Where Does Restic Store Cache and Config?
Restic cache directories on Linux and Windows plus where passwords and repos live.
Last updated
Restic keeps a local metadata cache to skip re-reading repository indexes, while repositories themselves live wherever you pointed them: local disk, SFTP or cloud. The cache is disposable; the password file is not.
Cache size grows with repository size and prunes itself loosely. Delete it freely when debugging slow operations; the next run rebuilds what it needs.
Where Restic stores this, by platform
~/.cache/restic
Metadata cache for repository indexes and trees. Override with --cache-dir or XDG_CACHE_HOME. Repositories live at your chosen backend path, and the password comes from --password-file or env, never from this cache.
%LOCALAPPDATA%\restic
Same cache role as Linux. Set --cache-dir explicitly in scripts so scheduled tasks share one cache instead of fragmenting per user.
Frequently asked questions
Can I delete the Restic cache?
Yes, any time. It only speeds up operations by avoiding index re-downloads. The next backup or check repopulates it.
Where is the Restic repository password?
Wherever you put it: a password file, environment variable or prompt. Restic never stores it in the cache above, so losing the password loses the repo.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.