Apps
GitHub Desktop
Built on Electron, GitHub Desktop stores Chromium disk cache entries for web content, V8 code cache files for precompiled JavaScript on macOS, and GPUCache data such as Skia and shader-related blobs used to render its interface. Those caches speed up repository views, authentication screens, diff rendering, and other embedded web UI, but they can become stale after app or graphics driver changes. Kudu removes only these temporary cache folders so GitHub Desktop can rebuild them cleanly, without touching repositories, accounts, preferences, or saved credentials.
Why it matters
Why clean GitHub Desktop?
- Invalidated V8 code cache after a GitHub Desktop update can make the first launch unusually slow while Electron recompiles scripts and rebuilds the interface cache
- Corrupted Chromium disk cache entries can leave parts of the sign-in or repository UI stuck blank, partially loaded, or endlessly refreshing
- A bloated Cache_Data folder can consume hundreds of megabytes with old web assets, so cleaning recovers disk space when the app itself seems larger than expected
- Stale GPUCache data from a previous graphics driver version can cause flickering, black panels, or sluggish redraws in commit history and diff views until the cache is regenerated
- Outdated cached frontend assets can make buttons, avatars, or repository metadata render inconsistently after an app update even though the underlying repo data is fine
- Damaged cache files can trigger odd Electron behavior such as a white window on startup or missing interface sections, while clearing them forces a fresh local copy of temporary UI resources
What gets cleaned
Cache paths Kudu targets
Windows
%AppData%/GitHub Desktop/Cache/Cache_Data |
%AppData%/GitHub Desktop/GPUCache |
macOS
~/Library/Application Support/GitHub Desktop/Cache/Cache_Data |
~/Library/Application Support/GitHub Desktop/Code Cache |
~/Library/Application Support/GitHub Desktop/GPUCache |
Frequently asked
Common questions about GitHub Desktop
Related cleaners
Free & open source
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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.