Rust has two types of skins: accepted skins and Workshop skins. Accepted skins download with the game. Workshop skins download separately through Steam while you play.

If you play on servers that allow Workshop skins, your Steam Workshop cache can grow very large over time. When Rust loads a new Workshop skin, Steam may briefly stall while checking or downloading it. This can feel like lag, freezing, or rubber banding.

How to fix it

1. Close Rust and fully exit Steam.
2. Open your Steam folder. The default location is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\
3. Go to: steamapps\workshop\content\252490
4. Delete everything inside the 252490 folder.
5. Go back to: steamapps\workshop
6. Delete this file if it exists: appworkshop_252490.acf
7. Open Steam again.
8. Go to Steam Settings, then Downloads, and click Clear Download Cache.
9. Launch Rust and join the server again.

Rust may re-download Workshop skins as needed. This does not delete Rust, your Steam inventory, accepted skins, blueprints, keybinds, or server progress.