How to Delete the Cache on Your Xbox 360

Last Updated: March 5, 2022

If your Xbox 360 is running slowly, or your games are lagging, you may need to clear your HDD (Hard Disk Drive) cache. Clearing the cache gives your Xbox 360 more random data storage area, making your console run faster and complete disk ops much quicker.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Clearing system cache under Device Options

1
Turn on your Xbox 360.
2
Scroll across to the system tab and select the storage devices option.

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3
Highlight the hard drive or memory unit option (it should say "Hard Drive, 12 GB free", for example).
4
Press Y for "Device options".
5
Select "Clear System Cache". The following message should appear: "This will perform maintenance on your Xbox 360 storage device. Do you want to continue?"
6
Select "Yes".
7
Restart your console. You have now cleared your hard drive cache and your Xbox 360 should run faster and have improved game-play on certain games (The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, Fallout 3, Halo 3, or other games).

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Holding `A` on Startup

1
Start your Xbox 360.
2
When it is starting up, hold down A.
3
This will clear all patches. The Xbox should run faster and have improved gameplay.

Community Q&A

Question

Will I lose any data?

Community Answer

You won't lose games or friends; it just performs maintenance.
Question

If I delete the cache, will it break the Xbox 360?

Community Answer

Nope! Your Xbox 360 will be just fine after clearing the cache, no need to worry.
Question

What will happen if delete the cloud storage cache?

Community Answer

Nothing beyond potentially speeding up your Xbox; clearing cache just deletes temporary files used by games and apps you've had open in the past.

Warnings

You will lose updates when the cache is cleared, but these can easily be downloaded again.

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Games like Battlefield 3 and Defiance have very large updates (1-3 GB), so these can take quite awhile to download again.

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