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How to Rebuild Font Cache in Windows 11

A corrupted font cache can cause font rendering problems and slow down the PC. Here is how to create and rebuild the font cache in Windows 11.

To simplify things and save system resources, Windows automatically creates a font cache file for all the installed fonts in your system. Windows uses the cache file to display fonts on the screen as fast as possible. Without a proper font cache, Windows has to do a lot of work in real-time to display fonts on the screen. As you can guess, this real-time work will consume a lot of system resources. That’s where the font cache comes into play and saves the day.

It is not often, but there will be times when you need to clear or delete the font cache in Windows 11. If the font cache is corrupted, it can cause all kinds of problems. For example, the fonts won’t render correctly, the OS might slow down while showing heavy text screen, display garbled or invalid characters, etc.

What corrupts font cache in Windows?

Being a cache file, there is no specific reason why it gets corrupted. There are many reasons like the system turning off unexpectedly, power loss, unwanted changes made by programs, problems with antivirus, etc.

No matter the reason, when facing font rendering problems or seeing garbled or invalid characters on the screen, clearing and rebuilding the font cache might be helpful. The good thing is, it is pretty easy to rebuild the font cache in Windows 11. You have to delete the font cache file and reboot the system. Doing that will force Windows to create a new font cache file.

So, without delay, let me show you how to clear the font cache, delete the font cache, and rebuild the font cache in Windows 11 operating system.

Clear and rebuild font cache in Windows 11

To clear or delete the font cache, you must delete all the font cache files. However, these files are locked and in use by the Font Cache Windows Service. So, we need to stop that service to unlock the files and then delete them. Though it sounds complicated, it is pretty easy to do. Follow the below steps, and it will be done in a jiffy.

Here are the steps to delete font cache files and rebuild font cache:

  1. Open the Run dialog box (Win + R).
  2. Type “services.msc” in the field.
  3. Press the “Ok” button.
  4. Right-click on the “Windows Font Cache Service.”
  5. Select the “Stop” option.
  6. Open the Run dialog box (Win + R).
  7. Paste “%WinDir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData” in the field.
  8. Press “Ok.”
  9. Click “Continue” if prompted.
  10. Go to the “Local > FontCache” folder.
  11. Delete all the “FontCache” files.
  12. Close the File Explorer.
  13. Reboot the computer.
  14. After restart, Windows automatically rebuilds the Font cache.

Same steps with a bit more detail and screenshots:

First, we need to stop the Font Cache service. You can do that using the Windows Services tool. So, open the Run dialog box with the “Start key + R” shortcut, type “services.msc” in the blank field, and click the “Ok” button. You can also search for the same in the Start menu.

services run command

After opening the Services tool, find the “Windows Font Cache” service, right-click on it and select the “Stop” option. This action will stop the Windows Font Cache service instantly.

stop font cache service

After that, open the Run dialog box again. You can do that using the “Win + R” keyboard shortcut. Paste “%WinDir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData” in the dialog box and press the “Ok” button.

open appdata folder

If you see an administrator prompt, click the “Continue” button.

In the AppData folder, go to the “Local > FontCache” folder. This is where all the font cache files a relocated.

Here, select all the font cache files and delete them. Font cache files start with the “FontCache” or “~FontCache” name.

delete font cache files to rebuild font cache in Windows 11

After that, close the File Explorer and Services window and reboot the computer.

After rebooting, Windows 11 will automatically start the font cache service, scan the system for fonts, and create new font cache files. Essentially, Windows 11 will automatically rebuild the font cache files for you. You don’t have to do that manually.

That is all. It is that simple to rebuild font cache files in Windows 11.

I hope this simple Windows 11 guide helped you.

If you are stuck or need some help, comment below, and I will try to help as much as possible.

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