Unity Shader Cache
Unity stores compiled shader variants, GPU pipeline state data, and editor cache artifacts on disk so projects and the Editor do not have to recompile every shader permutation on every launch. Those cache files grow as different render pipelines, graphics APIs, platforms, and driver-specific shader binaries accumulate, and they can become stale after Unity upgrades, graphics driver changes, or project pipeline switches. Kudu removes Unity's cached shader data from the standard cache folders so Unity can rebuild clean copies the next time you open a project, without touching project assets, source files, preferences, accounts, or passwords.
Why clean Unity Shader Cache?
- Driver update invalidation leaves old GPU-specific shader cache entries behind, which often shows up as pink materials, black scene view surfaces, or hitching while Unity recompiles shaders on demand
- Switching between Built-in, URP, and HDRP can leave obsolete compiled variants in the cache, leading to unusually long project import times and repeated 'Compiling Shaders' progress bars on startup
- Corrupted shader cache blobs can make the Editor stall at project open or freeze when entering Play Mode, then recover only after Unity forces a full shader rebuild
- Large accumulated variant caches from multiple projects and target platforms consume several gigabytes, which users notice as shrinking free disk space and slower antivirus scans of the cache folder
- Stale pipeline state and shader binaries after a Unity version change can cause scene view flicker, missing post-processing effects, or inconsistent rendering between the Editor and Game view
- Cache cleanup helps when platform switches between Direct3D, Vulkan, Metal, or OpenGL leave mismatched compiled artifacts that trigger shader warmup spikes and frame stutter in the Editor
- As cached files are created and replaced over time, the cache database and backing files can become fragmented; cleaning lets Unity rewrite a compact cache from live entries only, similar to how SQLite VACUUM rewrites pages without deleting your actual project rows or assets
Cache paths Kudu targets
Windows
%LocalAppData%/Unity/cache |
macOS
~/Library/Caches/com.unity3d.UnityEditor |
Linux
~/.cache/unity3d |
Common questions about Unity Shader Cache
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.