Automatically manage your Media Cache files

Last updated on Jun 24, 2025

Learn how to set your preferences to automatically delete cache files based on their age and memory usage in Premiere Pro.

You can set your preferences for the media cache by navigating to the Media Cache section within the Preferences dialog box. Select and adjust the values for Automatically delete cache files older than and Automatically delete oldest cache files when cache exceeds to set an automated deletion of media cache based on their age and memory usage.

  1. Select Edit > Preferences (Windows) > Media Cache or Premiere Pro > Settings (macOS) > Media Cache.

  2. Select from the options under the Media Cache Management section.

    The Preferences dialog is open and the options Media Cache Management and Do not delete cache files automatically are highlighted.
    Adjust options under Media Cache Management to clear old or unused media cache files for optimal application performance.

    • Do not delete cache files automatically - This setting is enabled by default in the Media Cache preferences. Automatic deletion of media cache files applies only to .pek, .cfa and .ims files within the subdirectory folders - Peak and Media Cache files.
    • Automatically delete cache files older than - The default value is 90 days. You can change it to a time period of your preference.
    • Automatically delete oldest cache files when cache exceeds - The default is 10% of the volume size where the media cache is located.
Note:

When either the age or size preference is enabled, changes take place after quitting and restarting Premiere Pro. On the next application launch, Premiere Pro determines whether the media cache files meet the criteria for deletion, and if so, begins deletion 10 minutes after launch. This housekeeping then occurs on a weekly basis from that point onward.