# Clearing the FiveM cache

> Clear FiveM cache safely: where the Application Data folder is, which folders to delete and which to keep, fixing component errors, and the server-side cache.

Source: https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-clear-cache · FAM Tools · published 2026-09-11 · updated 2026-09-11 · about 7 min

**Short answer.** Close FiveM, open the FiveM Application Data folder (right-click the FiveM shortcut → Open file location, or `%localappdata%\FiveM\FiveM.app`), go into `data`, and delete `cache`, `server-cache` and `server-cache-priv`. Keep `game-storage`, which holds downloaded game build data. Server owners can also stop the server and delete the server’s `cache` folder to force a clean rebuild of resource files.

## Key points

- Close FiveM completely first.
- Delete: `data/cache`, `data/server-cache`, `data/server-cache-priv`.
- Keep: `data/game-storage`.
- “Error loading component … .dll”: delete `caches.xml`.
- Server side: stop the server, delete its `cache` folder.

Clearing the cache is the classic first step for textures that will not update, crashes on join and odd loading problems. Done right it takes a minute and costs nothing but a re-download of server files. Done wrong — deleting everything — it forces FiveM to download gigabytes of game data again.

## Finding the folder

1. Close FiveM (check Task Manager for leftover FiveM processes).
2. Right-click the FiveM shortcut → Open file location, or press Win + R and enter `%localappdata%\FiveM\FiveM.app`.
3. Open the `data` folder.

## What to delete and what to keep

| Folder | Contains | Delete? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `cache` | General client cache | Yes |
| `server-cache` | Downloaded server resources | Yes |
| `server-cache-priv` | Private server resource cache | Yes |
| `game-storage` | Downloaded game build data | No — re-downloading is large |

Start FiveM again; servers will re-download their resources on the next join.

## Specific errors

*From Cfx.re’s client issues documentation.*

| Error | Official fix |
| --- | --- |
| Error loading component xyz.dll | Delete `caches.xml` in the FiveM Application Data folder (or the whole folder if it is missing) |
| Stuck on a rotating splash screen | Delete `%appdata%\citizenfx\ros_id.dat` and `%localappdata%\digitalentitlements` |
| Opening database (privcache:/) failed | Another FiveM process is running — close it |

## Server-side cache

FXServer keeps a `cache` folder in the server data directory with processed resource files. If players keep getting an old version of an asset after an update, stop the server, delete that `cache` folder and start again. It is rebuilt automatically.

## For server owners: avoid needing it

If players often need to clear cache after your updates, you are probably replacing assets with identical names and sizes in ways that confuse caching, or streaming conflicting copies of the same file. Keep one copy of each asset and restart the resource properly after changes — see [texture optimisation](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-texture-optimization).

## Questions

### How do I clear my FiveM cache?

Close FiveM, open `%localappdata%\FiveM\FiveM.app\data` and delete `cache`, `server-cache` and `server-cache-priv`.

### Should I delete game-storage?

No. It holds downloaded game build data and is large to re-download.

### Is it safe to clear FiveM cache?

Yes. Servers simply re-download their files on the next join.

### How do I fix “Error loading component” in FiveM?

Delete `caches.xml` from the FiveM Application Data folder; if it is missing, delete the application data folder and run FiveM again.

## Related

- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-client-fps-optimization
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-texture-budget-streaming-memory
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-performance
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-oversized-assets-warning