How To Clear Your Android Phone Cache (and Why It Makes Such A Big Difference)

1 week ago

How to clear your Android phone's cache and make it consciousness for illustration new

Google past period released Android 16 to Pixel devices and prime OEMs, bringing capacity improvements, caller Material You changes, and much upgrades. If you want to effort this update but are hesitant because you've noticed your Android phone aliases tablet already feels excessively sluggish, clearing app and browser caches tin springiness it a caller boost and free up immoderate retention space.

Over time, cached information tin accumulate, go corrupted, aliases simply get outdated, which whitethorn slow down your device. Restarting your telephone often helps, but a targeted cache-clear is simply a speedy measurement to boost responsiveness without upgrading hardware.

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In this guide, I'll show you really to clear cached information connected Android. If you're an Apple user, here's how to clear nan cache connected an iPhone.

How to clear cached information from Android apps

What you'll need: Any Android device. The nonstop steps whitethorn alteration somewhat by manufacturer, but nan wide process remains nan same.

Open Settings, spell to Storage, and pat Apps. If you don't spot a dedicated Apps entry, usage nan hunt area successful Settings to quickly find it.

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Also successful nan Storage menu, immoderate Android devices now see a "Free up space" proposal via nan Google Files app. To usage this, unfastened Files, pat nan three-line paper successful nan top-left, and prime Clean. Review each proposal (e.g. unused apps, ample files, duplicates) and travel nan steps to delete immoderate files you nary longer need.

Clear nan cache of apps installed connected your Android device

Repeat for immoderate apps that usage a batch of space. You tin commencement pinch data-heavy hogs for illustration societal apps aliases streaming services.

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Also, while you're successful nan Apps menu, immoderate Android versions make it easy to spot which apps return up nan astir space. Simply look for nan three-dot paper successful nan top-right area and prime Sort by Size.

Note: Some Android phones whitethorn person a built-in clear each cache action available. Under Settings > Storage > and App Cache, look for a 'Select All' fastener astatine nan top.

How to clear cache from Chrome

What you need: The Chrome app connected your Android 16 device.

1. Go to History settings successful Chrome

Open Chrome, pat nan three-dot paper > History > Clear browsing data.

2. Choose nan information you want to delete

Select nan clip scope and cheque "Cached images and files" (and immoderate different information you wish to remove). Then pat "Clear data."

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Each action explains what it does and really it affects your experience. For example, clearing cookies and tract information will log you retired of galore aliases each websites, while clearing cached images and files mightiness origin Chrome to load images slower adjacent clip you sojourn a site.

Choose nan information you want to delete

3. Optional: A simpler shortcut

On newer versions of Chrome for Android, tapping nan paper fastener displays an action called Clear Browsing Data. When you prime this, a pop-up will look asking you to clear browsing information from a circumstantial period. If you prime More Options, you'll beryllium taken to nan Browsing Data screen, wherever you tin take nan information to delete and prime nan clip range.

A simpler measurement to clear Chrome's cache

What does cached information mean?

Cache stores impermanent files -- for illustration images, scripts, and different resources -- to velocity up apps and websites. Clearing it removes these files without affecting individual settings aliases login credentials.

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For example, successful nan Facebook app, cached information mightiness see floor plan pictures, photos, and videos. Deleting cached information from nan Facebook app will region these impermanent files connected your device, but won't log you out.

Will clearing cache delete my app data?

No. Clearing cache only removes impermanent files. Your accounts, settings, and app information stay intact.

Will clearing cache make my instrumentality faster?

Yes. It frees up retention and removes perchance corrupted aliases outdated files, which tin resoluteness slowdowns and glitches.

How often should I clear cache?

Whenever you announcement slowdowns aliases app glitches. For astir users, each 3 to six months is sufficient.

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Is clearing cache only for storage?

Clearing cache tin besides hole app issues by forcing apps to rebuild their impermanent files. It's a speedy troubleshooting step, not conscionable a retention cleanup.
Editor's note: This article was primitively published successful 2023. It was fact-checked and thoroughly updated connected July 2, 2025.

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