CSC C:\Windows\CSC

Client-side caching (CSC) store: local copies of offline files synchronized with network shares.

Updated on 12 November 2026 By AltF4 Formation

What it’s for

C:\Windows\CSC is the cache of the Offline Files feature, also called CSC (Client-Side Caching). It lets users keep working on files from network shares (redirected folders, “Always available offline”) when the network is down, then resynchronizes them when the connection returns.

What it contains

Local copies of the network files and folders made available offline, in an internal format: the original names are not readable here.
Synchronization metadata, including changes not yet sent back to the server.
A possible alternate location, set by the CacheLocation registry value under HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\CSC\Parameters.
The folder is hidden and protected: you need takeown to explore it.

Risks and best practices

The cache can hold unsynchronized changes. Synchronize, or check the sync status in Sync Center, before touching it.
Do not delete this folder by hand on a machine that uses it: Microsoft’s procedure only deletes it after moving the cache (take ownership, then delete the old folder, with a path under 260 characters).
To move the cache, follow the documented procedure (CacheLocation, restart) and back up the registry first. cachemov.exe has not been supported since Windows Vista.
If you do not use Offline Files, turn the feature off rather than deleting the folder.

Useful commands

# Offline Files cache status (read-only)
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_OfflineFilesCache | Select-Object Enabled, Active, Location

# Custom cache location, if any
Get-ItemProperty 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CSC\Parameters' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

:: As administrator, after migration only (Microsoft procedure to remove the old cache)
:: takeown /r /f c:\windows\csc
:: rd /s c:\windows\csc

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