How to Clean PreSonus Studio One DAW Cache & Temporary Files
Location & Quick Verdict
%AppData%\PreSonus\Studio One\Cache, MediaCache, and Logs
PreSonus Studio One DAW generates peak audio waveforms, proxy video thumbnails, render scratch files, and plugin scan logs inside %AppData%\PreSonus\Studio One during editing sessions.
How Timeline Previews, Conform Audio & Render Scratch Fill PreSonus Studio One DAW Cache & Temporary Files
Non-linear video editors (NLEs), streaming encoders, 3D DCC tools, and DAWs continuously write uncompressed audio conform files (.cfa), waveform peak indexes (.pek), proxy transcodes, and frame-accurate undo scratch into %AppData%\PreSonus\Studio One\Cache, MediaCache, and Logs. Even after you finish exporting and archiving a client project, gigabytes of intermediate timeline render caches remain permanently allocated on your scratch disk.
On 4K/8K timelines or multi-scene streaming setups, PreSonus Studio One DAW Cache & Temporary Files routinely consumes 1.5 GB – 9.5 GB of high-speed SSD space. Safely pruning stale media caches reclaims scratch bandwidth immediately; if you ever reopen an older project file, the application simply regenerates audio waveforms and timeline previews in the background.
# Inspect current disk footprint of PreSonus Studio One DAW Cache & Temporary Files (Read-Only)
$target = "$env:APPDATA\PreSonus\Studio One\Cache, MediaCache,"
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 Completely close PreSonus Studio One DAW and verify no background helper processes remain active in Windows Task Manager.
- 2 Press Windows Key + R, type %AppData%\PreSonus\Studio One into the Run dialog, and press Enter.
- 3 Open the Cache, Temp, or Logs subdirectories, select the cached files (Ctrl + A), and press Shift + Delete.
- 4 Relaunch PreSonus Studio One DAW (or use SWEEPR Cleaner to purge all PreSonus Studio One DAW cache directories automatically in one click).
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 PreSonus Studio One DAW Cache & Temporary Files
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 PreSonus Studio One DAW Cache & Temporary Files are safe to purge and which files remain protected:
| Sub-Folder / Cache Location | Storage Role | Typical Footprint | Deletion Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| %AppData%\PreSonus\Studio One\Cache, MediaCache, | Primary Media Cache, Proxy Scratch & Render Previews | 1.5 GB – 9.5 GB | 🟢 100% Safe (Re-renders on Demand) |
| %AppData%\PreSonus\Studio One\Cache, MediaCache,\Media Cache Files (*.cfa, *.pek) | Conformed Audio Waveforms & Timeline Peak Files | 2.0 GB – 25.0 GB | 🟢 100% Safe |
| %AppData%\PreSonus\Studio One\Cache, MediaCache,\GPUCache & Code Cache | Hardware-Accelerated Viewport & UI Plugin Cache | 300 MB – 3.0 GB | 🟢 100% Safe |
| %AppData%\PreSonus\Studio One\Cache, MediaCache,\logs & Crashpad\reports | Render Session Logs & Crash Dump Archives (.dmp) | 200 MB – 4.5 GB | 🟢 100% Safe |
| Project Timelines (.prproj / .drp / .blend) & LUTs | Source Footage, Edit Timelines, Presets & Exported Renders | Protected | 🔒 Protected — Never Touched |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to delete PreSonus Studio One DAW Cache & Temporary Files?
Yes, 100% safe. Deleting PreSonus Studio One DAW's temporary media and waveform caches frees 2.0 GB – 15.0 GB of disk space without affecting your saved timelines, presets, or exported renders.
How much storage space will cleaning PreSonus Studio One DAW Cache & Temporary Files free up?
Users typically reclaim 1.5 GB – 9.5 GB on Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems depending on update frequency and active cache retention in %AppData%\PreSonus\Studio One\Cache, MediaCache, and Logs.
Will clearing PreSonus Studio One DAW Cache & Temporary Files delete my video projects, drafts, or saved recordings?
No. Project timelines, source media clips, and exported videos are stored in your project folders—not in %AppData%\PreSonus\Studio One\Cache, MediaCache, and Logs. If you reopen an active project after cleaning, the software automatically rebuilds any needed waveform peaks or preview frames.
Where is PreSonus Studio One DAW Cache & Temporary Files located on Windows 10 and Windows 11?
It is stored at %AppData%\PreSonus\Studio One\Cache, MediaCache, and Logs. 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 PreSonus Studio One DAW Cache & Temporary Files Automatically
SWEEPR Cleaner safely clears PreSonus Studio One DAW Cache & Temporary Files 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.