github-actionsbeginnerconfigurationVerified
GitHub Actions Cache Not Found: Causes and Fixes
Last reviewed: 9/14/2026
3 solutions
Exact Error Message
Cache not found for keyQuick Fix
Check cache key configuration or disable caching temporarily to proceed.
What This Error Means
Cache not found occurs when the cache key doesn't match any existing cache entries. This can happen when the cache key changes, cache expires, or cache is manually deleted.
Common Symptoms
- •Cache step fails
- •Cache not found error
- •Dependencies reinstall slowly
- •Build takes longer than expected
Common Causes
- •Cache key changed between runs
- •Cache expired (7-day default)
- •Cache manually deleted
- •Cache size limit exceeded
- •Cache entry not yet created
Diagnostic Steps
- 1Check cache key in workflow file
- 2Review cache action logs
- 3Check cache size
- 4Verify cache hasn't expired
- 5Check if cache was manually deleted
Solutions
Solution 1: Fix cache key configuration
- 1Review cache key in workflow
- 2Use consistent cache keys
- 3Use restore-keys for fallback
- 4Test cache configuration
Solution 2: Disable caching temporarily
- 1Comment out cache action in workflow
- 2Run workflow without cache
- 3Re-enable caching after fixing issue
- 4Consider using different cache strategy
Solution 3: Use cache fallback
- 1Configure restore-keys in cache action
- 2Specify fallback cache keys
- 3Allow partial cache hits
- 4Monitor cache hit rate
Prevention Tips
- ✓Use consistent cache keys
- ✓Monitor cache hit rate
- ✓Use restore-keys for robustness
- ✓Don't cache too large files
- ✓Clean up old caches regularly
Version Notes: Applies to GitHub Actions caching
Official Documentation
Related Errors
GitHub Actions Permission Denied: Causes and Fixes
GitHub Actions workflow fails due to insufficient permissions or authentication issues.
AWS Lambda Timeout Error: Causes and Fixes
AWS Lambda function exceeds its configured timeout limit and is terminated.
CI/CD Pipeline Failure: Common Causes and Fixes
CI/CD pipeline fails during build, test, or deployment stages due to various issues.
Node.js Module Not Found: Causes and Fixes
Node.js cannot locate a required module in the application.
Was this helpful?