Alex Ruben
How To Clear Cache in FiveM for Better Performance
Everyone’s been there—performance drops, long load times, or the game acting weird. Sometimes it’s just cache getting cluttered or corrupted, and clearing it up can make stuff run smoother. But often, folks worry about losing progress or messing up settings. The good news is, clearing the cache isn’t as scary as it sounds, and you can do it pretty easily without losing your saved game info.
Here’s a straightforward walkthrough to clear the cache manually—because sometimes in-game options just don’t cut it, or you want a more thorough clean. Plus, some quick troubleshooting tips at the end might help if you’re still having issues after the cleanup.
How to Clear the FiveM Cache in Windows
Accessing the Cache Files Directly
Why bother? Well, because sometimes in-game cache clear options are limited or buggy, especially if the game’s still running. Clearing these folders manually ensures everything gets wiped clean at the file level. Expect a noticeable boost if your cache has been cluttered with old data or corrupt files.
On some setups, this process is kinda hit-or-miss—sometimes you need to restart your PC or even re-launch FiveM for changes to fully register. But overall, it’s a solid way to give your game a fresh start.
- Hit Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
%localappdata%then hit Enter. This takes you straight to your Local AppData folder.
Locating the FiveM Cache Folders
Once in the local app data directory, you need to dig a bit. Find and open the folder named FiveM. Inside, there should be a folder called FiveM Application Data. If you don’t see it right away, double-check that you’re in the right spot—it’s usually tucked away, but it’s definitely there.
- Double-click on FiveM.
- Then, open the FiveM Application Data folder.
Navigating to the Data Folder
This one’s simple. Inside FiveM Application Data, look for a folder named data. This is where all the cache files live—think of it as the junk drawer of your FiveM profile.
- Double-click on the data folder.
Time to Delete the Cache
Here’s the main step—delete the cache folders. You’ll see several folders, notably cache, server cache, and server priv. These hold cached game data, server info, and resource files.
Why delete? Because they can get bloated or corrupted, leading to lag, loading errors, or weird glitches. Clearing these helps reset the cache state without messing with your actual game progress.
- Select these folders: cache, server cache, and server priv.
- Right-click and pick Delete. Confirm if prompted.
Note: Sometimes, Windows might not let you delete files if the game’s still running. So, make sure FiveM is totally closed before doing this.
Or, Use In-Game Settings (If Available)
If you want a safer, easier way and don’t mind relying on built-in options, launch FiveM first. Then, in the Settings menu, look for a Clear Cache button. This is usually less invasive, and it keeps your profiles intact. Handy for quick fixes without digging through folders.
Post-Cleanup Troubleshooting
After clearing, fire up FiveM again. If it’s still acting up, try these:
- Reboot your PC—sometimes Windows needs a quick refresh.
- Check your game files through your launcher (like Steam or Rockstar launcher) to make sure everything’s intact.
- If mods are involved, reinstall or update them—bad mods can cause weird issues even after cache clearing.
Extra Tips to Keep Things Running Smoothly
Regular cache cleaning can actually help long-term. Also, make sure you’re on the latest version of FiveM and your game. Adjust in-game settings—a bit lower graphic quality can really improve performance if your system’s just weak for high-end mods and custom servers.
Wrap-up (Hopefully this clears some space and boosts your game)
Manually deleting those cache folders usually does the trick, especially if performance was lagging or loading times felt sluggish. Just make sure FiveM is definitely closed before deleting anything, otherwise Windows whines and stops you. Reboot if things seem stubborn, and don’t forget to verify game files if the problems stick around.
Summary
- Close FiveM first — no exceptions.
- Jump to %localappdata%, find FiveM.
- Navigate inside FiveM Application Data > data.
- Delete cache, server cache, and server priv.
- If you prefer, use in-game Settings to clear cache.
- Re-launch and troubleshoot if needed.
Final thought
This method is kind of weird, but on one machine it worked perfectly right away, on another I had to do it twice. Windows can make this kinda messy sometimes. Hopefully, this helps someone avoid those annoying lag days or long load waits. Good luck, and may your server runs be smooth from now on!