Quick Takeaways
- Clearing the Teams cache does not delete your chats, files, or channels. Those live in Microsoft 365, not on your device.
- Windows and Mac need manual folder deletion. Android and iPhone have their own built-in cache tools.
- New Teams and classic Teams store cache in different folders, so the steps depend on which version you’re running.
- Expect to sign back in and rebuild some display settings after clearing the cache.
- If clearing the cache doesn’t fix the problem, a full reinstall usually will.
Teams stuck on the loading screen? Chat won’t update? Profile pictures showing the wrong face? A bloated cache is often the reason, and the fix takes about two minutes.
Microsoft Teams cache is a set of temporary files the app stores on your device to load chats, images, and settings faster. When those files get corrupted or outdated, Teams can lag, freeze, or show information that doesn’t match what’s actually in your account.
This guide covers Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone, plus how to tell whether you’re running new Teams or classic Teams, since the cache location changed between versions.
Why Clear Your Microsoft Teams Cache
Teams saves local copies of images, chat data, and app settings so it doesn’t have to re-download everything every time you open it. That’s useful, until the cache grows too large or a file inside it gets corrupted.
According to Cornell University’s IT department, cache buildup can cause Teams to fail on launch, block sign-in, show outdated names or photos, or leave status stuck on the wrong setting. A stale cache can also hide new messages or make search results incomplete.
Here’s the part that surprises people: clearing the cache doesn’t touch your chat history, shared files, or channel content. All of that is stored in Microsoft 365 on Microsoft’s servers, not on your laptop or phone. The cache only holds a local, disposable copy meant to speed things up.
Is It Safe to Clear the Teams Cache?
Yes. You won’t lose messages, contacts, or recordings. What you will lose is any local preference, such as dark mode or window layout, which resets to default after Teams rebuilds its cache.
What most guides skip is the difference between clearing the cache and resetting the app. On Windows, the New Teams settings menu has a “Reset” button under Advanced Options. That’s convenient, but it wipes more than the cache. It removes saved preferences and forces a full re-sync, which takes longer than a manual cache-folder deletion.
Reset app vs. manual cache deletion: Resetting the app is faster to trigger and works well for casual glitches. Manual deletion targets only the cache folders and gives you more control over what gets removed. The key difference is that reset also clears saved settings, while manual deletion generally does not.
This guide covers cache clearing on desktop and mobile. It does not cover reinstalling Teams from scratch or fixing network-level sign-in issues tied to your organization’s admin settings.
How to Clear Teams Cache on Windows
First, confirm whether you’re on New Teams or classic Teams. New Teams has a rounded icon and a “Try new Teams” toggle history; classic Teams uses the older interface most people are used to.
New Teams
To clear the New Teams cache on Windows:
1. Quit Teams completely from the system tray.
2. Press Windows key + R, type %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams, and press Enter.
3. Delete everything inside the folder.
4. Reopen Teams and sign back in.
If you’d rather not touch folders directly, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Microsoft Teams, select the three-dot menu, choose Advanced options, and click Reset. This clears the cache along with saved preferences.
Classic Teams
If you’re still on classic Teams: quit the app from the taskbar, open the Run dialog with Windows key + R, enter %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams, and delete the contents. Focus on the Cache, blob_storage, databases, GPUCache, IndexedDB, and Local Storage folders if you want to leave other files untouched. Restart Teams once you’re done.
How to Clear Teams Cache on Mac
Quit Teams fully first. Right-click the Teams icon in the dock and select Quit, or Command-Q if Teams is in focus.
Open Finder, click Go > Go to Folder, and run one of these depending on your version:
rm -rf ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.com.microsoft.teams
rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.teams2
For classic Teams on Mac, the older cache path is:
rm -r ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams
Paste the relevant command into Terminal, press Return, and relaunch Teams. It’ll take a little longer to open the first time while it rebuilds the cache.
[IMAGE: macOS Terminal window with the Teams cache-clearing command entered]
How to Clear Teams Cache on Android and iPhone
Mobile cache clearing works differently on each platform because Android exposes cache controls at the OS level and iOS doesn’t.
Android
Open Settings > Apps > Microsoft Teams > Storage (some phones label this “Storage & cache”), then tap Clear cache. This removes temporary files while keeping you signed in. Avoid the separate Clear data or Clear storage button unless you want a full reset, since that signs you out and wipes local settings too.
iPhone / iPad
iOS doesn’t give you a direct cache button. Two options work:
- Open the Teams app, tap your profile picture, go to Settings > Data and storage, and tap Clear app data (some builds call this “Clear temporary files”).
- If that option isn’t available, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Microsoft Teams and tap Offload App. This removes the app and its cache but keeps your documents, so reinstalling brings everything back once you sign in again.
Quick Comparison
| Option | Best For | Key Benefit | Limitation |
| Manual folder deletion (Windows/Mac) | Persistent desktop bugs | Full control over what’s removed | Requires navigating hidden folders |
| Reset app (Windows) | Quick fixes without file browsing | One click, no folder hunting | Also clears saved preferences |
| Clear cache (Android) | Routine mobile cleanup | Keeps you signed in | Not available identically on iOS |
| Offload app (iPhone) | Stubborn iOS glitches | Keeps documents, clears cache | Requires a fresh app download |
Still Having Problems After Clearing the Cache?
If Teams still misbehaves after a cache clear, work through these before contacting support:
- Check for pending Teams updates. An outdated client version causes many of the same symptoms as a full cache.
- Sign out completely and sign back in, rather than just restarting the app.
- Test the Teams web client in a private browser window. If the problem disappears there, it’s local to your device, not your account.
- As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall Teams. This clears everything the cache-only methods leave behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to clear Teams cache on Windows 11?
Quit Teams, delete the contents of the LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams folder for New Teams, then reopen the app and sign in again.
How do I clear Teams cache without losing my chats?
Just delete the cache folder or use the app’s built-in clear-cache option. Chats and files are stored in Microsoft 365, not locally, so they’re unaffected.
Should I use Reset or manual deletion on Windows?
Use manual deletion if you want to keep your saved preferences. Use Reset if you’d rather not navigate folders and don’t mind resetting settings.
Why does Teams keep asking me to sign in after I clear the cache?
That’s expected the first time. If it keeps happening on every launch, check your organization’s conditional access or token expiration settings with your IT admin.
When should I clear the Teams cache?
Clear it when the app loads slowly, gets stuck signing in, shows outdated profile photos, or fails to display new messages or channel updates.
Conclusion
Clearing the Teams cache takes a few minutes and fixes most of the slowdowns, sign-in loops, and display glitches people run into. Start with the manual folder deletion or built-in cache tool for your platform, and only move to a full reinstall if the problem persists.
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