How To Clear NVIDIA Cache to Resolve Game Stuttering on Windows

Dealing with game stutters can be so frustrating, especially when you’re trying to get some serious gaming done. The common culprit? Sometimes it’s just your NVIDIA shader cache going haywire. Over time, this cache can get corrupted or just cluttered, causing those annoying hiccups during gameplay. Trust me, deleting or resetting this cache has been a game-changer in smoothening things out. It’s kind of weird, but once cleaned, many users notice a significant drop in lag spikes and stuttering. This is especially true if you’ve been updating drivers or changing graphical settings a lot.

If things are feeling choppy, here’s what you might want to try—starting with clearing out that cache. Usually, it’s a simple process, but Windows sometimes makes it weirdly complicated. The steps below are straightforward, though, so brace for some folder browsing and command line action. Just keep in mind, this is more about fixing micro-stutters — if your game still performs poorly, probably time for a driver update or checking background apps.

How to Fix Nvidia Shader Cache Stuttering in Windows

Method 1: Delete the NVIDIA DXCache and GLCache Folders

This is kind of a superstition among gamers. The cache files stored in these folders sometimes get corrupted or become outdated, leading to performance hiccups. Deleting them forces your system to rebuild fresh shader data, which can smooth out those jitters. This trick applies if you’re noticing stutters suddenly popping up, even after updating drivers. Usually, after clearing these, gaming feels way snappier — or at least, less choppy.

1. Press Windows + R to open Run. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. Then type in %localappdata%/Nvidia and hit Enter.
2. Look for folders named DXCache and GLCache. They store cached shader info that gets heavy over time.
3. Select both folders, right-click, and pick Delete. Confirm when prompted, because Windows likes to make sure you really want to nuke those caches.
4. Watch your system delete those files, then give your PC a quick restart. Sometimes, on a struggling setup, you might need to do this a couple of times or restart your game/PC to see the real difference.

Method 2: Use the Disk Cleanup Tool

This old-school utility isn’t just about freeing up disk space; it also clears some of those hidden caches, including the DirectX shader cache. If your game stutters randomly or has performance dips, clearing the cache with Disk Clean-up can refresh how Windows and your GPU communicate. Still, don’t expect miracles — but it’s an easy step that sometimes surprisingly helps.

1. Open Disk Clean-up by searching for it in the Start menu. If you don’t see it, you might need to enable it from Optional Features in Windows.
2. Choose your main drive, typically C:, where all the magic happens.
3. Click OK and wait for the scan to estimate how much space to free — this can take a second or two.
4. Check the box next to DirectX Shader Cache. You can also select other junk files if you want, but this one is the main target for gaming stutters.
5. Hit OK to run the clean-up, then restart your PC once it’s done. Sometimes the cache refresh isn’t instant, so give it a few minutes or try launching your game afterward.

Method 3: Update NVIDIA Graphics Drivers

Old or buggy driver versions are a common cause for performance hiccups. Gaming developers often release updates that not only fix bugs but also optimize performance. Keeping your NVIDIA drivers fresh can sometimes fix stuttering issues without any cache clearing needed. I’ve seen this fix work on multiple setups — on some, just updating drivers is enough to smooth everything out, while others needed a combo of cache clearing too.

1. Open your browser and head over to the NVIDIA Driver Download page.
2. Use the Manual Driver Search form: select your GPU model, OS, and language, then click Find.
3. Download the latest driver that appears. When it’s ready, click View beside the version number, then hit Download.
4. Once downloaded, run the installer. Choose Custom (Advanced) — this gives you options for a clean setup. Check Perform a clean installation before hitting next. It wipes old driver leftovers, reducing weird conflicts.
5. Finish the setup and reboot your PC. If the stuttering on your game is still persistent after this, maybe try a clean install with a tool like Display Driver Uninstaller for that extra clean slate.

Honestly, updating drivers might not always fix everything — but it’s a solid first move in troubleshooting performance issues like stutters. Because, why not?