How to Clear Lightroom Cache (2026): Mobile, Desktop & Classic Guide
How to clear Lightroom cache is a simple fix for two common problems: Lightroom taking up far more storage than expected, and editing starting to feel slow or glitchy. The cache is just temporary data Lightroom keeps so it can reopen and render your photos faster — previews, rendered RAW data and thumbnails. Clearing it does not delete your photos, your edits or your catalog, as long as you check two things first: that your photos are synced (on mobile and cloud Lightroom) and that you do not delete the wrong folder (on Classic). This guide covers mobile, desktop and Lightroom Classic separately, because the button is in a different place on each.
How to Clear Lightroom Cache: What the Cache Actually Is
When you import or open a photo, Lightroom renders data it can reuse later instead of starting from scratch every time. That reused data is the cache. It grows quietly, which is why Lightroom’s storage use can climb even when you have not added many new photos.
| Cache type | Where it lives | Safe to clear? |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Raw cache | Lightroom Classic (desktop) | Yes — Lightroom rebuilds it as you edit |
| Video cache | Lightroom Classic (desktop) | Yes — same rebuild rule |
| Preview cache | Lightroom Classic, next to your catalog | Yes, via the Previews menu — but previews rebuild slowly |
| Local / synced copies cache | Lightroom mobile and cloud desktop | Yes, only for copies already backed up to the cloud |
| App cache (operating system level) | Android / iOS system storage | Yes on Android via Clear Cache — never use Clear Data as a shortcut |
The important distinction is cache versus everything else. Your catalog (Classic), your original photos and your presets are not cache. If a guide tells you to delete a folder and you are not sure what is in it, stop and check the folder name first.
Before You Clear Anything: 2 Checks
- Check sync is complete (mobile and cloud Lightroom). Wait until the app shows synced. Clearing the cache purges copies already backed up to the cloud — never clear storage while uploads are still pending.
- Know what you are about to delete (Classic). Safe targets are the Camera Raw cache, the video cache and preview data. Never delete your catalog file (the .lrcat file) or your original photo folders. If unsure, use the in-app Purge Cache buttons below instead of deleting folders by hand.
One more expectation to set: clearing the cache is not a permanent storage win. Lightroom rebuilds it as you edit, so it will grow again — that is normal. Clear it when storage is low or performance drops, not as a daily ritual.
How to Clear Lightroom Cache on Mobile (iPhone and Android)
This is the method inside the Lightroom app, the same on iPhone and Android:
- Open Lightroom mobile and tap the Lightroom (LR) icon or your profile icon to open settings.
- Go to Settings > Local Storage.
- Tap Clear Cache.
- Wait for the confirmation, then check your device storage — the freed space is the cached copies of photos already backed up to the cloud.
If you use Lightroom mobile without a cloud plan, or you do not see a Clear Cache option, there may simply be no synced cached copies to purge. In that case the storage is more likely locally stored originals or photos still in the Deleted album — see below.
Android system-level clear (extra space, with a warning)
On Android you can also clear the app cache from the operating system: Settings > Apps > Lightroom > Storage & cache > Clear Cache. This clears temporary app data without signing you out or deleting photos. Do not tap Clear Storage or Clear Data instead — that wipes local app data.
iPhone: no per-app cache button
iOS does not offer a per-app Clear Cache button. If the in-app Clear Cache does not free enough space, the remaining options are offloading or reinstalling the app — both last resorts, and only after you have confirmed sync is complete. Reinstalling without a completed sync is the one way this routine job can lose work.
How to Clear Lightroom Cache on Desktop (Cloud Lightroom)
In the cloud-based Lightroom desktop app, the cache lives in Local Storage:
- Open Lightroom and open Preferences (Edit > Preferences on Windows, Lightroom > Preferences on Mac).
- Look for the Local Storage section.
- Use Clear Cache to purge locally cached copies of photos already backed up to the cloud.
- Restart Lightroom if previews look slow for a few minutes afterwards — that is just the cache rebuilding.
As on mobile, this does not delete your cloud library, edits or presets — only local copies Lightroom can download again.
How to Clear Lightroom Cache in Lightroom Classic
Classic is different: it keeps a catalog on your computer, and its caches are managed from Preferences — two caches to purge, plus previews.
Step 1: Purge the Camera Raw and video caches
- Open Lightroom Classic.
- Go to Edit > Preferences > Performance on Windows, or Lightroom Classic > Preferences > Performance on Mac. (On very old versions this section may sit under File Handling instead.)
- Under Camera Raw Cache Settings, click Purge Cache.
- Do the same for the video cache if the option is shown.
- Optional: if your catalog and cache sit on a fast SSD, raising the Camera Raw cache size here can actually improve performance — a larger cache means less re-rendering. See our Lightroom system requirements guide for disk and SSD advice.
Step 2: Discard previews you no longer need
Previews are the other big storage consumer in Classic, stored next to your catalog in a folder ending in Previews.lrdata. The safe way to shrink them is inside the app: Library > Previews and choose Discard 1:1 Previews or Discard Smart Previews for photos you are no longer actively editing. Lightroom rebuilds previews when you open those photos again, so expect slower first opens afterwards.
Only delete a Previews.lrdata or Smart Previews.lrdata folder by hand when Lightroom is fully closed, and never touch the .lrcat catalog file. Deleting previews costs time; deleting a catalog costs your editing history.
If Storage Is Still High After Clearing the Cache
| Check | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Empty the Deleted album (mobile/cloud) | Deleted photos sit in the trash until permanently deleted |
| Check locally stored originals (mobile) | Photos marked for offline use stay on the device by design |
| Discard 1:1 and Smart Previews (Classic) | Full-size previews are often larger than the Camera Raw cache |
| Reinstall as a last resort (mobile) | Only after sync is complete and photos are backed up elsewhere |
If Lightroom still will not open a particular camera’s files after a cache purge, the problem is usually camera support rather than cache — see our Lightroom RAW files not opening guide for the support list and the free DNG Converter workaround.
Troubleshooting: Clear Cache Problems
| Problem | Most likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No Clear Cache button visible | No synced cached copies to purge, or an older app layout | Update the app; check Deleted album and locally stored originals instead |
| Storage barely changed | The space is originals or previews, not cache | Work through the “still high” checks above, starting with previews |
| Editing feels slower right after clearing | Cache is rebuilding | Normal — it settles once your recent photos are re-rendered |
| Photos look low-resolution after clearing | Previews were discarded and are rebuilding | Open the photo and wait for the full preview to render |
| Android storage unchanged after Clear Cache | Data is in Clear Storage territory, not cache | Do not use Clear Data as a shortcut — check originals and the Deleted album first |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing the Lightroom cache delete my photos?
No, provided sync is complete (mobile/cloud) and you only clear cache, not data or catalog files. Cache holds temporary rendered copies; your originals and edits live elsewhere. The dangerous taps are Android’s Clear Data and deleting a Classic catalog file — neither is part of clearing the cache.
How often should I clear the Lightroom cache?
Only when you need to: storage is low, Lightroom feels sluggish, or previews are glitching. Clearing it weekly out of habit just forces Lightroom to rebuild the same data for no benefit.
Is clearing cache the same as clearing data on Android?
No, and confusing them is the most common mistake on Android. Clear Cache removes temporary files only. Clear Data (or Clear Storage) wipes local app data and signs you out — never use it just to free space. For an independent explanation of what mobile Clear Cache does, see this Adobe Community answer on Lightroom mobile cache and sync.
Can I clear the Lightroom cache on the free mobile app?
Yes, the in-app Local Storage > Clear Cache option is an app setting, not a paid feature. What it can purge depends on synced cached copies: if nothing is backed up to the cloud, there may be little or nothing to clear, and your storage use is coming from originals on the device instead.
Get the full bundle — 10 styles, install guide, lifetime updates — for just $9.
Start with the two checks — sync complete, and the right target — then use the section for your version: mobile, cloud desktop, or Classic. Done that way, clearing the cache is a two-minute job that frees real space without risking a single photo.
