How-To

How to Clear Android Cache

By Brian Burgess

Published November 11, 2022

Clearing your cache files on Android can help improve the performance of an app that feels a little sluggish. This guide will explain how to get started.

Cache files are temporary files left over after running an app or your web browser. These temporary files can cause various problems with your Android device.

In addition to freeing up storage space, it can delete leftover files that are potentially interfering with other apps and cause them not to work. However, since cached files are temporary, you can safely delete them without affecting other apps.

If you’re having problems with an app on your Android device or while browsing, we’ll show you how to clear Android cache and fix various issues.

How to Clear Android Cache

The easiest way to clear your Android cache files on a modern device is to clear individual app caches.

Note: This article uses a Samsung Galaxy and OnePlus Android phone. Remember, your experience may vary slightly, but you’ll know where to look.

To clear your Android’s cache:

1. Open Settings on your Android device.
2. Scroll down the menu and tap Apps.
3. Tap the hamburger menu next to the Your apps section.
4. Select Size and click OK to sort your apps by their size.
5. Now you can start at the top and select the app you want to clear the cache.
6. Swipe down and tap Storage.
7. On the Storage screen, you’ll see space used by the cache.
8. To remove the cache, tap the Clear cache button in the lower-right corner of the screen.
9. The cache for the app will be cleared, and you won’t see any prompts. You’ll know it worked when you see the Cache column is zero.

How to Clear Web Browser Cache on Android

In addition to clearing the app cache, you’ll want to clear your web browser cache. Cookies, history, cached images, and other files are left over, like your PC.

Note: Clearing the cache of each browser varies slightly. We’ll show you how to clear Google Chrome cache so you know what to look for if you use a different browser.

To clear the web browser cache on Android, do the following:

1. Launch Google Chrome on your Android phone or tablet.
2. Tap the three-dot button in the upper-right corner and tap Settings from the menu.
3. In the Settings section, tap Privacy and Security from the list.
4. Now, on the Privacy and Security screen, tap Clear browsing data.
5. Set the Time Rage dropdown to All Time. Check Cached images and files and tap the Clear data button.
   Note: You can choose other items to delete, like cookies, saved passwords, and browsing history.
6. While the cache is cleared, you’ll see a notification letting you know is being cleared. The amount of time it takes will vary based on the quantity of cache to be removed.

Clearing Cache on Android

Clearing the app and browser cache is a good spot to start troubleshooting if you’re having problems with your Android phone. It can resolve individual app issues and improve overall phone or tablet performance.

If you use YouTube a lot on your Android device, you might be interested in clearing the YouTube cache on Android. Also, if you go into deeper troubleshooting, you may need to know how to enable or exit safe mode on Android.

Texting on Android is fantastic, but it doesn’t always work. So, check out these fixes for missing Android messages. And if you need to let someone borrow your Android phone, ensure to use guest mode and keep your data safe.