Cleaning Up Microsoft Apps Cache on Demand with Intune

Having issues with Microsoft / Office Apps? A cluttered cache can sometimes lead to unexpected behavior. This guide demonstrates how to clear the Microsoft Apps cache on demand with Intune, potentially resolving various app-related problems.

This blog post covers cache cleanup for all Microsoft 365 applications (Office apps) except Outlook.

Benefits of Clearing the Microsoft Apps Cache

• Improved Performance: Clearing the cache can streamline apps by removing potentially outdated or corrupted data.
• Enhanced Stability: Removing cached data can sometimes resolve crashes, freezes, or other stability issues within apps.
• Faster Troubleshooting: This method quickly eliminates the user cache as a potential culprit, allowing you to focus on other troubleshooting steps if necessary.

Clear Microsoft Apps Cache Manually

1. Close all your Office Applications
2. Open this folder: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Wef\
   (you can copy an past the variable, it will automatically redirect you to the right location)
3. Delete all the content in this folder

Using a Script for Automatic Cleanup

Similar to the Teams cache cleanup, a PowerShell script can be created to automate the process for Microsoft Apps.

Here’s a general outline:

• The script identifies the cache location.
• It checks if the applications are running.
• If one or more applications are running, a prompt would inform the user to close it before proceeding.
• Upon confirmation, the script closes the apps and clears the cache.

Script @GitHub

Setup the Remediation in Intune

Download the Script
Save the code as a .ps1 file (e.g., ClearMSAppsCache_DetectionAction.ps1) or download it from GitHub (above).

Create a Remediation Package in Intune

1. Navigate to: Intune > Devices > Windows > Scripts and remediations
2. Hit + Create
3. Give your package a name and a optional description.
4. Upload the previous saved PowerShell script.
   (Since everything in in one script, we only need the detection)
   • In addition, set the script to run as the logged-on user in in 64bit context.
5. All the other points you can skip, including the assignment. Cause we will use it only for on-demand actions.

Remediation on-demand in action

Here is a video that shows you how the on-demand remediation to clear the Microsoft 365 Apps cache in Intune works. (The video is in real time.)

https://youtu.be/dlBcQ6KXUCg

Alternative Solutions

• Reinstall the App: If clearing the cache doesn’t resolve the issue, consider reinstalling the Microsoft App. This will remove all app data and reinstall it from scratch.
• Office Repair: This is a “light” option of the reinstall.