How to Change Google Chrome Cache Location in Windows

Google Chrome, like many other web browsers, stores cached files to improve the speed and performance of website loading. However, these cached files can take up a significant amount of disk space over time. If you’re running low on disk space, or simply want to organize your files better, you may want to change the location where Google Chrome stores its cache files. In this article, we’ll discuss two methods to change the Google Chrome cache location in Windows 11 or Windows 10.

Also see: How to Change Windows Update Download Location

How to Change Google Chrome Cache Location in Windows 11 10

Page Contents

Why would you want to change the Chrome cache location?

By default, Google Chrome stores its cache files in the following location on Windows 11/10:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache

Here, “username” should be replaced with your Windows username. The cache files include images, scripts, and other data that Chrome saves from the websites you visit. Storing these files helps to improve the speed and performance of website loading times.

Where does Chrome store cache in Windows 11

However, there are several reasons why users might want to change the location of the Chrome cache:

Save space on system drive: The cache files can take up a significant amount of space on your system drive. If you’re running low on disk space, you might want to move the cache to another drive with more available space.
Improve performance: If you have a faster disk (such as an SSD) available, you can move the cache to that disk to improve the performance of Chrome. The cache files are used to store website data so that the browser can load the pages more quickly when you visit them again. If the cache is stored on a faster disk, this can result in quicker page load times.
Avoid SSD wear and tear: If you’re using an SSD as your system drive, you might want to move the cache to a different disk to avoid unnecessary wear and tear on the SSD. The cache files are frequently written to and deleted, which can reduce the lifespan of an SSD over time.
Organization: Some users prefer to keep their system drive clean and organized. Changing the cache location allows you to store the cache files in a different location that is more convenient for you.
Data security: In some cases, users might want to store the cache files in a location that is more secure or has additional backup options.

By changing the location of the Chrome cache, you can have more control over where your data is stored and how it is managed. This can lead to a better browsing experience and a more efficient use of disk space.

Recommended read: What Files Can You Delete from C: Drive to Free Up Space?

Method 1: Changing Chrome cache location using command line

The first method involves appending a specific command line to the “Target” field in the properties menu of your Google Chrome shortcut. Additionally, you will need to incorporate the same command line into the “Value data” of the “Default” key within the Chrome’s “Command” key in the registry editor.

Step 1: Adding a command line to Chrome’s shortcut properties

First, you need to locate the Chrome shortcut that you use to open the browser. This could be on your desktop, taskbar, or Start menu.

Desktop shortcut:
1. Right-click on the Chrome icon on your desktop.
2. Select “Properties”.
3. In the “Target” field, add the following command line at the end of the existing text:
```
--disk-cache-dir="E:\ChromeCache"
```
4. It should look something like this:
```
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --disk-cache-dir="E:\ChromeCache"
```
5. Click “OK” to save the changes.
Taskbar shortcut:
1. If you launch Chrome from the taskbar, right-click on the Chrome icon in the taskbar.
2. Right-click on “Google Chrome” in the list and select “Properties”.
3. Follow the same steps as above to add the command line to the “Target” field.
Start menu shortcut:
1. If you launch Chrome from the Start menu, search for Chrome and right-click on it.
2. Select “Open file location”.
3. Right-click on the Chrome shortcut and select “Properties”.
4. Follow the same steps as above to add the command line to the “Target” field.

Step 2: Append the same command line in Registry Editor

After updating the Chrome shortcut properties, the next step is to ensure that Chrome uses the new cache location every time you open it, regardless of how you launch the browser. This is done by appending the command line to the Windows Registry Editor. It is crucial that the directory location specified in this step is identical to the one you specified in step 1. If the locations do not match, Chrome may not be able to load pages from the new cache location.

Before proceeding with the following steps, it’s important to note that editing the Windows Registry can be risky. Incorrect changes can lead to system errors or prevent Windows from starting. It is highly recommended that you create a system restore point before making any changes to the registry. This will allow you to revert your system back to its previous state should anything go wrong.

Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type “regedit” and press Enter to open the Windows Registry Editor.

Navigate to the following path:

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ChromeHTML\shell\open\command

Right-click on the “Default” key and select “Modify”.

In the “Value data” field, add the following command line at the end of the existing text:

--disk-cache-dir="E:\ChromeCache"

It should look something like this:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --disk-cache-dir="E:\ChromeCache" --single-argument %1

How to change chrome default cache location

Click “OK” to save the changes.

Pro tip: How to Copy Chrome User Profile to Another Profile

Step 3: Restart Google Chrome

After making the changes, you need to close all open Chrome windows.
Wait for a few seconds and then reopen Chrome.
The changes will now take effect and Chrome will start using the new cache location that you have specified.

Please note that the changes will only apply to the Chrome shortcut that you have edited. If you launch Chrome using a different shortcut, you will need to repeat the steps above for that specific shortcut.

Method 2: Changing Chrome cache location using symbolic link

This method involves locating the current cache folder of Chrome, deleting it, and then creating a symbolic link to a new cache folder on your desired disk. Here are the steps:

Find current Chrome cache folder:
- Open Google Chrome.
- Type chrome://version in the address bar and press “Enter”.
- Note the “Profile Path” which shows the location where Chrome saves its files. It should look something like this:
```
C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
```
Delete Current Cache Folder:
- Open “My PC” or “File Explorer”.
- Navigate to the profile path you noted earlier.
- In the “Default” folder, locate the “Cache” folder.
- Right-click on the “Cache” folder and select “Delete”.
Create New Cache Folder:
- Navigate to the disk where you want to store the Chrome cache files.
- Create a new folder for the cache. For example, you can create a folder named “ChromeCache” on disk E, so the path would be:
```
E:\ChromeCache
```
Create Symbolic Link:
- Type “cmd” in the Start menu.
- Right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator”.
- In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press “Enter”:
```
mklink /D "C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache" "E:\ChromeCache"
```
  Make sure to replace the paths with the correct ones for your system.
- A symbolic link named “Cache” will be created in the “Default” folder, pointing to the new cache folder on disk E.

Now, when you open Chrome, it will store its cache files in the new location you specified. This can be useful if you want to save space on your C drive or if you want to store the cache files on a faster disk.

Final thoughts

Changing the location of Google Chrome’s cache can be beneficial for users who want to save space on their system drive or improve browser performance by storing cache files on a faster disk. If you want to undo the changes made in Method 1, simply remove the “–disk-cache-dir” command line from the Chrome shortcuts and the registry key.

For Method 2, if you want to revert the changes, delete the symbolic link created in the “Default” folder, and then recreate the “Cache” folder in the original location. This will restore the default cache location for Google Chrome. By following these steps, you can easily manage the location of your Chrome cache files to best suit your needs.