
Deleting all your cache files removes any unnecessary data stored by your Teams app and frees up extra disk space. However, it also removes personal data stored by your app, so you might need to re-implement any settings you’ve configured in Teams.
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