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Work with the Adobe Bridge cache

Last updated on 23 Mar 2022

The cache stores thumbnail and metadata information (including metadata that cannot be stored in the file, such as labels and ratings) to improve performance when you view thumbnails or search for files. However, storing the cache takes up disk space. When you build a cache, you can opt to export it for sharing or archiving, and you can choose to generate 100% previews. You can manage the cache by purging it and by setting preferences to control its size and location.

For more information about the shared cache, see Centrally manage the Adobe Bridge cache.

Purge the cache

The cache of Adobe Bridge stores thumbnail, preview, and metadata information in a database to improve the performance when you browse or search for files. However, the larger the cache, the more disk space it uses. You need to purge the cache regularly to achieve a steady performance.

Following are the different ways to purge a cache:

Purge all cache

ResetPreferences — Reset Settings dialog

To purge all the cache, do one of the following:

Select the Purge All Local Cache Files option in Edit > Cache > Preferences. For more information, see Set Cache Management Preferences.
Select the Clean up cache > Purge all local cache files in the Manage Cache dialog box. For more information about the shared cache, see Centrally manage the Adobe Bridge cache.
Select the Purge All Local Cache Files in the Reset Settings dialog. For more information, see Restore Settings.

Automatically purge cache

Cache consumes more disk space when it grows in size. You can set the cache preferences to manage the trade-off between performance and cache size. In Cache preferences, the Compact Cache On Exit option lets you set up an automatic clean-up of cache when you exit Bridge, in case the database size increases beyond 100 MB. See Set cache preferences for details. If the preference for compacting cache is not set and the cache database size grows beyond 100 MB on your machine, a dialog box is displayed when you quit Bridge.

purgingCache — Purging cache preferences

Bridge optimizes cache by automatically purging the stale cache items when your application is idle. By default, the purge duration is set as 30 days. This means that any cache item which is older than 30 days is considered as stale and hence purged by Bridge.

However, you can customize the purge duration and set any value between 1 day and 180 days. You set the purge duration in the Cache Preferences dialog. See Set cache preferences for details.

Purge a selected cache

To purge a selected cache, do one of the following:

Click Tools > Manage Cache. Select the Clean Up Cache option. If the cache you want to purge is a shared cache, you can choose to remove it locally or for everyone. Alternatively, select the Purge cache for all users option in the Manage Cache dialog. For more information about how to purge a shared cache, see Centrally manage the Adobe Bridge cache.
Right-click the folder you want to purge and choose Purge Cache for Selection.

Set cache preferences

Cache preferences help you manage the trade-off between performance and cache size.

To set the cache preferences, do the following:

Choose Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Adobe Bridge > Preferences (Mac OS).
Click Cache.

Cache Preferences
Select one of the following:

Cache Size

Drag the slider to specify a larger or smaller cache size. The default cache size is 100,000. If the cache is near the defined limit (500,000 records) or the volume that contains the cache is too full, older cached items are removed when you exit Adobe Bridge. The larger cache improves performance, but consumes more disk space.

Under Edit > Preferences > Cache, you can now set the maximum amount of disk space to be used for cache in gigabytes using the Cache Size slider.

Compact Cache On Exit

If selected, automatically compacts cache when you close Adobe Bridge if cache database size grows beyond 100 MB. Recommended to keep your cache optimized. However, if the preference for compacting cache is not set and the cache database size grows beyond 100 MB on your machine, a dialog box is displayed when you quit Bridge.

Keep 100% Previews In Cache

Keeps 100% previews of images in the cache to speed zoom operations in a slideshow or in full-screen preview, and when using the Loupe tool. Keeping 100% previews in cache, however, can use significant disk space.

Automatically Import Cache From Folder When Possible

Imports the cache automatically when you browse the folder containing the exported cache. The auto import of cache files improves the performance.

Purge Cache Older Than 'N' Days, When Bridge Is Idle

Specify the purge duration (between 1 day and 180 days). Previously cached items that are older than the specified days are considered as stale and automatically removed when Bridge is idle.

Set cache management preferences

To set the cache management preferences, do the following:

Choose Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Adobe Bridge > Preferences (Mac OS).
Click Cache Management.

Cache Management preferences
Do one of the following:

Compact Cache

Optimize cache by removing obsolete records to reduce the total number of records.

Compact Cache Now

Optimizes cache by removing obsolete cache records and the associated JPEG files.

Purge Cache

Delete the entire cache, freeing room on the hard drive.

Purge All Local Cache Files

Deletes the entire cache, freeing room on the hard drive.

Location

Specify a new location for the cache. The new location takes effect the next time you start Adobe Bridge.

With this release, you can now selectively delete your 100% preview renditions stored in the app cache. This is helpful if your workflow requires you to generate 100% Previews.

To generate 100% previews, click the thumbnail quality () icon in the upper-right corner of the content panel and select 100% Previews as your Preview Generation option. The 100% preview renditions get stored in the app cache, taking up some of your disk space.

To delete 100% previews, go to Edit > Preferences > Cache Management > Purge 100% Previews in Cache.