Why Font Cache Needs to Be Deleted?

You might need to delete the font cache for the following reasons:

• Over a time of usage, the cache files may get corrupted and leads to a various issues such as missing fonts or distorted fonts.
• Newly installed fonts might not be reflected until the font cache is deleted.

Method 1: Using the Services and File Explorer:

Stop the Windows Font Cache Service :

• Use the keyboard shortcut Win + R to open the Run dialog box.

Open Run Windows using Winkey + R

• Now you need to type services.msc and press Enter button to open the Services window.

Enter the Command services.msc

• In the Services window, you need to locate the Windows Font Cache Service. Right-click on it and select Stop.
• This action will temporarily disable the service, allowing you to delete the cache files without any issues.

Scroll, Find & Stop the Windows Font Cache Service.

That’s it. Stopping or restarting the Windows Font Cache Service will temporarily clear the font cache on your Windows 11 PC. This is the quickest and easiest way to clear the font cache.

Method 2: Using File Explorer:

You can also remove the font cache from your PC using the File Explorer method. This is a fast and efficient method, but it requires some extra steps.

• Use the keyboard shortcut Win + R to open the Run dialog box.

Open Run Windows using Winkey + R

• You need to access your pc’s app local data via the command %localappdata%, Enter the command and hit the Enter button to launch the Local App Data file explorer menu.

Enter Local App Data File Explorer Menu

• Now Local App Data file explorer will be appear on your screen as shown in the below image.

Local App Data Folder

• Now in the Search Local bar in the right top of the file explorer, you need to enter the term FontCache and now the FontCache folders will appear on your file explorer as shown in the below image.

Search as FontCache in Local Search

• Select all the FontCache Folders and delete it right away.

Delete FontCache Folders

In this way, you can clear your font cache from your PC using the File Explorer method. The methods described below involve using Command Prompt , Disk Cleanup service , and batch files , which may be unfamiliar to many users. Therefore, I suggest you proceed with caution. If you are not willing to learn these new methods, I recommend using the methods mentioned above.

Method 3: Using Disk Cleanup:

Disk Cleanup is a built-in option that helps remove unnecessary files from your system , including font cache files.

• Use the keyboard shortcut Win + R to open the Run dialog box.

Open Run Windows using Winkey + R

• You need to enter the command cleanmgr, and press Enter button to launch the Disk Cleanup Services.

Enter the command cleanmgr

• Select the system drive (usually C:) and click OK button.

Selecting Disk

• Click on Clean up system files. Select the system drive again and click OK button.

Choose Clean Up System Files option.

• Again you need to Select the system drive (usually C:) and click OK button.

Selecting Disk

• Now it will launch the Disk Clean Up services and it may take upto a minutes as shown in the below image.

Clean Up Services

• Now you need to scroll down and check the options named as “ Thumbnails ” & “ Temporary files ” and click the OK button.

Clean Up Services to Clear Font Cache in Windows

• It will remove all the temporary files and font cache files from your windows 11 pc.

Method 4: Using a Batch Script:

Creating a batch script automates the process of deleting the font cache, making it convenient for repeated use.

• You need to open Notepad and paste the following script

@echo off
net stop FontCache
net stop FontCache3.0.0.0
del /Q %windir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\FontCache*.dat
del /Q %localappdata%\FontCache\*.dat
net start FontCache
net start FontCache3.0.0.0
pause

• You need to save the file as DeleteFontCache.bat
• The file must be saved as .bat extension.
• Now you need to run the bat file as the “Run As Administrator”
• It will launch the bunch of process and end up removing all the font caches from your Windows pc.

Method 5: Using a Command Prompt:

Using Command Prompt offers a more direct method to delete the font cache.

• You need to use the keyboard shortcut Win + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu

Terminal Admin

• You need to run the following commands one by one. The commands will remove the cache files ,

net stop FontCache
net stop FontCache3.0.0.0

• Alternatively, you can remove the fontcache files from your local app data folder using the below commands in terminal,

del /Q %windir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\FontCache*.dat
del /Q %localappdata%\FontCache\*.dat

• Restart your font cache service , for fix the cache corruption or loading the new fonts in your pc using the following commands in the terminal,

net start FontCache
net start FontCache3.0.0.0

That’s it. These are the ways to stop and restarting font cache service using Windows Terminal in your pc.

You can more information about in detail on WinSides Blog Post:

• 5+ Easy Methods to Delete Font Cache in Windows 11!