Where Is the After Effects Disk Cache?
After Effects disk cache and media cache default folders on Windows and Mac, and the preferences that move them.
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After Effects previews render into a disk cache folder so timelines replay without re rendering. The default sits under Adobe Common on Windows and under Caches on Mac.
Move it in Preferences, Media and Disk Cache, with Choose Folder. Point it at your fastest drive with free space; network folders cause stalls.
Where After Effects stores this, by platform
%APPDATA%\Adobe\Common
Disk cache plus Media Cache Files underneath. Empty it from Preferences rather than deleting by hand while renders run.
~/Library/Caches/Adobe/After Effects
Media cache under ~/Library/Caches/Adobe/Common. In Finder use Go > Go to Folder to reach Caches.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to delete the After Effects disk cache?
Yes. Use Empty Disk Cache in Preferences; previews rebuild on next render. Only disk space is lost, never project data.
Disk cache fills my system drive. What helps most?
Relocate it to a secondary SSD and cap its size in the same preferences panel. Compressed frame caching stretches the budget further.
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