How to Clear Excel Cache on Windows 10 Step-by-Step Guide

Clearing the Excel cache on Windows 10 helps resolve performance issues, refresh data connections, and fix problems caused by outdated or corrupted cached files. This process can improve Excel’s responsiveness, reduce file loading errors, and ensure that the most recent data is being displayed. Before you begin, it’s important to save your work and close all Excel files to avoid losing any unsaved changes.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 computer with Microsoft Excel installed
• Administrator access may be required for some cache clearing methods
• Basic familiarity with navigating Windows File Explorer and Excel settings

Step-by-Step

1. Close all Excel workbooks and exit Excel completely. Make sure no Excel processes are running by checking the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and ending any Excel.exe tasks.
2. Clear the Excel temporary files folder:
   1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
   2. Type %temp% and press Enter to open the Temporary Files folder.
   3. Look for files and folders starting with Excel or related to Excel and delete them. You can also select all files here and delete them, but be cautious if other applications are using temp files.
3. Clear the Office Document Cache:
   1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\15.0\OfficeFileCache (the number may vary depending on your Office version, e.g., 16.0 for Office 2016/2019/365).
   2. Delete all files inside this folder to clear cached Office documents.
4. Clear Excel’s cache related to PivotTables:
   1. Open the Excel workbook containing your PivotTables.
   2. Click on any PivotTable, then go to the PivotTable Analyze tab on the Ribbon.
   3. Click Options, then under the Data tab, uncheck Save source data with file and check Refresh data when opening the file.
   4. Save and close the workbook. This reduces cache size and forces a refresh on open.
5. Clear the Excel startup cache:
   1. Press Windows Key + R, type excel /safe, and press Enter to start Excel in Safe Mode.
   2. If Excel opens normally in Safe Mode, disable COM add-ins one by one by going to File > Options > Add-ins, selecting COM Add-ins from the Manage dropdown, and clicking Go. Uncheck add-ins and restart Excel normally.
6. Clear the cache for Data Connections:
   1. Open Excel and go to Data > Queries & Connections.
   2. Right-click any connection and select Properties.
   3. In the Usage tab, uncheck Enable background refresh and click Clear Permissions if available.
   4. Refresh the connection to force new data to load.
7. Clear Excel Cache via Registry (advanced users only):
   1. Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
   2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel\Options (adjust version number as needed).
   3. Look for keys related to cache or temporary files and delete them or reset their values to default.
   4. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer.

   Note: Editing the registry can cause serious system issues if done incorrectly. Always back up the registry before making changes.
8. Restart your computer. This ensures all cache files are fully cleared and any locked files are released.

Common Mistakes

• Deleting essential Excel files or system files by mistake when clearing temporary folders.
• Forgetting to close Excel completely before attempting to clear cache, causing files to remain locked.
• Not backing up important workbooks before clearing cache, leading to potential data loss.
• Attempting to clear cache without proper permissions, resulting in errors or incomplete clearing.
• Confusing Excel’s cache with browser cache or Windows system cache, which do not affect Excel’s performance directly.

Tips

• Regularly save and back up your Excel files before performing maintenance tasks like cache clearing.
• Use Excel’s built-in refresh options for data connections and PivotTables to minimize cache issues.
• Keep your Office installation updated to benefit from performance improvements and bug fixes.
• Consider using Excel’s Safe Mode to diagnose if add-ins or customizations are causing cache-related problems.
• Clearing Excel cache can help with performance but might temporarily slow down opening workbooks as data reloads fresh.
• Use disk cleanup tools cautiously; they may delete temporary files but won’t clear all Excel-specific caches.

Troubleshooting

If clearing the Excel cache does not resolve your issues, consider the following steps:

• Excel still slow or unresponsive: Disable all add-ins and test Excel performance. Sometimes, add-ins cause caching conflicts.
• Cache files won’t delete: Ensure Excel is completely closed and no background Excel.exe processes are running. Restart the PC and try again.
• Data not refreshing after clearing cache: Check that data connections are configured to refresh on open. Manually refresh queries and PivotTables.
• Error messages related to cache or temp files: Run Microsoft Office repair via Control Panel > Programs > Microsoft Office > Change > Repair.
• Registry changes causing instability: Restore the registry backup or use System Restore to revert to a previous state.
• Excel crashes on startup: Try starting Excel in Safe Mode by running excel /safe and disable problematic add-ins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to clear Excel’s cache?

Clearing the cache helps fix issues like slow performance, outdated data displays, and errors caused by corrupted cached files.

Does clearing Excel cache delete my files?

No, clearing cache removes temporary and cached data but does not delete your saved Excel workbooks or documents.

How often should I clear Excel cache?

Only clear the cache when you experience problems or after major updates. Frequent clearing is usually unnecessary.

Can clearing cache fix PivotTable errors?

Yes, clearing the cache and refreshing PivotTables can resolve errors related to outdated or corrupted source data caches.

Is it safe to delete files from the Temp folder?

Generally yes, but make sure Excel and other programs are closed to avoid deleting files currently in use.

Will clearing cache improve Excel speed?

It can improve performance if cache files are corrupted or too large, but other factors like file size and system resources also affect speed.

By following these steps and tips, you can effectively clear the Excel cache on your Windows 10 PC, helping to maintain smooth operation and up-to-date data in your spreadsheets.

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