Epic, GOG and Battle.net each keep their own installer cache
Four launchers, four caches, and the folders none of them clear. Where each keeps what, and what is safe to remove.
Every launcher keeps downloaded installers, patch files and shader caches in a folder separate from the games, and none of them clear those when a game is removed.
Where each keeps things
$roots = @(
"$env:LOCALAPPDATA\EpicGamesLauncher",
"$env:PROGRAMDATA\Epic",
"$env:LOCALAPPDATA\GOG.com",
"$env:PROGRAMDATA\Battle.net",
"$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Battle.net",
"$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Packages\Microsoft.GamingApp*"
)
foreach ($r in $roots) {
if (Test-Path $r) {
$s = (Get-ChildItem $r -Recurse -Force -File -EA SilentlyContinue | Measure-Object Length -Sum).Sum
'{0,8:N0} MB {1}' -f ($s/1MB), $r
}
}| Launcher | What it caches | Safe to clear |
|---|---|---|
| Epic | Downloaded installers, patch data | Yes |
| GOG Galaxy | Installers and a local database | Installers yes, database no |
| Battle.net | Update files and repair data | Yes |
| Xbox app | Packaged game data under WindowsApps | Through the app only |
Xbox and Game Pass are different
Games installed through the Xbox app go into a protected folder, usually WindowsApps on the chosen drive, with permissions a normal process cannot walk. That is why they can be invisible to disk tools and why they must be uninstalled through the app rather than by deleting folders. The Xbox app has its own storage view showing installed games by size.
The pattern across all of them
- A download cache. What was fetched, kept in case it is needed again.
- A repair or patch cache. Data for fixing an installation.
- A shader cache. Built the first time you play, per game per driver version.
- None of it removed on uninstall.
Moving games rather than removing them
Most launchers support a second install location, which on a machine with a small system drive is the better answer. Epic and Battle.net both let you choose a folder per game, and GOG can add library paths.
The games themselves
Once the caches are dealt with, the honest question is which installed games you still play. One modern title is 80 to 150 GB, more than every cache on this page combined, and reinstalling is a download rather than a loss. Steam's own folders go into more detail on the largest of these.
Common questions
Where do game launchers cache downloads on Windows?
Each keeps its own folder under AppData or ProgramData, named for the launcher. They hold installers, patch data and repair files, none of which are removed when a game is uninstalled.
Why can I not see my Xbox Game Pass games in a disk tool?
They install into a protected WindowsApps folder with permissions a normal process cannot walk. The Xbox app's own storage view is the reliable way to see and remove them.
Is it safe to delete a launcher's cache?
Yes for download, patch and shader caches, which are all regenerated. Do not delete a launcher's own database, which tracks what you own and what is installed.
Should I move games to another drive?
On a machine with a small system drive, yes. Most launchers support a second install location, and moving is faster and safer than uninstalling and redownloading.