Why the cache directory is empty

If your cache directory is empty, it could mean that Rapid Cache isn't enabled, or that there is an error occurring behind the scenes that is preventing Rapid Cache from operating normally, or that the cache directory was recently cleared by Rapid Cache.

If Rapid Cache is enabled (see Dashboard → Rapid Cache → Enable/Disable) and running properly (see How do I know if Rapid Cache is working?, then an empty cache directory could indicate that Rapid Cache has not generated any cache files. Rapid Cache will generate cache files when the plugin is active and a visitor visits your site while not logged in (unless you have Caching for Logged-In Users enabled, a Pro-only feature).

An empty cache directory could also mean that all of the cache files passed their expiration date (see Dashboard → Rapid Cache → Directory / Expiration Time) or that Rapid Cache recently cleared the entire cache automatically.

There are a number of reasons why Rapid Cache might clear the entire cache directory automatically:

• You upgraded Rapid Cache
• You restored the Rapid Cache default settings
• You changed the WordPress theme
• You changed navigation menus
• You changed Links (you may or may not have the Links SubPanel on your site)
• You made changes to terms, e.g., Categories or Tags

Rapid Cache automatically clears the cache when these events take place because not doing so would likely yield unexpected results. For example, if you modified your navigation menu and Rapid Cache didn't clear the entire cache, visitors would be served cache files that included the old menu. Or if you changed your WordPress theme and didn't clear the cache, the old cache files would include the markup for the old theme. And so on.

If you find that none of the above scenarios are true and Rapid Cache still has an empty cache directory, you should verify that Rapid Cache is working.