Fix Stutters & Boost FPS – Clear NVIDIA Shader Cache the Right Way
Is your game stuttering, lagging, or running choppy out of nowhere — even on a powerful PC? One of the most overlooked causes could be a bloated or corrupted NVIDIA Shader Cache.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to fully reset your shader cache — the right way — using safe steps to reduce stuttering, fix lag spikes, and boost FPS consistency. Whether you're on a high-end gaming rig or an older laptop, this can seriously smooth things out.
✅ This tutorial is beginner-friendly, no registry edits, no shady tools — just smart cleanup and performance wins.
🛠️ Commands & Paths Used:
🔧 Disable Shader Cache Temporarily (Before Cleanup)
NVIDIA Control Panel → Manage 3D Settings → Shader Cache: Disabled → Restart
📂 Clear NVIDIA Shader Cache Folders
Open File Explorer → Paste paths below and delete contents:
%localappdata%\NVIDIA\GLCache
%localappdata%\..\LocalLow\NVIDIA\DXCache
🧹 Disk Cleanup for DirectX Shader Cache
Press Start → Search “Disk Cleanup”
Choose C: → Click “Clean up system files”
Select DirectX Shader Cache only
Click OK → Confirm with Delete
🔁 Re-Enable Shader Cache & Set Proper Size
NVIDIA Control Panel → Manage 3D Settings → Shader Cache Size:
10 GB (if 300GB free space)
100 GB (if 400GB free space)
Driver Default (if unsure)
Then → Restart your PC
🚀 Bonus: Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling
Settings → System → Display → Graphics Settings
Toggle ON: “Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling”
Restart your PC
🚨 What to Expect After Cleanup
Some games may recompile shaders (expect minor initial stutter)
Avoid closing games while shaders compile
Performance should stabilize and improve with cleaner cache
💬 If this helped fix your FPS issues or made your games smoother, drop a like 👍 and comment below your before/after results!