To clear one app’s cache on Android, open Settings > Apps (or Apps & notifications) > [the app] > Storage > Clear cache. To clear temporary files from many apps, look for Settings > Storage > Internal storage > Cached files; some phones call this “Temporary files.” Clearing cache is usually safe, but Clear data is very different because it resets the app and can sign you out.
Before you start
No special app or computer is needed. You only need your phone’s unlock screen, and it helps to close the app you plan to clean so it is not writing temporary files while you clear it. If the phone is managed by an employer or school, some options may be restricted.
Clear the cache for a single app
Use this method when one app is slow, failing to load, or taking up unnecessary space. The exact labels can differ, so follow the closest wording on your screen.
- Open Settings. You can usually find it by swiping down from the top of the home screen and tapping the gear icon.
- Tap Apps, Apps & notifications, or See all apps. On some versions, “Apps” appears directly in the main Settings list; on others, it is under “Apps & notifications.”
- Choose the app. Select the exact app you want to clean, rather than its separate Notifications, Permissions, or Data usage entry.
- Tap Storage or Storage usage. Depending on the Android version and manufacturer, this may appear on the app’s information page under a “Storage” heading or on a separate storage screen.
- Check what is using space. The screen may show a total plus categories such as App data, Media, Documents, and Cache. These categories are not labeled identically on every phone.
- Tap Clear cache, then confirm Clear or OK. This removes temporary files from that app but normally leaves the app installed and its main settings and account connection intact.
- Reopen the app. Its first launch may be slower because the app has to rebuild or download the files it uses for speed. If the problem remains, clearing cache may not be the right fix.
What cache and data mean
Cache is temporary information an app keeps so it can work faster or show content again without downloading everything. It can include thumbnails, recently viewed items, preview files, and other disposable resources. Clearing it is normally safe, but the app may need to download content again, and offline material stored as cache may be removed.
App data is the app’s main locally stored information: preferences, databases, login sessions, drafts, and sometimes offline downloads. Choosing Clear data or Clear all data resets those local items, can sign you out, and may make the app behave as if it was just installed. It does not normally delete photos or videos that you saved separately with the camera, but it can remove items created only inside the app. Clearing data is not necessary for routine cache cleanup.
Clear cached files for the whole phone
Android can also remove temporary files from several apps in one place. Use this when storage is genuinely low and no single app is responsible. The system usually shows how much can be removed before you confirm.
- Open Settings and tap Storage. Depending on the phone, this may be labeled “Storage,” “Storage space,” or found under “Device care.”
- Tap Internal storage or Device storage. This screen shows the different kinds of information stored on the phone.
- Find Cached files, Temporary files, or similar wording. Some Android versions group these under another storage category instead of listing them separately.
- Review the list and the total. You may see temporary files attributed to individual apps or categories. Check for anything you do not recognize.
- Tap Clear, Delete, or Clear cached files. The precise button name depends on the Android version and manufacturer.
- Confirm the cleanup. Read the warning carefully and make sure the option refers to cached or temporary files rather than all stored data.
- Reopen the apps you use. Some will take a little longer to start while they rebuild their temporary files or download content again.
Do not choose “Other,” “System,” “Delete all files,” or “Manage storage” on this screen unless you know exactly what you are doing. Those options can remove more than disposable cache, including files an app or the operating system expects to find.
If the menu is different or the cache will not clear
Menu names change frequently. Pixel and Samsung phones generally follow the same basic structure, but a Samsung version may put storage under “Device care,” while a Pixel version may use slightly different app-list wording. If one route is missing, try these alternatives.
- Search within Settings. Search for “cache,” “temporary files,” or “storage,” then open the matching system page.
- Try the app’s information page. Go to Apps or See all apps, choose the app, and look for Storage, Storage usage, or App storage.
- Look for separate choices inside Storage. Some phones show only “Clear storage” at first, while the full screen contains separate buttons for cache and data. Do not confirm the broader option unless you intend to reset the app.
- Force stop the app and try again. Open Settings > Apps > the app > Force stop, return to its Storage page, and tap Clear cache again. This is useful when the app keeps rebuilding files while open.
- Update Android and the affected app. A software update can restore a missing Storage option, although some system-managed and preinstalled apps intentionally do not allow cache cleanup.
- Clear only the browser’s cache if that is the problem. Open the browser’s settings, find “Clear browsing data,” select “Cached images and files,” and confirm. Avoid choosing “Cookies and site data” unless you want to sign out of websites; labels vary by browser.
- Review large files separately if cache cleanup is not enough. Use the built-in Storage screen to find large downloads, videos, or unused apps. Do not delete unfamiliar files from “Other,” and do not rely on a random cleaner app to decide what is safe.
Tips and common mistakes
- Read the button before tapping it. “Clear cache,” “Clear storage,” “Clear all data,” and “Delete files” have different consequences. If you only want temporary files, choose the option that specifically says cache.
- Do not use Clear data to fix a small problem. It can remove preferences, drafts, offline files, and login sessions, even though it will not usually remove server-side account information.
- Do not expect cache cleanup to delete camera photos. Pictures and videos saved to shared storage are separate unless you deliberately delete them from Files or Gallery.
- Expect cache to return. Apps create temporary files again as you browse, scroll, play, or work. Clearing a large cache is more useful than repeatedly clearing a small one.
- Stay away from “Other” and unknown system files. Deleting files you do not recognize can break apps, remove offline content, or cause the system to redownload large amounts of data.
- Third-party cleaner apps are usually unnecessary. Android already reports app storage and cached files. Extra cleanup tools may request broad access and present the same temporary files that the built-in settings can manage.
- Close a misbehaving app before cleaning it. Then reopen it and allow it to rebuild its cache normally rather than repeatedly clearing files that the running app immediately recreates.
Key takeaways
- For one troublesome app, use Apps > the app > Storage > Clear cache.
- For a phone-wide cleanup, use Storage > Internal storage > Cached files or Temporary files.
- Cache is disposable temporary data; app data includes settings, login sessions, and local information.
- Clearing cache may trigger downloads or a slower first launch, but it normally preserves app data.
- Menu names vary, so look for Storage, Storage usage, Cached files, or Temporary files.
Frequently asked questions
Is clearing an app’s cache safe?
Yes, for most apps. Clearing cache removes temporary files that the app can normally recreate, so the main risk is having to download or reload content. It should not remove the app, its main settings, or your camera photos. Avoid “Clear data” unless you are willing to reset the app and sign in again.
Will clearing the cache delete my photos, messages, or downloaded files?
Normally, no. Cache contains temporary previews and supporting files, while photos, videos, messages, and documents are stored separately. Offline files inside an app may be treated differently, so check whether any downloaded media will need to be downloaded again. Files you deliberately deleted from Files or Gallery are not restored by clearing cache.
Why did clearing storage sign me out?
You probably selected “Clear data,” “Clear all data,” or the broader “Clear storage” option rather than “Clear cache.” Clearing data removes local preferences, databases, and login sessions, which can require you to sign in again. Your account itself is usually still active; only the app’s local connection to it was removed.
How often should I clear my Android cache?
Clear one app’s cache when it is malfunctioning or using an unusual amount of space. You do not need to clear all cached files on a fixed schedule, because cache is designed to be temporary and will be rebuilt. A phone-wide cleanup is most useful when storage is genuinely low, but it may only save a modest amount of space.