How to Clear Font Cache in Windows 10

If you’re seeing missing or garbled fonts, or Windows seems to hang when you open the font picker, a corrupted font cache is often the culprit. This guide walks you through clearing the font cache in Windows 10 using built-in tools—no third-party software needed. You’ll need to be logged in as an administrator.

What You’ll Need

• An administrator account on your Windows 10 PC.
• About 5 minutes of time.

Step-by-Step

1. Close all applications. Save your work and close every open program. This prevents files from being locked during the process.
2. Open the Services window. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type services.msc, and press Enter.
3. Stop the Windows Font Cache Service. In the Services list, scroll down to Windows Font Cache Service. Right-click it and select Stop. (If it’s already stopped, you can skip this step.)
4. Stop the Windows Presentation Foundation Font Cache 3.0.0.0 service. Look for Windows Presentation Foundation Font Cache 3.0.0.0 in the same list. Right-click it and select Stop as well.
5. Open File Explorer. Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
6. Navigate to the font cache folder. In the address bar, type or paste the following path and press Enter:
   C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local
7. Delete the font cache files. In this folder, look for files named FontCache.dat and FontCache (a folder). Select them and press Shift + Delete to permanently delete them. If you get a “file in use” error, make sure both services are stopped and try again.
8. Navigate to the second cache location. In the File Explorer address bar, type or paste this path and press Enter:
   C:\Windows\System32
9. Delete the FNTCACHE.DAT file. Look for a file named FNTCACHE.DAT. If it exists, select it and press Shift + Delete.
10. Restart the services. Go back to the Services window (or reopen it). Right-click Windows Font Cache Service and select Start. Do the same for Windows Presentation Foundation Font Cache 3.0.0.0.
11. Restart your computer. Even though the services are running, a full restart ensures the cache is rebuilt cleanly.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to stop the services. If you skip Step 3 and 4, the font cache files will be locked and you won’t be able to delete them.
• Deleting the wrong files. Only delete the specific files mentioned. Do not delete the entire AppData\Local folder or other system folders.
• Not restarting after clearing. Windows may not rebuild the cache properly until you restart the system.

Tips

• Create a system restore point before making any system-level changes. This lets you revert if something goes wrong.
• Use the Command Prompt alternative. If you prefer, you can run the following commands as Administrator instead of using File Explorer:
  net stop FontCache
net stop FontCache3.0.0.0
  Then delete the files manually, then restart the services with net start FontCache and net start FontCache3.0.0.0.
• Clear the cache regularly if you frequently install/uninstall fonts. A corrupted cache can cause performance issues.

Troubleshooting

“File in use” error when deleting. This means one of the services didn’t stop completely. Go back to Services, right-click the service, and choose Refresh to see its status. If it still says “Running,” wait a few seconds and try stopping it again. If it won’t stop, restart your PC in Safe Mode and repeat the steps.

Fonts still look wrong after clearing. The cache may have been rebuilt from a corrupted source. Try reinstalling the problematic font (right-click the font file and select “Install”). If the issue persists, run the System File Checker: open Command Prompt as Administrator and type sfc /scannow.

Services won’t start. If you can’t start the Windows Font Cache Service, check that the “Windows Font Cache Service” dependency (Remote Procedure Call) is running. You can also try rebooting—the services will start automatically.

You can’t find the files. If you don’t see FontCache.dat or FNTCACHE.DAT, it’s possible they were already deleted or the system is using a different path. Try the alternate location: C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\FontCache (a folder) and delete the files inside it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to delete font cache files?

Yes. Windows will automatically rebuild them from the installed fonts. It’s a standard troubleshooting step and does not harm your system.

How often should I clear the font cache?

Only when you experience font-related issues—such as missing fonts, slow font lists, or application crashes when selecting fonts. There’s no need for regular maintenance.

Will clearing the font cache remove installed fonts?

No. The cache is just a temporary index. Your installed fonts remain untouched.

Can I clear the font cache without admin rights?

No. You need administrator privileges to stop system services and delete files in the Windows folder.

Why do font issues happen in the first place?

Usually due to corrupted cache files, interrupted font installations, or conflicts between fonts. Clearing the cache is the first fix to try.

Does this work on Windows 11?

Yes, the process is nearly identical in Windows 11. The service names and file locations are the same.

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