GPU Cache
NVIDIA Shader Cache
NVIDIA’s shader cache stores compiled GPU pipeline data on disk so games and graphics apps do not have to recompile the same shaders every launch. These folders can contain OpenGL program binaries in GLCache, DirectX shader and pipeline cache entries in DXCache, and Vulkan or driver-level cache blobs in NV_Cache, all tied to a particular game build, driver version, and GPU state. Kudu removes those cached shader blobs and pipeline entries so stale or corrupted cache files can be rebuilt automatically, without touching save data, game settings, accounts, or passwords.
Why it matters
Why clean NVIDIA Shader Cache?
- Driver updates can invalidate old DXCache and NV_Cache entries, causing stutter, hitching, or a long first match while shaders are recompiled against the new driver
- Corrupted OpenGL binaries in GLCache can trigger black textures, missing effects, or repeated shader compilation pauses every time a game loads the same area
- Per-driver-version DirectX cache folders can accumulate outdated entries after multiple NVIDIA updates, wasting gigabytes of disk space with no benefit to current games
- Stale pipeline cache blobs after a game patch can cause unusually long loading screens, traversal hitching, or frame-time spikes until the cache is rebuilt
- If the cache contains bad compiled variants for a specific title, you may see one game stutter badly while others run normally because only that title’s shader cache is affected
- Cache directories shared across many games can fill with obsolete shader data, leading to oversized AppData and ProgramData folders and slower cache lookups during launches
- Removing the cache forces a clean rebuild of compiled shader data, which often fixes persistent micro-stutter after driver changes, graphics setting changes, or major game updates
What gets cleaned
Cache paths Kudu targets
Windows
%LocalAppData%/NVIDIA/GLCache |
%LocalAppData%/NVIDIA/DXCache |
%LocalAppData%/NVIDIA Corporation/NV_Cache |
%ProgramData%/NVIDIA Corporation/NV_Cache |
~/AppData/LocalLow/NVIDIA/DXCache |
~/AppData/LocalLow/NVIDIA/PerDriverVersion/DXCache |
Frequently asked
Common questions about NVIDIA Shader Cache
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.