Files and/or file updates can be pre-fetched from a server to reduce file access periods as well as shift network usage from high traffic periods to low traffic periods. For example, a file that was previously expelled from a cache can be pre-fetched from the server prior to a future period in which a client is likely to re-access the file. As another example, a file update for a file that remains stored in the cache can be pre-fetched from the server prior to a future period in which a client is likely to re-access the file. The file update may then be used to update the stored file. The file and/or updated-file can then be provided directly from the cache to the client when the client re-accesses the file.