Microsoft Teams stores temporary files and application data locally to improve performance and reduce repeated loading time every time. However, the stored local Teams cache data sometimes becomes inconsistent, and what happens is that Teams freezes, doesn’t load, displays older information, etc.
To fix such issues, you can clear Teams cache data to improve and restore Teams performance, but this involves different processes for New Teams and Classic Teams, and the Teams cache location also varies between Windows and macOS.
When Should You Clear Teams Cache? Real-Time Scenarios
You can consider clearing Teams cache when:
- Teams has a loading issue or takes unusually long to start.
- The desktop app freezes or becomes unresponsive while working on it.
- Chats or channels and notifications do not refresh correctly.
- Teams displays outdated messages and information.
- Teams on the web works well while the desktop Teams lags.
- Problems remain after restarting Teams multiple times.
| Note: What you must do is before clearing anything, test the same account in Teams on the web. If the web version works normally, the problem is more likely related to the local Teams client or its stored data. |
How to Clear Teams Cache on Windows?
To clear the cache in Microsoft 365 Teams on Windows, you can use the Windows Settings reset method or manually delete cache folders using the Run command. The detailed way to delete Teams cache on Windows is given below:
Clear Teams Cache Data using Run Command
To clear Teams cache using the Run command, first Quit the Quit Microsoft Teams completely. After that, follow the steps:
- Press the Windows Key + R, and paste the path below in the Run dialog box. Hit Enter
- Paste the following path and press Enter:
%userprofile%\appdata\local\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams - Select all files and folders inside this folder (Ctrl + A) and delete them.
The Teams cache will be deleted. Restart Microsoft Teams.
Reset Teams App to Clear Cache Data
You can also reset the Teams app to delete cache data. But do remember that you may need to login Teams again. Here are the steps to reset the Teams application on Windows:
- Open Windows Settings, go to Apps, then tap on Installed apps.
- Search for Microsoft Teams, tap on More options (…), then select Advanced options.
- Select Reset and start Teams again.
How to Clear Teams Cache on Mac?
To clear Teams cache on Mac, you need to reset the application. Follow the steps for the same:
- Close your Microsoft Teams first (press Command + Q).
- Go to Finder, then Applications > Utilities, and open Termina
- Paste the command given below:
- rm -rf ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.com.microsoft.teams
- rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.teams2
Now open your Teams application and sign in again
| To clear classic Teams cache data, quit Teams, open Terminal, and run: rm -r ~/Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft/Teams |
Once done, press Return and restart your Teams application.
What to Do When Clearing Teams Cache Does Not Work
Maybe the problem continues after clearing the cache, not because of local cached data. The reasons might be different. Try these checks when clearing the Teams cache doesn’t help:
- Test Teams in a web browser-based login environment.
- Update the Teams application if outdated.
- Restart the computer and check for network connectivity.
- Contact other Teams users to look for the same problem.
- Check Microsoft 365 service health to check for server outage.
- Review organizational security or endpoint policies defined by the admin.
If Teams works properly on the web but not in the desktop client, check out the local application, its configuration, or the endpoint environment.
Backup Teams data to Add Another Security Layer
The difference between deleting cache data and real data is huge. When you delete real data, your business data (chats, channels, etc.) is at risk but if you clear Teams cache, it only removes local application data used by Teams, not the business data.
Often, the Teams application continues to lag after even clearing Teams cache. In such situations, all access to Teams data gets disrupted.
However, no one wants to lose important Teams data like chat and channel conversations, files, posts, etc. Individuals or even organizations that need an independent copy of Teams data for recovery, retention, or business continuity should use an appropriate Teams backup tool as part of their Microsoft 365 data-protection strategy.
Last Say
We hope you understood how to clear Teams cache data on Windows and Mac. You can easily follow the methods given above, depending on the system you are using.
Before deleting the Teams cache data, you must follow the primary step, which is to test Teams on the web to check whether it is server side issue or device specific issue. Once you know the real cause, act accordingly.
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