How to Clear Slack Cache? Step by Step

Picture Slack on a busy day. Channels crawl, messages take a moment to load, and the app sometimes shows a blank screen instead of your workspace. You restart and nothing changes. Clearing the Slack cache is the safest first reset for those problems. This guide walks through how to clear Slack cache on desktop, mobile, and in the browser, and how it fits into a complete Slack issues troubleshooting checklist.

Platforms Covered

5 Min

Typical Fix Time

Messages Lost

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What Slack Cache Is And When You Should Clear It

Slack cache is local temporary data that your device stores so that channels, messages, and files load faster. Think of it as a short term memory for the app.

Slack stores things like:

Recently loaded messages
Images and file thumbnails
Layout and interface assets

You should consider clearing cache when:

The app shows a blank or white screen
Messages are out of date compared to mobile or browser
The app hangs on startup or after switching workspaces
Notifications are not syncing properly between devices

Slack’s own troubleshooting docs often recommend “Clear cache and restart” as a first step for connection or loading problems.

Clearing cache does not delete your actual workspace data. Messages, files, and channels are stored on Slack’s servers, not in the cache.

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Why Slack Cache Affects Performance

Slack keeps a local cache of interface files, messages, and media so channels feel fast. Over time that cache can bloat or corrupt, which leads to slow loading, frozen windows, and visual glitches. Clearing Slack cache forces the app to rebuild a clean local copy from the server without touching your actual workspace data.

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Signs It Is Time To Clear Cache: You see "Slack could not load" screens, channels show old messages, notifications are unreliable, or the desktop app is stuck on a white or black window even though the service status looks normal. If you already tried basic steps from a general Slack troubleshooting guide and the app misbehaves on one device, cache is the next suspect.

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Local Only

Clearing cache removes local temporary files on that device. It does not delete messages, files, channels, or workspaces. Those live on Slack servers under your retention settings.

Safe

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Fast First Fix

For many problems clearing Slack cache is quicker than reinstalling and fixes slow load, broken interface elements, and odd notification behavior.

First Step

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Low Risk

The built in Clear Cache and Restart option on desktop and Clear Cache on Android keep your sign in intact. High impact options like Clear Data or reinstall are reserved for stubborn issues.

Advanced

How To Clear Slack Cache On Every Platform

Choose your device. Start with the lowest impact option, then move to stronger resets only if issues persist.

Method 1: Clear Slack Cache On Desktop App

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Best For: Slow or frozen app, blank window, missing messages on Windows or macOS.

On desktop there are three levels of reset. Try them in order: force reload, in app clear, then manual cache deletion if the app will not open.

Run A Force Reload

If Slack is open but looks wrong, first try a full reload of the interface. On Windows or Linux press Ctrl + Shift + R. On macOS press Cmd + Shift + R. This keeps your session and forces Slack to reload its user interface from local files.

Use Clear Cache And Restart

If the app still misbehaves, use the official cache clear:
On macOS click Help in the top menu bar.
On Windows click the three line menu in the top left of Slack.
Choose Troubleshooting then Clear Cache and Restart.
Slack closes, clears its cache, and reopens with a fresh index.

Clear Cache Files Manually (Advanced)

If Slack will not launch at all or stays on a blank screen, you can delete the cache folders directly after fully quitting Slack.
On Windows: open Run and paste %AppData%\Slack\Cache or %AppData%\Roaming\Slack\Cache. Delete the contents of the Cache folder.
On macOS: in Finder press Shift + Cmd + G and paste ~/Library/Application Support/Slack. Remove contents of any folder named Cache. Repeat in ~/Library/Caches/ if Slack has a dedicated folder there.
Restart Slack and it will recreate fresh cache files.

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Be Precise: Delete only folders named Cache inside Slack directories. Removing other files can reset preferences or workspaces, although your actual workspace data stays safe on Slack servers.

Method 2: Clear Slack Cache On Android

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Best For: Slow app, broken notifications, or odd layout on Android phones and tablets.

Android gives you two levels of reset inside Slack and in system settings. Start with Clear Cache, and only use Clear Data if nothing else works.

Use Reset Cache Inside Slack

Open Slack, tap your profile picture, tap Preferences, then Advanced. Tap Reset Cache. The app clears temporary files and keeps you signed in.

Clear Cache From Android Settings

Go to Android Settings then Apps. Find Slack, tap Storage or Storage and Cache, then tap Clear Cache. This removes Slack's cached files but preserves login and preferences.

Understand Clear Cache Versus Clear Data

The Clear Data or Clear Storage button is stronger. It wipes all local Slack data including cache, settings, and your sign in. Use this only if other steps fail and be ready to log in again.

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Tip: If you are debugging notification problems, combine Clear Cache with a quick review of notification settings or follow a complete Slack issues checklist that includes notification tests.

Method 3: Clear Slack Cache On iOS

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Best For: Stale content or repeated glitches on iPhone and iPad.

iOS does not expose an explicit Clear Cache button for Slack. When small glitches persist, the only way to fully clear the app cache is reinstall.

Try A Simple Restart First

Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause to show the app switcher. Swipe Slack away to force close it. Open it again from the home screen. This can fix minor glitches without clearing cache.

Uninstall And Reinstall Slack

Tap and hold the Slack icon, choose Remove App, then Delete App. Open the App Store, search for Slack, and reinstall. This removes the entire local cache and requires you to sign in again.

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Plan Ahead: Make sure you remember which workspaces and sign in methods you use before deleting the app. After reinstall you will need to sign in again and reconfigure settings like notifications.

Method 4: Clear Slack Cache In Web Browser

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Best For: Problems only in slack.com when using Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari.

When you use Slack in a browser, the browser handles caching. Clearing Slack cache in this case means clearing the browser cache and testing for extension conflicts.

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Test With Private Window

Open Slack in an Incognito or Private window. If it loads correctly there, a browser extension is likely interfering. Disable extensions one by one until the problem disappears.

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Clear Browser Cache

Use your browser's Clear Browsing Data or Clear History options and include cached images and files. After clearing, sign back in to Slack and test again.

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Run Slack Connection Test

Visit slack.com/help/test to verify network and WebSocket connectivity if the site still does not load. If other people on your team also see issues, move to broader Slack issue diagnosis for your network.

Slack Cache Clearing Methods Compared

Use this matrix to understand impact, risk, and when to use each method.

Platform	Method	Impact	Keeps You Signed In	When To Use
Desktop (Win And Mac)	Clear Cache and Restart	Low	Usually Yes	Visual glitches, slow app, basic errors
Desktop (Win And Mac)	Manual Cache Folder Delete	Medium	Often Yes	Slack will not open or stuck on blank screen
Android	Clear Cache	Low	Yes	Slow app, notification problems, layout bugs
Android	Clear Data	High	No	Severe issues after other steps, last resort
iOS	Uninstall And Reinstall	High	No	Persistent bugs on iPhone or iPad
Web Browser	Clear Browser Cache	Medium	Sometimes No	Slack issues only in one browser, others work

Troubleshooting If Clearing Cache Does Not Help

If problems continue after clearing cache, try these extra checks.

1. Check Slack Status

Sometimes the issue is not your device. Slack’s own status page lists current incidents and may even suggest clearing cache as a temporary workaround.

If Slack status shows an active incident, you can stop debugging your laptop and wait for their fix.

2. Disable Hardware Acceleration (Desktop)

Some users fix freezes and graphical glitches by disabling hardware acceleration:

Open Slack on desktop.
Go to Preferences.
Find Advanced settings.
Turn off Hardware acceleration and restart Slack.

3. Sign Out And Back In

Sign out from Slack on your device.
Close the app completely.
Reopen it and sign back in.

This forces Slack to rebuild session data and can fix sync issues that cache alone did not resolve.

4. Reinstall The App

As a last resort:

Uninstall Slack.
Restart your device.
Download the latest version from Slack’s website or your app store and sign in again.

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Find The Right Slack Cache Fix

Choose the situation that describes you and get a focused set of steps.

What Is Happening In Slack Right Now?

Desktop App Is Slow Or Blank

You use the Slack app on Windows or Mac and it feels heavy or shows an empty window.

Android App Misbehaves

Messages and notifications are unreliable on your Android phone or tablet.

iPhone Or iPad Feels Glitchy

Slack works, but screens freeze, or content feels stale on iOS devices.

Slack In Browser Only Is Broken

Slack works elsewhere but not in one browser tab or one computer.

✅ Recommendation: Desktop Cache Clear Sequence

First press Ctrl + Shift + R or Cmd + Shift + R to force reload. If that fails, open the Help menu and use Troubleshooting → Clear Cache and Restart. If Slack will not open at all, clear the Cache folder for Slack in your user Library or AppData path, then relaunch. If performance is still poor after those steps, move to broader Slack issue checks such as network tests, notification checks, and final options like reinstalling.

✅ Recommendation: Android Clear Cache Then Test

Use Preferences → Advanced → Reset Cache inside Slack, then restart the app. If problems continue, clear cache from Android Settings under Slack storage. Only if that fails should you tap Clear Data and be ready to log in again. If other apps feel slow too, combine this with general device cleanup and the Slack troubleshooting guide.

✅ Recommendation: Restart Then Reinstall Slack On iOS

Start with a force close and reopen of Slack. If glitches persist, uninstall Slack, reinstall from the App Store, and sign in again. This fully clears the cache and resets the local app without affecting server data or channels.

✅ Recommendation: Private Window And Browser Cache

Open Slack in a Private or Incognito window to test extension conflicts. If it works there, disable extensions until you find the culprit. Next clear your browser cache, sign back in, and run the Slack connection test at slack.com/help/test. If the browser is still the only place Slack fails, network policies or a VPN may be involved and a deeper Slack issues review will help.

What Clearing Slack Cache Does And Does Not Do

Many people worry about losing conversations when they clear Slack cache. It helps to separate local temporary data from server data that is protected by retention settings.

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Messages Stay On Slack Servers

Cache clearing does not erase messages, threads, or files in your workspace. Those are stored centrally and governed by workspace retention settings your admins control.

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Sessions May Or May Not Reset

In app Clear Cache and Restart or Android Clear Cache keep you signed in. More aggressive steps such as Clear Data on Android or uninstall on iOS remove local tokens and require a fresh sign in.

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Preferences Can Reset With Stronger Actions

When you use Clear Data or reinstall, some local preferences such as notification sounds and theme choices reset to defaults. If those matter for your workflow, note them before you wipe.

Frequently Asked Questions About Slack Cache

Will Clearing Slack Cache Delete My Messages Or Files? +

No. Clearing cache only removes local temporary copies on that device. Messages, files, and channels stay stored on Slack servers according to your workspace retention policy. When you reopen the app, Slack downloads the current data again.

How Often Should I Clear Slack Cache? +

For most people there is no need to clear cache on a schedule. Use it as a targeted troubleshooting step when Slack feels unusually slow, shows blank content, or behaves differently on one device compared to others. Teams that manage many shared machines can script cache cleanup as part of regular maintenance if issues are frequent.

What If Clearing Cache Does Not Fix Slack Issues? +

If Slack still fails after cache clears, look at network problems, VPN or proxy settings, browser extensions, and the Slack service status page. At that point follow a full Slack issues troubleshooting guide which covers connection tests, notification checks, and final options like reinstalling.

Does Clearing Slack Cache Sign Me Out Of Workspaces? +

Desktop Clear Cache and Restart and Android Clear Cache are designed to keep your authentication in place. Clearing Data on Android, uninstalling on iOS, or fully reinstalling the desktop app can sign you out and require you to log in again. Before using stronger steps, confirm you know which email or single sign on method you use.

Can My Admin Clear Slack Cache Remotely For Security Reasons? +

Enterprise admins can remotely expire sessions which forces a fresh sign in and effectively clears sensitive local tokens on your devices. For typical day to day support, they will instead walk you through local cache clearing steps or share a guide like this one.

Clear Slack Cache And Keep Your Workspace Fast

Use the lightest cache clear that solves the problem, confirm your messages are still there, and then move on with a faster Slack. If issues return often, combine these steps with broader health checks for your device and network.

How to Clear Slack Cache