Microsoft Edge WebView2 Caches
Many Windows apps embed Microsoft Edge WebView2 to render web content, and each WebView2 runtime profile builds browser-style caches such as HTTP disk cache entries, compiled JavaScript and WebAssembly code cache, GPUCache data, shader cache blobs, and custom dictionary files for spellcheck. These files speed up page loads, scripting, and GPU rendering inside embedded sign-in windows, settings panes, chats, dashboards, and other app surfaces, but they can become stale after runtime, app, or graphics driver changes. Kudu removes only those WebView2 cache directories from bounded locations under Local AppData, while leaving cookies, active sessions, IndexedDB, Local Storage, service worker storage, offline content, settings, accounts, and passwords untouched.
Why clean Microsoft Edge WebView2 Caches?
- Corrupted HTTP cache entries in an embedded WebView2 surface can make a sign-in page or app dashboard load with missing CSS or broken scripts, showing blank panes, unstyled text, or buttons that do nothing until the cache is rebuilt
- Invalidated V8 and WebAssembly compiled code cache after a WebView2 runtime or app update often causes slow first launch of embedded web views, repeated recompilation, or script errors that disappear after clearing cached bytecode
- Stale GPUCache data from a previous graphics driver version can conflict with the current driver and lead to black panels, flickering embedded pages, or choppy scrolling in apps that rely on hardware-accelerated WebView2 content
- Old shader cache blobs can force WebView2 to rebuild rendering pipelines at the wrong time, which users notice as stutter the first time animated charts, maps, or video-heavy panes open inside an app
- An oversized disk cache under Local AppData can consume hundreds of megabytes across multiple apps using WebView2, leaving users wondering why app storage keeps growing even though their documents and profiles are unchanged
- Damaged custom dictionary cache files can cause spellcheck suggestions in WebView2 text fields to stop appearing or to underline common words incorrectly in chat boxes, note fields, and web forms embedded in desktop apps
Cache paths Kudu targets
Windows
%LocalAppData% |
Common questions about Microsoft Edge WebView2 Caches
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