Delete Font Cache in Windows 10: Step-by-Step

If Windows 10 is showing missing or corrupted fonts, or if new fonts aren’t appearing after installation, the font cache is often the culprit. This guide walks you through safely deleting and rebuilding the font cache to fix these issues. You’ll need administrator access to your PC, but no additional software is required.

What You’ll Need

Administrator account on Windows 10
Ability to restart your computer
About 10 minutes of time

Step-by-Step

Close all applications – Save your work and close every open program. This prevents files from being locked during the process.
Open the Services window – Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Alternatively, search for “Services� in the Start menu.
Stop the Windows Font Cache Service – Scroll down to Windows Font Cache Service. Right-click it and select Stop. If the service is already stopped, move to the next step.
Also stop the Windows Presentation Foundation Font Cache 3.0.0.0 service – Right-click Windows Presentation Foundation Font Cache 3.0.0.0 (if present) and select Stop. This service is used by .NET applications and can also hold cache files.
Open File Explorer – Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
Navigate to the font cache folder – In the address bar, paste the following path and press Enter:
C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local
Delete the cache files – Look for files named FontCache.dat and FontCache (a folder). Select them and press Delete. If you get a “file in use� error, double-check that both services are stopped.
Clear the system font cache folder – Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\FNTCACHE.DAT and delete that file as well. This is an older cache that can also become corrupted.
Restart your computer – This will automatically restart the font cache services and rebuild the cache from scratch. Do not skip this step.
Verify fonts are working – After restart, open a text editor (like Notepad) and check that the font list displays correctly. Try using a font that was previously missing.

Common Mistakes

Not stopping the services first – If you try to delete the cache while the services are running, Windows will either block the deletion or immediately recreate the files, so the fix won’t work.
Deleting the wrong folder – Some guides tell you to delete the entire FontCache folder under AppData\Local. That folder contains the cache, but deleting only the FontCache.dat file is sufficient and safer.
Skipping the restart – The cache is rebuilt automatically during startup. If you don’t restart, the services may start with a missing cache and cause further errors.
Using a third-party “cache cleaner� – These tools may remove other necessary files. Manual deletion is safer and more controlled.

Tips

Back up your font cache – Before deleting, you can copy the FontCache.dat file to your desktop as a backup. If something goes wrong, you can restore it (though this is rarely needed).
Use the built-in troubleshooter – If you’re not comfortable with manual steps, run the “Fonts� troubleshooter in Windows Settings (Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters).
Reinstall fonts after clearing – If a specific font was missing, reinstall it after the cache rebuild. The cache only stores metadata; it doesn’t contain the fonts themselves.
Check for malware – If fonts go missing repeatedly, run a full antivirus scan. Some malware can interfere with font files.

Troubleshooting

If the service won’t stop: Try restarting your PC first, then repeat the steps. If it still won’t stop, open Command Prompt as administrator and run net stop FontCache and net stop FontCache3.0.0.0.

If you get “Access Denied� when deleting: Make sure you’re logged in with an administrator account. If you are, right-click the file and go to Properties > Security > Advanced, then change the owner to your user account and grant full control.

If fonts are still broken after the restart: Run the System File Checker. Open Command Prompt as administrator and type sfc /scannow. This will repair any corrupted system files, including font-related ones.

If the cache folder is empty: That’s normal. Windows recreates it on startup. If you don’t see any new cache files after restart, don’t worry – the system may be using a different location or the cache is built in memory.

If you can’t find the ServiceProfiles folder: It’s hidden by default. In File Explorer, go to View > Options > View, and select “Show hidden files, folders, and drives�.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting the font cache remove my installed fonts?

No. The cache is just a database of font metadata (names, styles, metrics). Your actual font files (in C:\Windows\Fonts or your user folder) remain untouched.

How often should I clear the font cache?

Only when you experience font-related problems. There’s no need to do it regularly; Windows manages the cache automatically.

Does this fix the “Fonts not showing� issue in Photoshop or Office?

Often yes, if the issue is caused by a corrupted cache. If the problem persists, the application may have its own font cache (e.g., Photoshop has a separate cache) that also needs clearing.

Can I delete the cache while in Safe Mode?

Yes, but it’s not necessary. The normal steps work fine. Safe Mode might make it easier if services are stubborn, but you’ll need to restart anyway.

Is there a command-line way to do this?

Yes. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:
net stop FontCache
del /f /q C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\FontCache.dat
net start FontCache
Then restart your PC.

Why does the font cache get corrupted in the first place?

Common causes include improper shutdowns, malware, disk errors, or conflicts with third-party font management software. Regular disk checks (chkdsk) can help prevent this.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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