Microsoft Edge
Built on Chromium, Microsoft Edge writes several local stores under its User Data folder to speed up browsing and site rendering. These include HTTP disk cache entries, Code Cache bytecode for JavaScript and WebAssembly, GPUCache shader and rendering artifacts, Service Worker caches, media caches, and SQLite-backed history and site data databases with WAL and journal files. Kudu clears disposable cache data and can compact fragmented SQLite databases so Edge keeps bookmarks, saved passwords, settings, and signed-in accounts intact.
Why clean Microsoft Edge?
- Corrupted HTTP disk cache entries can make pages load with missing styles, broken images, or an old version of a site even after a hard refresh
- Invalidated Code Cache bytecode after an Edge or site update often causes a noticeably slow first launch of web apps until JavaScript and WebAssembly caches rebuild
- Stale GPUCache data after a graphics driver update can trigger black tabs, flickering video, or jerky scrolling because Chromium must discard incompatible shader artifacts
- Oversized Service Worker and media caches can keep streaming sites or PWAs using outdated offline assets, which shows up as pages stuck on old content or playback that fails repeatedly
- A bloated cache folder can consume multiple gigabytes under the profile directory, leaving users wondering why Edge storage keeps growing despite clearing normal browsing history
- SQLite history and site storage databases accumulate free pages and fragmentation over time; VACUUM rewrites them into a compact file without deleting rows, which can reduce disk usage and improve responsiveness when opening history-heavy profiles
Cache paths Kudu targets
These databases are vacuumed (compacted) — no data is deleted. SQLite VACUUM reclaims wasted space left over from normal usage.
Windows
%LocalAppData%/Microsoft/Edge/User Data |
macOS
~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft Edge |
Linux
~/.config/microsoft-edge |
Common questions about Microsoft Edge
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.