How to Clear Microsoft Teams Cache on Every Platform

This is an independent guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft Corporation.

Teams is stuck loading. Your status shows "Away" even though you've been typing for ten minutes. Messages arrive out of order, or a channel you know exists refuses to show up in search.

If you've ever hit any of those problems, clearing your Microsoft Teams cache is the single fastest fix you can try. The cache is a set of temporary files Teams stores locally to speed up loading, but those files can become corrupted or outdated after updates, profile changes, or just regular use over weeks and months.

This guide shows you how to clear Microsoft Teams cache on Windows 10, Windows 11, Mac, and the web browser version. Each method takes under two minutes. You won't lose your messages, files, or contacts.

When Should You Clear Microsoft Teams Cache?

Clearing the cache isn't something you need to do on a schedule. It's a targeted fix for specific symptoms. Here are the situations where it helps:

• Teams is slow or freezing. The app takes a long time to load conversations, switch channels, or display the calendar. A bloated cache (sometimes over 1 GB) is a common cause.
• Your status is stuck. Teams shows you as "Away" or "Offline" when you're active, or your status won't update after you change it manually.
• Messages display incorrectly. You see old messages, duplicates, or messages appearing out of chronological order.
• Sign-in problems after a password change. If you recently changed your Microsoft 365 password or your organization switched authentication methods, cached credentials can block sign-in.
• Missing channels or teams. A team or channel you know you're a member of doesn't appear in the sidebar.
• After a major Teams update. Occasionally, a version update leaves behind incompatible cache files from the old version.

You're five minutes into a standup and your team lead asks for your status update. You try to unmute, but Teams is frozen solid. You restart the app, but it hangs on the loading screen for 30 seconds. A quick cache clear after that restart would have had you back in under a minute.

If you're dealing with Microsoft Teams alternatives and evaluating whether to stick with Teams, persistent cache issues are worth factoring into your decision.

Will Clearing Teams Cache Delete My Messages?

No. Clearing the Teams cache does not delete your messages, files, contacts, or any data stored in Microsoft 365. Here's what actually happens:

What gets deleted (local only):

• Cached profile photos and thumbnails
• Locally stored UI preferences and layout data
• Temporary meeting artifacts (join tokens, cached meeting details)
• Auto-complete suggestions in the search bar

What stays safe (stored in the cloud):

• All chat messages and conversation history
• Files shared in channels and chats
• Your Teams memberships and channel subscriptions
• Calendar events and meeting recordings
• Custom status messages and profile information

Think of it like clearing your browser history. The websites don't disappear; your local shortcuts to them do. Teams redownloads everything it needs the next time you open it.

The only minor inconvenience: your first launch after clearing the cache takes 15-30 seconds longer, and you may need to sign in again. If your organization uses single sign-on (SSO), the sign-in is automatic.

For more about keeping your Teams environment looking sharp, check out the free Teams background creator to customize your video calls.

How to Clear Microsoft Teams Cache on iPhone and Android

The mobile Teams apps don't expose a cache folder like the desktop versions do, but you can still clear cached data.

Android:

1. Open Settings > Apps > Microsoft Teams
2. Tap Storage (or Storage & cache on some devices)
3. Tap Clear Cache (not "Clear Data," which would sign you out and remove all local data)
4. Reopen Teams

On Android, this typically frees up 50-200 MB depending on how long you've been using the app.

iPhone:

iOS doesn't offer a "clear cache" option for individual apps. Your two options:

1. Offload the app: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Microsoft Teams > Offload App. This removes the app and its cache but preserves your sign-in data. Reinstall Teams from the App Store.
2. Delete and reinstall: If offloading doesn't help, delete Teams entirely and reinstall it. You'll need to sign in again.

If you find yourself clearing the mobile cache frequently, your connection might be the issue. Try switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data to see if Teams behaves differently on each.

Looking for ways to make your online meetings more engaging? Sometimes the fix isn't technical; it's rethinking how your team meets.

What to Do If Clearing the Cache Doesn't Fix Your Issue

Cache clearing solves about 80% of common Teams glitches, but if your problem persists, try these next steps:

Check the Microsoft 365 service status. Go to status.office.com to see if Microsoft is reporting an outage. If Teams is down on their end, no amount of local troubleshooting will help.

Update Teams to the latest version. In the desktop app, click the three-dot menu next to your profile picture and select "Check for updates." Outdated versions sometimes have bugs that look like cache problems.

Repair the Teams installation (Windows). Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft Teams > Advanced options > Repair. This fixes corrupted installation files without deleting your data.

Clear your Microsoft 365 credentials. On Windows, open Credential Manager (search for it in the Start menu). Under "Windows Credentials," look for entries containing "Microsoft" or "Teams" and remove them. On Mac, open Keychain Access and search for "Microsoft Teams." Delete the matching entries. Then restart Teams and sign in again.

Here's a common one: your entire team has been complaining about Teams lagging all morning. You've cleared your cache and it didn't help. Before spending another hour debugging, check status.office.com. If it shows a service degradation for Teams, grab a coffee and wait it out.

If Teams frustrations are piling up, our comparison of Microsoft Teams alternatives covers tools that take a different approach to team communication.

For a deep look at how to make remote meetings actually enjoyable, explore our guide to the best online meeting features.

Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. This site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft Corporation.