Procreate has no "clear cache" button. What iPadOS lists as Procreate's "Documents & Data" is mostly your canvases, their time-lapse recordings, and leftover exported copies. To free that space, delete exported duplicates in the Files app, turn off and purge time-lapse recording on large canvases, archive and delete finished work, then restart the iPad. If the number still won't drop, back up everything and reinstall Procreate.

Why There's No Cache Button in Procreate

Most of the space Procreate uses isn't a disposable cache. The app stores each canvas, and it can also record a time-lapse video of your work. Large canvases and long sessions can grow into the gigabytes quickly.

Users on Procreate's support forums have also reported that the figure in Settings can stay stuck after they delete artwork. Procreate's team has acknowledged an inconsistency between how the app stores data and how iPadOS reports it, and said it intended to improve this. So some of what looks like a stubborn cache is a reporting lag, and some is real data you can remove.

Work through the steps below in order, from least destructive to most.

Step 1: Find Out Where the Space Is Going

Open Settings → General → iPad Storage and look at two entries:

• Procreate: the app plus its Documents & Data.
• Files: anything stored in the Files app, including copies Procreate exported there.

This matters because the two get confused. In one reported case, iPad Storage showed more than 18 GB under Files and about 7.9 GB under Procreate, while the Procreate folder in Files held only about 800 MB. In another, a user who moved 14 GB of artwork to cloud storage suspected the Files app, not Procreate itself, was holding the space.

Write down both numbers. You'll want them to confirm that each step actually did something.

Step 2: Delete Leftover Exported Copies

Every time you export or share a canvas, there's a chance a copy stays behind on the device. Common culprits:

• Files app → On My iPad → Procreate: old .procreate, PSD, PNG, and MP4 exports.
• Staging copies for cloud uploads. If uploading straight from Procreate fails and you save to Files first, that intermediate copy stays until you remove it.
• Older iTunes/Finder transfer copies. If you move files to a computer by cable, delete the duplicates on the iPad once the transfer is verified.
• Multiple versions of the same canvas. Artists who export a new version daily often forget that each export is a full copy.

Before deleting anything, confirm the files opened correctly on your computer or cloud drive. Then delete them from Files, empty Recently Deleted in Files, and recheck iPad Storage.

Step 3: Purge Time-Lapse Recordings

Time-lapse recording is one of the biggest hidden space users, especially on large canvases you've worked on for a long time.

1. Open the canvas you want to slim down.
2. Tap the Actions menu (the wrench icon) and open the Canvas section.
3. Find the time-lapse/video recording toggle and switch it off. Turning it off discards the recording saved with that canvas.
4. Switch it back on if you want recording to start fresh.

If you want to keep a recording, export it first. Exports are a deliberate action, so do them before you turn the toggle off, not after. Switching the toggle off deletes the recording, and you can't get it back.

For future projects, decide upfront whether you need a time-lapse. If you work mostly on client concepts or production frames, turning recording off by default saves a lot of space.

Step 4: Archive Finished Work, Then Delete It From Procreate

Procreate works best as a working surface, not a long-term archive. A practical approach:

1. Export the full .procreate file. This is the only format that keeps layers and lets you reopen the canvas for editing later. A flattened PNG or JPEG is only an image.
2. Optionally export a PSD if you need to move the layered file into other software.
3. Store the exports somewhere else: an external drive, your computer, Dropbox, Google Drive, or another cloud service.
4. Open one archived file from its new location to verify it imports correctly.
5. Delete the original from the Procreate gallery.

Other ways to shrink what stays on the iPad:

• Flatten or merge layers on finished art you won't revise. Fewer layers means smaller files.
• Use smaller canvases for sketches and practice. There's no reason to doodle on a canvas sized for print.
• Create gallery stacks such as Active, Archived, and Practice, so you can see at a glance what can be moved off.

The goal is simple: keep only current work inside Procreate.

Step 5: Restart and Re-Check

iPadOS doesn't always update storage figures immediately. After deleting files:

1. Force-close Procreate.
2. Restart the iPad.
3. Wait a few minutes, then reopen iPad Storage. The list can take a while to recalculate.

Some users report that the Procreate number doesn't change even after deleting dozens of files and recordings. If that happens to you, don't assume the deletions failed. Check whether the free space reported in the storage bar at the top has improved, and test by trying to save or download something large.

Step 6 (Last Resort): Back Up and Reinstall

If you've done everything above and Documents & Data is still far larger than your actual artwork, a clean reinstall is the remaining option. It's disruptive, so prepare first:

• Export all canvases you want to keep as .procreate files.
• Export custom brush sets (.brushset) and swatch palettes (.swatches) to Files or cloud storage.
• Note any custom settings, such as gesture controls, Pencil settings, and interface preferences, since these may not carry over.
• Verify the backups by checking file sizes and opening a few on another device.

Then delete Procreate, reinstall it from the App Store, and re-import only what you need.

How to Keep the Space From Coming Back

A few habits stop the problem from returning:

• Check iPad Storage monthly, not when the "storage full" warning appears mid-project.
• Archive on a schedule, for example at the end of every project.
• Delete export copies as soon as they're uploaded.
• Decide on time-lapse per project instead of recording everything by default.
• Match canvas size to purpose. Concept sketches rarely need print-resolution canvases.
• Buy more storage if Procreate is part of your paid workflow. One long-time user who had to purge about once a month on a 32 GB iPad upgraded to 128 GB and said they were much happier.

Keeping Procreate Lean in a Motion Pipeline

Many motion designers and animators use Procreate for style frames, character sketches, boards, and texture work, then take that art into After Effects, Cinema 4D, Blender, or Nuke. In that role, Procreate files tend to pile up as reference material long after the shot is delivered. Archiving them to your main workstation or shared storage, as described above, keeps the iPad fast and free for the next job.

If the next step for those frames is generating motion from them, you could look at Styleframe. A practical routine looks like this:

1. Finish the style frame in Procreate.
2. Export a flattened PNG for use as a reference or keyframe, plus the .procreate file for your archive.
3. Move both to your workstation or cloud storage.
4. Delete the working copy from the iPad.

Your layered source stays safe, and the iPad stays uncluttered.

FAQ

Is there a way to clear the Procreate cache from Settings?

No. Procreate has no cache-clear button, and users on its support forums have asked for one. Freeing space means deleting data: exports, time-lapse recordings, and artwork you've backed up.

Will turning off time-lapse delete my artwork?

No. It discards the recording stored with that canvas, not the canvas itself. Export the recording first if you want to keep it.

Why does Procreate still show a huge size after I delete files?

Two likely reasons: copies remain in the Files app, or iPadOS hasn't recalculated its numbers. Delete the leftover exports, empty Recently Deleted, restart the iPad, and check again. If it still doesn't change, a backup-and-reinstall is the final fix.

Will reinstalling Procreate delete my brushes?

Yes, unless you export them first. Save your brush sets, swatches, and canvases to Files or cloud storage before you delete the app.

Procreate has no "clear cache" button. What iPadOS lists as Procreate's "Documents & Data" is mostly your canvases, their time-lapse recordings, and leftover exported copies. To free that space, delete exported duplicates in the Files app, turn off and purge time-lapse recording on large canvases, archive and delete finished work, then restart the iPad. If the number still won't drop, back up everything and reinstall Procreate.

Why There's No Cache Button in Procreate

Most of the space Procreate uses isn't a disposable cache. The app stores each canvas, and it can also record a time-lapse video of your work. Large canvases and long sessions can grow into the gigabytes quickly.

Users on Procreate's support forums have also reported that the figure in Settings can stay stuck after they delete artwork. Procreate's team has acknowledged an inconsistency between how the app stores data and how iPadOS reports it, and said it intended to improve this. So some of what looks like a stubborn cache is a reporting lag, and some is real data you can remove.

Work through the steps below in order, from least destructive to most.

Step 1: Find Out Where the Space Is Going

Open Settings → General → iPad Storage and look at two entries:

• Procreate: the app plus its Documents & Data.
• Files: anything stored in the Files app, including copies Procreate exported there.

This matters because the two get confused. In one reported case, iPad Storage showed more than 18 GB under Files and about 7.9 GB under Procreate, while the Procreate folder in Files held only about 800 MB. In another, a user who moved 14 GB of artwork to cloud storage suspected the Files app, not Procreate itself, was holding the space.

Write down both numbers. You'll want them to confirm that each step actually did something.

Step 2: Delete Leftover Exported Copies

Every time you export or share a canvas, there's a chance a copy stays behind on the device. Common culprits:

• Files app → On My iPad → Procreate: old .procreate, PSD, PNG, and MP4 exports.
• Staging copies for cloud uploads. If uploading straight from Procreate fails and you save to Files first, that intermediate copy stays until you remove it.
• Older iTunes/Finder transfer copies. If you move files to a computer by cable, delete the duplicates on the iPad once the transfer is verified.
• Multiple versions of the same canvas. Artists who export a new version daily often forget that each export is a full copy.

Before deleting anything, confirm the files opened correctly on your computer or cloud drive. Then delete them from Files, empty Recently Deleted in Files, and recheck iPad Storage.

Step 3: Purge Time-Lapse Recordings

Time-lapse recording is one of the biggest hidden space users, especially on large canvases you've worked on for a long time.

1. Open the canvas you want to slim down.
2. Tap the Actions menu (the wrench icon) and open the Canvas section.
3. Find the time-lapse/video recording toggle and switch it off. Turning it off discards the recording saved with that canvas.
4. Switch it back on if you want recording to start fresh.

If you want to keep a recording, export it first. Exports are a deliberate action, so do them before you turn the toggle off, not after. Switching the toggle off deletes the recording, and you can't get it back.

For future projects, decide upfront whether you need a time-lapse. If you work mostly on client concepts or production frames, turning recording off by default saves a lot of space.

Step 4: Archive Finished Work, Then Delete It From Procreate

Procreate works best as a working surface, not a long-term archive. A practical approach:

1. Export the full .procreate file. This is the only format that keeps layers and lets you reopen the canvas for editing later. A flattened PNG or JPEG is only an image.
2. Optionally export a PSD if you need to move the layered file into other software.
3. Store the exports somewhere else: an external drive, your computer, Dropbox, Google Drive, or another cloud service.
4. Open one archived file from its new location to verify it imports correctly.
5. Delete the original from the Procreate gallery.

Other ways to shrink what stays on the iPad:

• Flatten or merge layers on finished art you won't revise. Fewer layers means smaller files.
• Use smaller canvases for sketches and practice. There's no reason to doodle on a canvas sized for print.
• Create gallery stacks such as Active, Archived, and Practice, so you can see at a glance what can be moved off.

The goal is simple: keep only current work inside Procreate.

Step 5: Restart and Re-Check

iPadOS doesn't always update storage figures immediately. After deleting files:

1. Force-close Procreate.
2. Restart the iPad.
3. Wait a few minutes, then reopen iPad Storage. The list can take a while to recalculate.

Some users report that the Procreate number doesn't change even after deleting dozens of files and recordings. If that happens to you, don't assume the deletions failed. Check whether the free space reported in the storage bar at the top has improved, and test by trying to save or download something large.

Step 6 (Last Resort): Back Up and Reinstall

If you've done everything above and Documents & Data is still far larger than your actual artwork, a clean reinstall is the remaining option. It's disruptive, so prepare first:

• Export all canvases you want to keep as .procreate files.
• Export custom brush sets (.brushset) and swatch palettes (.swatches) to Files or cloud storage.
• Note any custom settings, such as gesture controls, Pencil settings, and interface preferences, since these may not carry over.
• Verify the backups by checking file sizes and opening a few on another device.

Then delete Procreate, reinstall it from the App Store, and re-import only what you need.

How to Keep the Space From Coming Back

A few habits stop the problem from returning:

• Check iPad Storage monthly, not when the "storage full" warning appears mid-project.
• Archive on a schedule, for example at the end of every project.
• Delete export copies as soon as they're uploaded.
• Decide on time-lapse per project instead of recording everything by default.
• Match canvas size to purpose. Concept sketches rarely need print-resolution canvases.
• Buy more storage if Procreate is part of your paid workflow. One long-time user who had to purge about once a month on a 32 GB iPad upgraded to 128 GB and said they were much happier.

Keeping Procreate Lean in a Motion Pipeline

Many motion designers and animators use Procreate for style frames, character sketches, boards, and texture work, then take that art into After Effects, Cinema 4D, Blender, or Nuke. In that role, Procreate files tend to pile up as reference material long after the shot is delivered. Archiving them to your main workstation or shared storage, as described above, keeps the iPad fast and free for the next job.

If the next step for those frames is generating motion from them, you could look at Styleframe. A practical routine looks like this:

1. Finish the style frame in Procreate.
2. Export a flattened PNG for use as a reference or keyframe, plus the .procreate file for your archive.
3. Move both to your workstation or cloud storage.
4. Delete the working copy from the iPad.

Your layered source stays safe, and the iPad stays uncluttered.

FAQ

Is there a way to clear the Procreate cache from Settings?

No. Procreate has no cache-clear button, and users on its support forums have asked for one. Freeing space means deleting data: exports, time-lapse recordings, and artwork you've backed up.

Will turning off time-lapse delete my artwork?

No. It discards the recording stored with that canvas, not the canvas itself. Export the recording first if you want to keep it.

Why does Procreate still show a huge size after I delete files?

Two likely reasons: copies remain in the Files app, or iPadOS hasn't recalculated its numbers. Delete the leftover exports, empty Recently Deleted, restart the iPad, and check again. If it still doesn't change, a backup-and-reinstall is the final fix.

Will reinstalling Procreate delete my brushes?

Yes, unless you export them first. Save your brush sets, swatches, and canvases to Files or cloud storage before you delete the app.