What clean download cache do?

[eejonpeter]

Hi
Will clean download cache remove my downloading game?
for example, i am downloading game with progress of 60%
will it become 0% after i clean my download cache?
Thank you!

[Iceira]

yes it will, reason is cache use old outdate information on your harddisk.
that why it flush it and force a update from server.

in some game hub threads they call it master cache that compare with install
this dont fix all issue if cache has been change on server by whatever game compare that actual do have support, so you can end up with reinstall and clean folder as we did in old times a force wipe we did ourself in the steam game folder. ( so uninstall and reinstall can fail here as you guess ) and you understand why that option is made to allow steam client to goto server and get fresh new cache so you dont keep use outdated info.

( i bet this could change in the future why not included it in the re-install/unistall )
and it also do other things such change nearest dl region and other things, maybe this is why its not automated yet.

dont foreget i dont work for steam, its learn from other users reply and experience over several decads, then we had to get a game working again.

[ReBoot]

Why exactly do you want to clear the cache?

[eejonpeter]

Thank you Iceria~very professional and helpful!
Reboot since my download speed is very slow, i want to enhance the speed.
That's why i am thinking if cleaning download cache helps

[ReBoot]

I doubt clearing the cache will help. Have you exhausted all the other options?

[eejonpeter]

yes but i think i can wait until tomorrow morning
almost done
thank you~

[MancSoulja]

The download cache is just a folder Steam downloads to. Unless you're currently downloading something it's usually empty.

[Iceira]

yes speed is a diffrent thingy, use cable if wifi user can help sometimes, even reboot router has help other before.

but ask isp and check own isp jump do you get full throughput or is there crc error from you or to the isp, not the first time that has been seen before

ps.
depend on hardware gear solutions to isp wall at your building ( its called CPE = Customer-premises equipment)
always ask isp nicely, you need proof that its you or isp has a issue such as flip/flop port transfer negociation issue beteen you and isp, in some case it has also been seen that scan for antivirus from isp as service option also slow things down but its so rare people have such, and this is why you ask them hey im seem to have DL issue, but be sure faulth is not yours , not all isp is nice
and will bill you if you have the problem and not the isp. get some apps to scan for it.

also see steam network troubleshooting guide ( sorry if you dont know how, but there is a reason why they do have educate or skilled people to solve such. ) it seem today you almost need to be expert to solve things yourself.

ps.
and again besure its not own realtime antivirus scanner that do it, sort-off a timeout and you cause somehow server timeout. ( as you see it can be very complicated until solved )

[Phantom]

It will not reset downloads or cause issues with them in general.

The DL cache directories are...

.\Steam\SteamApps\downloading
.\Steam\SteamApps\temp
.\Steam\SteamApps\workshop\downloads
.\Steam\SteamApps\workshop\temp

These files can somehow cause issues with downloads themselves, and often times it can affect game launching issues, so it's usually cleared.

[かぐや]

Originally posted by Robin3sk:

It will not reset downloads or cause issues with them in general.

The DL cache directories are...

.\Steam\SteamApps\downloading
.\Steam\SteamApps\temp
.\Steam\SteamApps\workshop\downloads
.\Steam\SteamApps\workshop\temp

These files can somehow cause issues with downloads themselves, and often times it can affect game launching issues, so it's usually cleared.

:cozydbd:

.\Steam\appcache is another one what gets wiped with that feature.