How do i clear cache on an android phone

Cached files are temporary data an app on your phone saves to make using the app easier. This could be login information, your favorite playlists, and other saved default info. Along the same lines are cookies, which are saved browsing information that makes using the browser on your phone easier. You might want to occasionally clear the phone’s app cache and cookies to save space, speed up the device, and troubleshoot. Here’s how to clear the cache and cookies on Android.

Read more: How to clear the cache on any platform

How to clear the cache on Android

The only way to clear the cache on Android is to clear the app cache individually. Go to Settings > Storage > Other apps, select the app, and tap on Clear cache. The steps might differ depending on your phone, but you’re looking for the App Storage Info page.

You can also do so by going to Settings > Apps and notifications > See all apps. Tap on an app, go to Storage and cache and tap on Clear cache.

There’s no way to clear the cache of all the apps on your phone in one go without using a third-party app. These apps sometimes require extra permissions to work how they’re supposed to, have too many ads, and aren’t always reliable.

How to clear cookies on Android

Cookies are stored browsing information, so you’ll have to head to your browser settings to clear them. Using Google Chrome for Android as an example, tap on the three vertical dots icon at the top right corner. Go to History > Clear browsing data and check the boxes for Cookies and site data, and Cached images and files. Tap on Clear data.


Read more: How to find your downloaded files on Android

FAQs

You might notice some websites and apps take a little longer to load, and you might have to log in again if required. Using the Clear storage option will reset the app completely.

Clearing the app cache on the phone will free up some storage space. But that’s only temporary, as using the app will create new cached files. Clearing the cache is also a go-to troubleshooting step if you run into problems with an app since cached files can be corrupted.

Clearing the phone’s cache and cookies helps free up some storage space. Still, you are better off finding another storage solution, like deleting unnecessary apps, photos, and videos. You should clear the cache only if you’re running into problems when using an app or if the app info isn’t automatically updating.

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Android running slowly? Clearing the cache should speed things up

What to Know

  • Go to Settings > Apps. Tap and app, then tap Storage > Clear Cache.
  • Recent Android versions no longer offer the ability to clear the device's entire cache at once.
  • Pre-Oreo: Tap Settings > Storage > Devices (or similar) > Cached data > Clear cached data > OK.

This article explains how to wipe cached data for individual apps in Android versions 8 and later. Earlier versions offer the ability to wipe the phone's entire cache at once, instructions for which are also included.

How to Wipe an App's Cache Data

Here's how to clear data for an app you know (or suspect) is causing problems or using up data.

  1. Open Settings > Apps.

  2. Select the app whose cache you want to clear.

    The amount of storage space each app uses displays below the name of the app.

  3. Tap Storage.

  4. Tap Clear Cache to clear the app cache. Tap Clear Data to erase the data associated with the app.

Clearing the cache deletes temporary files the app uses while it's running. Clearing data deletes settings, passwords, and other information you added and resets the app to its defaults.

How Clearing an App's Cache Can Help

The cache contains temporary files that are used to speed up the app. Sometimes, though, they're too much of a good thing. They might be duplicated and stored permanently elsewhere, be outdated, or be corrupted. All of this can cause the app to behave erratically or crash.

Clearing the cache can solve these problems, and it's generally a key step in troubleshooting problems with your device.

Frequent Cache Culprits

Often, you'll know which app is acting up simply by its behavior. If this isn't the case, start your cache-clearing with the browser, then move onto social media apps such as Facebook and Twitter. Turn next to other apps that access the internet, and then to those that take up the most overall space.

Clearing a cache is a temporary method to gain storage space. As you use an app, it will build up a new cache of temporary files.

On Pre-Oreo Android: Clearing the Entire Phone's Cache at Once

Before the release of Oreo (Android version 8), the easiest way to deal with the device cache was to delete it all at once. However, Google removed this feature in newer versions.

If you're still running an old version, here's how to delete the entire device cache:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Tap Device > Storage.

  3. Tap Cached data. Android calculates where the device storage is being used (apps, photos, or other places) and how much you will reclaim. When prompted, confirm your choice.

    Clearing the cache data does not erase any personal information or important data.

FAQ

  • How do I clear my browsing history on Android?

    To clear your Android browsing history in Chrome, tap the three dots > Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data. In the Samsung Internet app, tap the three dots > Settings > Privacy and security > Delete browsing data. Select Browsing history and tap Delete.

  • How do I free up space on my Android phone?

    To free up space on your Android, go to Settings > Storage > Manage Storage and delete unwanted apps, photos, and videos to create more space. Consider adding a microSD card to expand your storage needs.

  • How do I clear the clipboard on my Android?

    To clear your Android clipboard, download the Clipper Clipboard Manager app and tap the three dots > Delete. Alternatively, use the Gboard keyboard to enable the built-in clipboard manager.

  • What is a CACHE file?

    A file with the CACHE file extension contains temporary information that a program sets aside to make software load data faster. Not all cache files have the .CACHE extension.

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Is it good to clear cache on Android?

Clearing your Android app cache can help fix speed issues and free up storage space. If you need more storage, clear the cache of the apps that take up the most space. Clearing your app cache every few months will help streamline your phone and keep it from getting too full.

What does Clear cache mean on Android?

In the short term, clearing cache helps you save storage space on your phone. But this is a temporary fix, since new cache files are created all the time as you use apps. If your device is so low on space that you need to clear cache regularly, it's probably time to upgrade to a new phone.

What happens when you clear cached data?

After you clear cache and cookies: Some settings on sites get deleted. For example, if you were signed in, you'll need to sign in again. If you turn sync on in Chrome, you'll stay signed into the Google Account you're syncing to in order to delete your data across all your devices.

What does cache mean on my phone?

What is cached data on my phone? Cached data are files, scripts, images, and other multimedia stored on your device after opening an app or visiting a website for the first time. This data is then used to quickly gather information about the app or website every time revisited, reducing load time.