Apps
Composer Cache
Composer stores downloaded PHP package metadata and distribution archives in a local cache so dependency resolution and installs do not need to fetch every package from Packagist, VCS mirrors, or other repositories each time. That cache typically includes repository metadata JSON, provider listings, ZIP or TAR distribution archives, and cloned source checkouts reused for installs and updates. Kudu removes these cached package files and indexes without touching your projects, composer.json, composer.lock, authentication settings, or installed dependencies.
Why clean Composer Cache?
- Corrupted cached ZIP or TAR dist archives can make composer install or composer update fail with extraction errors, checksum mismatches, or repeated download retries
- Stale repository metadata and provider JSON can keep Composer resolving against outdated package information, showing confusing version conflicts or missing releases that already exist upstream
- A large cache full of old package archives and mirrored source checkouts can consume several gigabytes, which users notice as shrinking free disk space on development machines and CI runners
- Interrupted downloads can leave partial files in the cache, causing repeated failures on the same package until the bad archive is removed and Composer fetches a clean copy
- When private repository URLs or mirrored package sources change, cached metadata may keep pointing Composer at old endpoints, leading to 404 errors, authentication prompts, or slow fallback attempts
- Composer cache directories that have grown through years of package churn can make cache scans and cleanup slower, which shows up as longer startup and dependency resolution before downloads even begin
- If SQLite-backed metadata used by related tooling in a PHP workflow has become fragmented, a VACUUM-style rebuild rewrites pages without deleting rows, reducing wasted space and improving locality; users typically notice smaller cache footprints and less sluggish metadata access
What gets cleaned
Cache paths Kudu targets
Windows
%LocalAppData%/Composer/cache |
macOS
~/Library/Caches/composer |
Linux
~/.cache/composer |
Frequently asked
Common questions about Composer Cache
Related cleaners
Free & open source
Download Kudu and reclaim your disk space.
Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. No account required, no feature gates, no telemetry without consent. All cleaning targets are open source and community-auditable.