apk-cache(5) File Formats Manual apk-cache(5)

# [NAME](#NAME)

**/etc/apk/cache** - local cache of package files

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

If **/etc/apk/cache** is a symlink to a local directory, [**apk**(8)](/man/os/apk-tools/apk.8) will use it as a local cache for downloaded package files and repository indicies. The cache must not reside on a tmpfs.

To enable the apk cache, run the following commands as root:

mkdir -p /var/cache/apk  
ln -s /var/cache/apk /etc/apk/cache

For information on cache maintenance, see [**apk-cache**(8)](/man/os/apk-tools/apk-cache.8).

2026-11-03

---

Document: apk-cache(5) from apk-tools 2.14.13-r0 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://gitlab.alpinelinux.org/alpine/apk-tools.git