How do I clear the scenery cache in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Clear the Microsoft Flight Simulator scenery cache safely in MSFS 2020 or 2024, including stuck-cache fixes and what the reset actually removes.
To clear the scenery cache in Microsoft Flight Simulator, delete the Rolling Cache from the simulator’s Data or Online settings, apply the change, then restart the sim. This removes stored streamed terrain, aerial imagery and photogrammetry; it does not delete installed aircraft, airports or Community-folder add-ons.
How to clear the rolling cache in MSFS 2020 or 2024
Use the simulator’s own Rolling Cache control rather than deleting Windows or console data.
| Simulator | Menu location | Action |
|---|---|---|
| MSFS 2020 | Options > General Options > Data | Find Rolling Cache and select Delete |
| MSFS 2024 | Settings > General > Online | Open the Rolling Cache settings and select Delete |
- Return to the main menu. This reduces the chance of the cache file still being used by an active flight.
- Open the relevant settings page. Find the section labelled Rolling Cache or Rolling Cache Settings.
- Select Delete. Confirm the warning if one appears. If deletion is unavailable while the cache is enabled, switch Rolling Cache off, apply the change and try again.
- Apply or save the settings. Some builds save immediately; others show an Apply and Save control.
- Restart Microsoft Flight Simulator. If you want to continue using the cache, enable it again and choose its size and storage location.
If the MSFS 2024 control is missing or deletion fails, follow our version-specific steps for deleting or rebuilding the MSFS 2024 rolling cache.
What does clearing the scenery cache remove?
Clearing the Rolling Cache removes downloaded copies of streamed world scenery, not installed simulator content.
| Content | Removed? |
|---|---|
| Streamed aerial imagery and photogrammetry | Yes, until downloaded again |
| Manual Cache regions in MSFS 2020 | No; manage these separately |
| Marketplace or Official packages | No |
| Community-folder add-ons | No |
| Controller profiles and logbook data | No |
| SceneryIndexes data | No |
The next flight over an uncached area will download the scenery again. Expect temporarily increased network use and some initial texture sharpening or photogrammetry pop-in.
Does clearing the rolling cache also clear Manual Cache?
No. In MSFS 2020, regions downloaded through Manual Cache are stored and managed separately, so remove them through the Manual Cache control if necessary. Deleting the rolling cache alone will not free that manually allocated space.
When should I clear the MSFS scenery cache?
Clear it when streamed scenery appears stale, corrupted or inconsistent after an update, rather than treating cache deletion as routine maintenance.
- Photogrammetry displays spikes, melted structures or obviously outdated tiles in one area.
- Terrain or aerial imagery remains corrupted after restarting the simulator.
- You moved the cache between drives and MSFS still refers to the old location.
- A simulator or world update was followed by repeatable scenery anomalies.
- The rolling-cache file is consuming disk space you need elsewhere.
Clearing it is unlikely to improve an add-on conflict, an incorrectly installed airport or generally blurry scenery caused by slow streaming, low terrain detail settings or disabled online data.
Should I turn Rolling Cache back on?
Re-enable it if you repeatedly fly over the same regions or have limited bandwidth; leave it off temporarily when diagnosing stale streamed scenery or if you have a fast, unrestricted connection and prefer fresh data each session.
Avoid placing a large cache on a nearly full or unreliable drive. MSFS 2020 users can use our guidance on when the rolling cache should be enabled or disabled to choose the better setting for their connection and flying habits.
Why is the Delete button greyed out or stuck?
A greyed-out Delete control usually means Rolling Cache is already disabled, no cache file exists, or the configured drive is unavailable.
- Cache file in use: return to the main menu, close MSFS completely and reopen it before trying again.
- Disconnected custom drive: reconnect the drive or change the cache location to an available folder.
- PC deletion still fails: close the simulator and remove the cache file from the location displayed in the settings. In MSFS 2020 it is normally named
ROLLINGCACHE.CCC; do not assume a default path because installation types and custom locations differ. - Console installation: use the in-simulator control first. Deleting console saved data is not equivalent to clearing the rolling cache and may remove more than downloaded scenery.
What if the scenery is still missing or corrupted?
A cache reset cannot repair disabled online services, package conflicts, broken scenery indexes or an interrupted add-on installation.
Check that online functionality, Bing world data and photogrammetry are enabled where applicable, and confirm that no data limit has stopped streaming. If installed airports or packages have disappeared, consider rebuilding the SceneryIndexes data safely; for persistent streaming and loading faults, work through our broader checks for scenery that will not load.