Apps
VS Code
VS Code stores several layers of Chromium and Electron cache data so the workbench, webviews, extensions, and GPU-accelerated UI start quickly between sessions. These include HTTP disk cache files in Cache_Data, V8 compiled script caches in Code Cache and CachedData, GPU shader and rendering state in GPUCache, cached extension payloads in CachedExtensions, and rotating diagnostic logs in logs; Kudu removes those rebuildable files without touching your projects, settings, extensions you installed, accounts, or saved credentials.
Why clean VS Code?
- Stale Chromium HTTP cache in Cache_Data can leave webviews showing old content or broken styling, so extension panels like Markdown preview or embedded sign-in pages may load incorrectly until the cache is cleared
- Invalidated V8 bytecode in Code Cache or CachedData after a VS Code or Electron update can cause unusually slow first launch, high CPU during startup, or repeated recompilation of the same UI scripts
- Old GPUCache entries from a graphics driver update can conflict with newly generated shaders, leading to black windows, flickering menus, blank editor surfaces, or laggy scrolling until the GPU cache is rebuilt
- CachedExtensions can accumulate outdated extension package data, which may leave an extension stuck activating the wrong build, missing assets, or repeatedly redownloading support files on launch
- Large logs folders keep renderer, extension host, and update diagnostics from past sessions, and when they pile up users typically notice growing AppData or Application Support usage and slower troubleshooting because recent logs are buried in old ones
- Corrupted cache files in Electron's disk cache can trigger endless loading spinners in Settings Sync, authentication popups that do not finish rendering, or marketplace panes that fail to populate even though your network works
- After clearing rebuildable caches, VS Code recreates only what it needs, which often resolves mysterious UI glitches without deleting source code, workspace history, user settings, keybindings, or passwords
What gets cleaned
Cache paths Kudu targets
Windows
%AppData%/Code/Cache/Cache_Data |
%AppData%/Code/Code Cache |
%AppData%/Code/GPUCache |
%AppData%/Code/CachedData |
%AppData%/Code/CachedExtensions |
%AppData%/Code/logs |
macOS
~/Library/Application Support/Code/Cache/Cache_Data |
~/Library/Application Support/Code/CachedData |
Linux
~/.config/Code/Cache/Cache_Data |
~/.config/Code/CachedData |
Frequently asked
Common questions about VS Code
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.