topic Re: Cache setting still going to OS drive in Desktop (Windows)

Cache setting still going to OS drive

Moonzi — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 20:03:21 GMT

With the latest release the ability to change the cache direcroy is in but it doesn't work. I have it pointing to a backup hardrive but the app data directory is still growing close to gig now with just switching it and deleting the old content.

Re: Cache setting still going to OS drive

user-removed — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 11:16:57 GMT

Did you see if the enlargement of your AppData directory is Spotify's fault? I tried mine but I had no issues.

Re: Cache setting still going to OS drive

Moonzi — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 12:33:32 GMT

I'm speaking specifically of the Spotify folder under my appdata. Specifically the data folder that's growing as I play music and have the cache location set to a different drive.

Re: Cache setting still going to OS drive

Unfortune — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 08:20:36 GMT

Same problem here, very annoying, Spotify keeps using User/AppData/Local as cache despite the fact that cache location is set to another drive in the settings

I tried to reinstall but it doesn't change anything, I have a small SSD hardrive and I have to manually erase the cache every day, so that is defintely an issue.

Re: Cache setting still going to OS drive

lil_kreen — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 12:46:49 GMT

It's my understanding that the cache used for playing files is not controlled by that setting. the one you can configure in the application only affects the local library. You'd have to symlink the appdata folder to one on another drive through NTFS to fix this problem with brute force. I haven't seen any other more elegant solutions for the problem.

Re: Cache setting still going to OS drive

bacizone — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 19:23:44 GMT

Hey, this is ridiculous!

Spoitfy now saves all its fragments to the C:\ in case of Windows 7, consuming the space on my SSD!

For me even this workaround does not work at all: https://community.spotify.com/t5/Help-Desktop-Linux-Windows-Web/Problem-with-the-cache-in-the-latest-version-of-Spotify/td-p/1042906/page/2

The junction is created, but Spotify just keeps saving the stream to C:\ instead of the other drive I entered.

Users should not trick with command line stuff, Spotify app should work as it did in the past.

A very serious bug, please fix it ASAP!

Re: Cache setting still going to OS drive

xfactoid — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 22:53:53 GMT

Marked solution above. Currently the "Cache" setting only sets the directory where "Available Offline" music data is stored. The more general music data cache is still located at %LocalAppData%\Spotify\Data.

I know it's not ideal, but currently the only way to change this is to symlink to your desired location. It's very easy, just close Spotify, move the Data folder to the desired location (for example D:\AppData\Spotify\Data) and enter in command line (may require admin priveleges)

mklink /d %LocalAppData%\Spotify\Data D:\AppData\Spotify\Data\

If done in Powershell you must preface this with "cmd /c ", otherwise it won't work.

Re: Cache setting still going to OS drive

bacizone — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 06:50:54 GMT

After entering here:

mklink /d "%LocalAppData%\Spotify\Data\" "e:\System Temp\Spotify Cache\Data\"

I get this:

"Cannot create a file when that file already exists."

How to resolve this?

Re: Cache setting still going to OS drive

xfactoid — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 07:01:52 GMT

You must move or delete the folder in LocalAppData

Re: Cache setting still going to OS drive

bacizone — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 08:25:27 GMT

Ok, now symbolic link is being created and confirmed.

BUT...what happens now: the temp files are now saving on both locations:

c:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Spotify\Data link

e:\System Temp\Spotify Cache\

Actually, now it steals the same amount of space on both C:\ and E:\, I can see the decrease of free space in real-time in Commander on both drives while streaming more and more songs!

Re: Cache setting still going to OS drive

xfactoid — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 09:51:52 GMT

If you did it right it may appear that way but it's only taking up space in the new location. Check the size of the Spotify folder, it shouldn't include the size of the cache. And make sure the folder is named "Data" not "Data link" (maybe I'm reading that wrong).

Re: Cache setting still going to OS drive

Noktiok — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 23:07:26 GMT

xfactoid's is the answer. Until Spotify finds the error in their ways, this is the go-to solution. Thanks!

Re: Cache setting still going to OS drive

JiggaJigga — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 09:48:55 GMT

Much appreciated. It works fine.