How to Clean Unity Editor UPM Package Manager & Asset Store Cache
Location & Quick Verdict
%LocalAppData%\Unity\cache\packages
Unity Package Manager (UPM) and Unity Asset Store download and permanently store tarballs of every package and asset version you test.
How Windows Manages Unity Editor UPM Package Manager & Asset Store Cache on NTFS & NVMe Drives
Windows 10 and Windows 11 maintain hidden system directories and root-level allocation files at %LocalAppData%\Unity\cache\packages to handle shell thumbnail databases, prefetcher launch traces, hibernation power states, and user-profile scratch storage. Because many of these paths are marked with +H (Hidden) or +S (System) attributes or guarded by SYSTEM ACL permissions, standard folder size scans often miss them entirely.
Over time, orphaned temporary files, stale Explorer DataCache_* buckets, and uncompacted virtual storage allocations inside %LocalAppData%\Unity\cache\packages lock up 5.0 GB – 45.0 GB of primary C: drive space. Cleaning Unity Editor UPM Package Manager & Asset Store Cache using the proper administrative method restores drive headroom safely.
# Inspect current disk footprint of Unity Editor UPM Package Manager & Asset Store Cache (Read-Only)
$target = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Unity\cache\packages"
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 Close Unity Hub and all open Unity Editor instances.
- 2 Press Windows Key + R, type %LocalAppData%\Unity\cache, and press Enter.
- 3 Delete the 'packages' and 'npm' folders.
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 Unity Editor UPM Package Manager & Asset Store 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 Unity Editor UPM Package Manager & Asset Store Cache are safe to purge and which files remain protected:
| Sub-Folder / Cache Location | Storage Role | Typical Footprint | Deletion Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| %LocalAppData%\Unity\cache\packages | Primary System Scratch, Thumbnail/Icon DB or Virtual Allocation | 5.0 GB – 45.0 GB | 🟢 100% Safe (Unlocked Files) |
| %LocalAppData%\Temp & C:\Windows\Temp | Orphaned Installer Extraction & Session Scratch Files | 1.5 GB – 18.0 GB | 🟢 100% Safe |
| %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer (thumbcache_*.db) | Cached File Explorer Image & Video Thumbnail Databases | 250 MB – 3.0 GB | 🟢 100% Safe (Rebuilds Automatically) |
| User Documents, Desktop & Registry Hives | Personal Files, Boot Configuration & System Certificates | Protected | 🔒 Protected — Never Touched |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to delete Unity Editor UPM Package Manager & Asset Store Cache?
Yes, 100% safe. Safely cleans old, unreferenced Unity asset packages. Active project dependencies are re-downloaded seamlessly when opened.
How much storage space will cleaning Unity Editor UPM Package Manager & Asset Store Cache free up?
Users typically reclaim 5.0 GB – 45.0 GB on Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems depending on update frequency and active cache retention in %LocalAppData%\Unity\cache\packages.
Why does Windows say some files in Unity Editor UPM Package Manager & Asset Store Cache are "In Use" when I try to delete them?
Active background processes (such as explorer.exe, svchost.exe, or running desktop apps) hold open file handles to current session scratch files. Skipping locked files—or letting SWEEPR Cleaner clean unlocked items automatically—is normal and completely safe.
Where is Unity Editor UPM Package Manager & Asset Store Cache located on Windows 10 and Windows 11?
It is stored at %LocalAppData%\Unity\cache\packages. 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 Unity Editor UPM Package Manager & Asset Store Cache Automatically
SWEEPR Cleaner safely clears Unity Editor UPM Package Manager & Asset Store 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.