Free up disk space: what Timeline stores and how to clear it with the cache manager
Timeline keeps small things on disk so it can be fast. The Cache page shows all of them and lets you clear what you do not need.
LAAGU··2 min readTimeline
What Timeline keeps
| Item | Why it exists |
|---|---|
| Thumbnails | The pictures in the file list |
| Seek previews | The hover pictures on the seek bar, 20 per video |
| Caption links | Captions you loaded, tied to their videos |
| Repaired and converted videos | Copies made when a broken file or an AVI had to be fixed to play |
| Compressed temp | Work files of the compress tool |
| Interface cache | What the app window itself caches |
| Recorder buffer | The short pieces of the replay buffer and in-progress recordings |
Try it in Timeline
Free for Windows 10 and 11. One installer, nothing else to set up.
Use the Cache page
- Open Settings and choose Cache.
- Under Cache folders you see each item with its size, biggest first.
- Click Open to look at the folder, or Clear to empty it.
- If Timeline asks, click Restart now to finish clearing (it only offers this when nothing is being captured).
"In use right now"
A separate group, In use right now, holds the items that change while Timeline works. They are kept apart so you do not clear something that is busy. The recorder buffer cannot be cleared while Timeline is capturing, or while unfinished recordings are waiting to be recovered.
What is safe to clear
- Thumbnails, seek previews, caption links, repaired copies and compressed temp can all be cleared. Timeline simply makes them again the next time you need them.
- The recorder buffer: only when you are not recording or clipping, and after recovering anything you want to keep.
- Your recordings and clips are not in the cache: they are in your recordings and clips folders, and the Cache page does not touch them.
When to clear what
| If... | Clear |
|---|---|
| You played a lot of long videos and want room back | Seek previews, and thumbnails |
| A video would not play right and you want a fresh try | Repaired and converted videos |
| You never use compress, or it failed halfway | Compressed temp |
After a clear, Timeline may offer Restart now. Say yes when nothing is being captured: the cache is rebuilt as you use the app.
Tip. Seek previews are the item that grows with every video you play. If the Cache page shows a lot of room used, clearing them is the easy win.
Questions
Is it safe to clear the cache?
Yes for thumbnails, seek previews, caption links, repaired copies and compressed temp: Timeline remakes them when needed. The recorder buffer is protected while it is in use.
Does clearing the cache delete my recordings?
No. Recordings and clips are in their own folders, not in the cache.
Why can't I clear the recorder buffer?
It is blocked while Timeline is capturing, or while an unfinished recording is waiting to be recovered.
