The Sims 4

The Sims 4 Tutorial: Deleting Cache Files

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TS4 2014 09 13 22 42 06 56

You may have noticed that the more you play The Sims 4, the longer your loading screens will last.

This issue is caused by Cache Files collecting as you progress through the game. These files serve it’s purpose as a faster way of loading in-game thumbnails (such as families, houses etc.) and they are created each time you load something ”new”.

As you add more custom content and mods for the game, you’ll notice that your Cache Files are getting bigger.

Luckily, these Cache Files can be deleted.

To do so, open your Documents folder (or a folder where your The Sims 4 Save Game folder is), Electronic Arts > The Sims 4. There’ you’ll find a folder called ”cache” and a file named localthumbcache.

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Feel free to delete the localthumbcache file!

When it comes to the cache folder, open it and delete everything that’s inside of it *except* the FileCache.cfg file!

cache2

You’ll immediately notice how your game loads much more smooth and faster.

I advise that you delete cache files every 5-7 days (especially after you download/remove custom content).

For more information about Cache files, visit Crinrict’s post!

About the author

Jovan

Reticulating splines as a webmaster for Sims Community over the last 11 years. You can find me here writing articles and doing reports on your favorite life sim games, among other things!

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LunaSim
LunaSim
10 years ago

Thanks! This reduced my loading times for about 2-4 seconds 😀

MaViGames
MaViGames
10 years ago

Why the game cant doing automatik after closed the game?

feri
feri
10 years ago

i have my sims 4 from origin, and if i go to cache, there isn’t anything 🙁

SimGandr
SimGandr
10 years ago
Reply to  feri

You might be playing offline, then they are not really used and then the cache folder is not even that hugely filled up. I had only two things there, one of them being that ini file that is not allowed to be deleted. So that could be why.

Anna
Anna
10 years ago

I dont have these folders on my game. I installed through origin with the disc, because there was no other option for me!

MrsTragicClown
MrsTragicClown
10 years ago
Reply to  Anna

I as well my folder does not look like that! I have Cach, localthumbcach.package,lotcacheddata & cachestr. Should I be delting all of these or just a few? I’m hoping this will allow me to build again on community lots but also stop the loading music to continue on in game. Sometimes the music doesn’t shut off and I have to reboot the entire game just to have this stopped. Thx in advance for any help on which cach files I should be deleting. 😥

Liz w.
Liz w.
10 years ago

Thanks for this! I was just wondering what I could delete in the files 😀

aqua
aqua
10 years ago

You gotta help me!!! I accidentally deleted the “filecache” in “cache” folder . what should i do?

SimGandr
SimGandr
10 years ago
Reply to  aqua

What I would offer is the advice to fully install your game again without deleting the other. If I am not mistaken it will overwrite the old and fill in that which has been lost, and thus also the filecache folder you have deleted. But before you do this, IF you can locate your trashcan on your computer, have a peek in there to see if it is still there (this only when you are not in the habbit of cleaning the dustbin out right away like me). If so, click and say restore to old location. That should fix it as well. Hope it is working for you. Good luck!

Universalis
Universalis
10 years ago
Reply to  SimGandr

I did delete the whole cache-folder but because I was insecure about deleting other than those images, I saved those “important looking” files on my desktop before deleting them completely. After my cache folder was completely empty, I went to play and everything was ok. After playing I went to see cache folder and there was that FileCache-file again. And that was already a couple of weeks ago and after that I haven’t experienced anything unusual in game. So, I’m not saying you CAN delete that file also, just saying it didn’t do any harm with my game. 🙂

Pahndamonium45
Pahndamonium45
10 years ago

In my game the inside the cache file folder is FileCache.ini not FileCache.cfg

Lena_Sandy
Lena_Sandy
10 years ago

if you delete accidentally a household on sims 4 how do you restore it?

Kate Olivia Morison
Kate Olivia Morison
9 years ago

I think i don’t have the cache folder

Mrs Tragic Clown
Mrs Tragic Clown
9 years ago

It must be different for windows 8.1 because I do not even have a local cache in my documents folder. Documents, Electronic Arts, The Sims 4…. then all I have is cache and cachestr. In my cachestr folder it has spotlight.package and in my cache folder FileCache.ini and then and then a total of 8 temp caches. My EA folder looks nothing like the one posted? I have windows 8.1 Alienware in case you need that information. No issues with loading or visiting lots yet at all. Hope this is updated just in case I do need to delete and cache files in the future.

m
m
9 years ago

I accidentally deleted everything in that localthumbcache file

Denny
Denny
9 years ago

Yes! Finally someone writes about spider-man unlimited hack.

Napoleon3411
Napoleon3411
9 years ago

Nice thanks. i had so slow loading that actully the music was faster then the loading screen lol

Karo
Karo
9 years ago

What if I don’t have cache folder in my documents? 🙁

Sanja
Sanja
9 years ago

If I delete localthumbcache.package if I lose everything in the game, I think of home, family that I created?

Nicole
Nicole
9 years ago
Reply to  Sanja

You shouldn’t lost anything when you delete the file. It just helps the game run quicker.

Nicole
Nicole
9 years ago

I’m a bit concerned. My cache folder is entirely empty. I’ve deleted caches before, and I can’t imagine I’d ever have deleted that FileCache.cfg file, but it’s not there. My game seems to be okay, but should I find one to download and place in there if it doesn’t regenerate after my next play? Thanks.

Juan
Juan
9 years ago

Thank you a lot for sharing this with all people you really know what you’re speaking about!
Bookmarked. Kindly also visit my web site =). We could have a hyperlink trade arrangement among us

Ellie-May
Ellie-May
9 years ago

In my cache folder there is no FileCache.cfg file. Is there a reason for this? Will it effect anything??

Sarah
Sarah
9 years ago
Reply to  Ellie-May

Same here :/ I’m on a mac ._.

Vicky
Vicky
6 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

same and im on a Mac

Vicky
Vicky
6 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

same and im on a iMac too I don’t know whats going on

Zoey
Zoey
9 years ago

In the origin app when i press the play button nothing happens and my game wont launch :I Does anyone know how to fix this plz :I

Ian McLean
Ian McLean
9 years ago

I acadentley deleted the one you weren’t meant to delete what do I do

Valu
Valu
9 years ago

Hi! I had deleted my cache, but there are some file .dat, can I delete this too??

BubblegumMort
BubblegumMort
8 years ago

so I’m not sure if things have changed since this post was made but I went and looked in my cache folder…and it’s empty I haven’t done anything do it I’ve never clicked it before or anything soooo idk what’s going on but my game seems ok?…

Amanda Gaskins
Amanda Gaskins
8 years ago

Is it safe to delete lastException tabs?

Amanda Gaskins
Amanda Gaskins
8 years ago

Does it mean anything if you don’t have a FileCache.cfg file?

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Preparing for The Sims 4 Seasons
6 years ago

[…] Cache files help speed up the loading of thumbnails and more little things in The Sims 4. However, it might be a bit too overwhelming for both the game and your PC if you haven’t cleared your cache in a while. To make sure The Sims 4 runs smoothly for The Sims 4 Seasons, make sure you clear your cache files as explained in this post! […]

Amanda Gaskins
Amanda Gaskins
6 years ago

Can we delete the stuff in the Tray folder?

Caitie
Caitie
6 years ago
Reply to  Amanda Gaskins

No! Your tray is the items you’ve saved to your Library. So when you save a lot or a sim or a family or anything like that, it goes to your Tray. Delete that, and it all goes away.

Amanda Gaskins
Amanda Gaskins
6 years ago
Reply to  Caitie

Thanks!

Jade
Jade
6 years ago

I have an “onlinethumbnailcache” document with lots of things in it, should I delete that?

DP_JungleJulia
DP_JungleJulia
5 years ago

Since it is now November 2019 and we are at version 159 of The Sims 4 this article is no longer safe to go by right, anyone?
(any accurate answers would be greatly appreciated).

Rosie
Rosie
4 years ago

can i delete spotlight_en-us.package ?

Patricia Winters
Patricia Winters
4 years ago

I some how lost the file cache file with the gear can I get it back with out installing a program to find it i think because i did not under stand i delete the folder it was in instead of what was in so that was how i lost it sims4