Manage media cache

Learn how clearing old or unused media cache files can help maintain optimal performance.

Clearing old or unused media cache files can help maintain optimal performance. When importing video and audio into Premiere Pro, it processes versions of these files that it can readily access for faster performance. These are referred to as media cache files. These are stored in the Media Cache Files folder. In addition, there is a folder containing a database that retains links to each of the media cache files. These are referred to as media cache database files. They are located in the Media Cache folder.

The Media Cache is where Premiere Pro stores accelerator files, including peak files (.pek) and conformed audio (.cfa) files.

Clearing old or unused media cache files can help maintain optimal performance. Deleted cache files are recreated whenever source media requires them. Clearing the media cache regularly is a best practice for optimum Premiere Pro performance or troubleshooting.

Where to store Media Cache files?

For best performance, choose a fast SSD or NVME drive for your Media Cache - ideally on a dedicated drive. You can change the locations of the media cache files by clicking Browse and navigating to the desired folder location. You can save the Media Cache on the same drive as your media if needed.