Corsten´s cache & shader removal tool

Clearing cache but dont know, where to look for? I got solution for you: Corsten´s cache & shader removal tool: https://flightsim.to/file/71729/corsten-s-cache-shader-removal-tool

VBS -scripts are made by help of ChatGPT. Tool has been tested and works good with steam & store versions. Tested also with Nvidia and AMD graphics cards. If you dont want to trust this code made by AI, you can manually delete those cache folders that i have listed in this post.

What is the point to clean your MSFS cache and GPU drivers shader cache?

  • MSFS cache and shader cache makes MSFS run less smoother, when cache arent cleaned for a while.
  • Specialy Sim updates and world updates makes MSFS run less smoother because of incombatible cache files.
  • New GPU graphics drives could also make a diffrence in smoothness, so shader cache and MSFS cache is recodemmend to be cleaned with these tools after GPU driver update.

Shader cache removal tool

  • This script will move shader cache folders to desktop and creates a folder and ‘cache_locations.txt’ file inside of that folder.
  • with that cache_locations.txt you can see, where the tool did move cache. Basicly it is a backup.
  • Make sure to disable shader cache in Nvidia Control Panel, otherwise, all the shaders won’t be cleaned.
  • If there is problems with moving, try to restart pc and try again. Cache folders might be in use by some process.

MSFS cache removal tool

  • This script will move MSFS cache folders to desktop and creates a folder and ‘cache_locations.txt’ file inside of that folder.
  • with that cache_locations.txt you can see, where the tool did move cache. Basicly it is a backup.
  • If there is problems with moving, try to restart pc and try again. Cache MSFS folders might be in use by some process.

Here are the locations, tools are looking for:

Shader Cache locations:

  • C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\D3DSCache
  • C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\NVIDIA\GLCache
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\shadercache\
  • C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\NVIDIA\ComputeCache
  • C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\LocalLow\NVIDIA\PerDriverVersion\DXCache
  • C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\LocalLow\NVIDIA\PerDriverVersion\GLCache
  • C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\AMD\DxCache

MSFS cache locations:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\MicrosoftFlightSimulator\cache
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\cache
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\SceneryCache
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\SceneryIndexes
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\DCE

C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\SceneryCache
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\SceneryIndexes
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\cache
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\DCE

9 Likes

Interesting, and potentially very useful.
I’m going to give it a try. Manually deleting those cache files is a pain.

I’d just add one recommendation: After you disable Shader Cache in NvCP, and before proceeding with the cache clearing, reboot the computer.

Ok, i will change that to installation instructions.

2 Likes

I used your tool for the first time the other day. I changed nVidia drivers from 537.67 to the new 556.62.

Thank you for writing this tool. Saved me a lot of time and headache, and it worked perfectly. I recommend it to everyone when changing drivers, and also (as you point out in the instructions) after System Updates.

1 Like

Agreed. A great tool indeed!

And why should all those caches be cleared?
What would be the advantages?

To clear out any old or corrupt shaders which have been known to cause graphic issues. Best to clear them out and start fresh when updating video drivers to avoid incompatibilities.

Do you think that Nvidia
/AMD are fully aware of such potentials but are incapable of doing anything about it if they felt it made a difference?

1 Like

I have updated this addon to be 2024 combatible. Also updated Nvidia driver cache locations.

https://flightsim.to/file/71729/corsten-s-cache-shader-removal-tool

2 Likes

Excellent! Thank you.