Media Cache Files are not saving to specified location

Report · Oct 18, 2017

I've been using Premiere Pro for six years and I have not had this specific issue before this new update (CC 2018). Preferences>Media Cache says the right location for Media Cache Files "E:Adobe Media Cache/Media Cache" but the Media Cache still fills up the C drive which causes a low memory problem.

No matter what I try it still saves to the C drive.

Windows 10 and Nvidia Quadro K4200 are both up to date.

I do not have multiple versions installed.

Deleting/Resetting preferences for After Effect and Premiere does not fix this. (holding shift+alt while clicking application until screen appears)

Uninstalling/reinstalling does not fix this.

Deleting common folder in C:/users/username/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/ does not fix this.

Deleting and/or renaming Documents/Adobe/Premiere Pro folder does not fix this.

I cannot get to work because of this issue and have wasted the day away trying to find a solution. Can someone please help?

Report · Oct 19, 2017

Still a crippling issue.

Report · Oct 19, 2017

Try setting just "E:" as the location.

Report · Oct 22, 2017

Hi JohnnyZ001,

Sorry for the issue with Media Cache. Have you tried the step recommended by Jim Simon? Please share us the screenshot of Premiere Pro Preferences > Media Cache.

Do you have After Effects or Media Encoder installed in the machine? Have you changed the location of Media cache for these applications as well?

Thanks,

Vidya.

Report · Oct 23, 2017

I reverted to CC 2017 for the time being. I will test all of the possibilities above when I have time. Thank you for responding.

I did have AE and Media Encoder installed. AE DID have the correct media cache path however I did not double check Media Encoder. Again, I will check when I have time.

Report · Oct 23, 2017

This problem has existed through several iterations of Premiere, and continue in Premiere 2018 on my Mac system. No matter where I set the Media Cache location ( I have an SSD labeled CACHE attached to my system):

I still end up accumulating Premiere Cache files at the Premiere Pro default location:

/Users/myname/Library/Application Support/Adober/Common/

I've sent in Bug Reports.

MtD

Report · Oct 23, 2017

Having the same issue.

Report · Apr 11, 2020

Hi Meg,

Did you ever find a solution for this? I have the same problem currently. No matter what I do, the default location gets filled up.

Thanks,

Report · Mar 16, 2020

Vidya_Sagar, I know this is an older thread, but I have encountered this issue as well in Premiere Pro CC 2019. In the past, it semmed to be tied to the changing of the location of the After Effects cache (at least with the 2018 versions of the software).

I also noticed that the program will reset to default if the cache is stored externally, and the drive its on is shut off when the program is started. For example, if I forget to turn on my external, and open After Effects, its cache will revert to default. If I open Premiere Pro afterwards, even with the drive now on, it seems that the programs have "talked to each other" and the Premiere Pro cache has moved to default. Is there a way to set a secondary cache, so that After Effects and Premiere can automatically search for it, rather than the default? I have a permanently attached MicroSD card that can be used as a cache, if this is possible.

Report · Apr 11, 2020

I still have this problem - it just reverts back.

The drive that I want to use for my cache files is internal - not sure what's going on.

Thanks,

Joseph

Report · Feb 06, 2018

Having the same issue (WIndows 10)... actualy it saves media cache to both drives, which is even more annoying (not sure if it saves the same files, or different files to different hard drive)... This is unfortunately not the only bug in Premiere Pro (I am thinking about not to resume my subscription because of huge amout of bugs recently - ruining projcets, weird playback with lots of artifacts etc...). Let us know, if anybody find a solution.

Report · Nov 26, 2018

Having the same issue here. In Premiere, I've set the Media Cache to a Network Drive so all editors can use it. Then deleted Media Cache and Media Cache Files folders on Mac HD/User/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Common. Open project again and see that new .ims files are being created in that same Mac HD/User/..../Media Cache Files path when they already exist on the Network Drive cache folder.

I checked Media Encoder and After Effects (neither of which have been open during this time) and they both are set correctly.

Double check Premiere Preferences > Media Cache and see that it is showing the Network drive path. Clearly a bug.

Report · Nov 26, 2018

Searching around more for this issue revealed this old thread:

Re: Crash and .ims Files

Which states:

.ims files are system specific and will always generate to the system drive. They cannot be stored on a server or external drive.
FYI: ims files = Cache of file properties used to skip re-reading the file during project load.
Best,
Peter Garaway
Adobe
Premiere Pro

Makes sense I suppose!

Report · Apr 19, 2019

.ims - This is a cache of file properties so that Premiere doesn't have to re-scan each media file every time a project file is opened. These files are also unique as they are system specific, which means that even if you change the location of the media cache to an external drive, .ims files continue to get created on your system volume.