How to Clean Call of Duty HQ & Warzone Pre-Compiled Shader Cache
Location & Quick Verdict
%LocalAppData%\Activision\Call of Duty\shadercache
Call of Duty HQ and Warzone store multi-gigabyte DirectX 12 shader packs that grow after every seasonal update and GPU driver change.
How Compiled DirectX 12, Vulkan & Driver Pipelines Accumulate in Call of Duty HQ & Warzone Pre-Compiled Shader Cache
Every time a modern DirectX 12, Vulkan, or OpenGL title launches, your graphics driver compiles hardware-specific Pipeline State Objects (PSOs) and compute shaders into binary cache buckets at %LocalAppData%\Activision\Call of Duty\shadercache. Across dozens of driver updates and game patches, shaders compiled for retired driver versions remain on disk alongside active pipelines—and corrupted shader buckets are a primary cause of micro-stutter and DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNG crashes.
When you clear Call of Duty HQ & Warzone Pre-Compiled Shader Cache, the graphics driver automatically allocates a clean, defragmented shader cache directory on next launch and compiles only the active pipeline states required by your current driver version. Note that any files locked by the Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe) or active tray overlays are safely skipped.
# Inspect current disk footprint of Call of Duty HQ & Warzone Pre-Compiled Shader Cache (Read-Only)
$target = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Activision\Call of Duty\shadercache"
Get-ChildItem -Path $target -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
Measure-Object -Property Length -Sum |
Select-Object Count, @{Name="SizeGB";Expression={[math]::Round($_.Sum / 1GB, 2)}}
Manual Cleaning Instructions
- 1 Exit Call of Duty completely.
- 2 Press Windows Key + R, type %localappdata%\Activision\Call of Duty\shadercache, and hit Enter.
- 3 Delete all files inside the shadercache directory.
Note: If Windows alerts that a file is in use or locked by a background process, close the associated task in Task Manager before deleting, or use SWEEPR Cleaner to release locked handles safely.
Sub-Folders & Cache Locations Breakdown for Call of Duty HQ & Warzone Pre-Compiled Shader Cache
Modern Windows applications and system services split their disk footprint across multiple sub-directories (`Cache_Data`, `Service Worker\CacheStorage`, `Code Cache`, `GPUCache`, and `Crashpad\reports`). Review which sub-folders inside Call of Duty HQ & Warzone Pre-Compiled Shader Cache are safe to purge and which files remain protected:
| Sub-Folder / Cache Location | Storage Role | Typical Footprint | Deletion Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| %LocalAppData%\Activision\Call of Duty\shadercache (*.bin / *.toc / *.nvph) | Compiled DirectX 11/12 & Vulkan Shader Pipeline Binaries | 3.0 GB – 14.0 GB | 🟢 100% Safe (Unlocked Entries) |
| %LocalAppData%\D3DSCache | Windows Direct3D Shared Driver Shader Cache | 500 MB – 4.0 GB | 🟢 100% Safe |
| %LocalAppData%\NVIDIA\GLCache / AMD\GLCache | OpenGL & Legacy Shader Compilation Cache | 250 MB – 2.5 GB | 🟢 100% Safe |
| Driver Display Profiles & Control Panel Settings | Custom 3D Settings, G-Sync/FreeSync & Color Calibration | Protected | 🔒 Protected — Never Touched |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to delete Call of Duty HQ & Warzone Pre-Compiled Shader Cache?
Yes, 100% safe. Frees disk space and fixes post-update stuttering or packet-burst hitching by forcing a clean shader optimization on next launch.
How much storage space will cleaning Call of Duty HQ & Warzone Pre-Compiled Shader Cache free up?
Users typically reclaim 3.0 GB – 14.0 GB on Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems depending on update frequency and active cache retention in %LocalAppData%\Activision\Call of Duty\shadercache.
Will deleting Call of Duty HQ & Warzone Pre-Compiled Shader Cache cause shader compilation stutter in games?
Only briefly on the very first launch of a game while your GPU compiles fresh shaders for your current driver version. In fact, clearing bloated or corrupted shader caches often resolves persistent frame-time spikes and driver crashes after GPU driver updates.
Where is Call of Duty HQ & Warzone Pre-Compiled Shader Cache located on Windows 10 and Windows 11?
It is stored at %LocalAppData%\Activision\Call of Duty\shadercache. You can paste that path directly into the Windows Run dialog (Win + R) or File Explorer address bar to inspect it.
Manual File Explorer vs. 1-Click SWEEPR Cleanup
| Feature | Manual Deletion | SWEEPR Cleaner |
|---|---|---|
| Locked File Handling | Fails on locked processes | Safe background release |
| Accidental Deletion Risk | Moderate (easy to delete wrong folder) | Zero (strict rules & hashes) |
| Safety Undo Rollback | None (Shift+Del is permanent) | 7-Day Automatic Rollback |
| Time Required | 10–20 minutes per app | < 60 seconds across 40+ areas |
Related Windows Cleanup Guides & Hidden Space Hogs
Clean Call of Duty HQ & Warzone Pre-Compiled Shader Cache Automatically
SWEEPR Cleaner safely clears Call of Duty HQ & Warzone Pre-Compiled Shader Cache along with 40+ other hidden app folders and leftover files in one click—covering up to 5 devices (Windows, Mac, Android & iOS) with a 7-day undo safety net.