How to clear cache on Android

Regular use of your Android device, such as using apps and browsing online, can slow down its performance with time. This frustrating problem can often be fixed by restarting your device. The restart clears your phone's memory, closes running programs, and resets the system, so in most cases, that's more than enough to fix a minor bug.

However, if a restart doesn't fix it, you may have to clear the cache on your Android phone.

What is cache and why clear it?

Android app cache is a storage area in your device memory where apps store data to help them load faster and run more smoothly. For example, some apps download some of the data on your phone, such as pictures, and store them in the cache. After doing this, they don't have to download everything again the next time you open them. This feature helps improve app performance and reduce data usage.

However, cached data has its problems. Some apps leave behind old files when updated or deleted, and others might create temporary files that are not automatically deleted afterward. This data builds up in the cache over time, making your phone slower and causing some apps to crash.

That's why it's important to clear unneeded cached data. It can improve your device's performance and make it feel like new again.

How to clear cache on Android

If you suspect that your phone may be experiencing cache overload, don't worry. Clearing the cache is easy on Android. Here are a few simple ways to do so.

Clear cache for individual apps

Sometimes, when an app malfunctions or causes problems on your device, a simple cache clean-up may fix the problem. Here's how I did it:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device
2. Tap on the Apps button and press on See all apps
3. Find and tap on the app for which you want to clear the cache
4. In the new menu, click on Storage & cache
5. Tap on the Clear cache button

After correctly following my steps, the cached data of your chosen app should be deleted. Now, you can check if that app works correctly.

Clear cache for all apps at once

Sometimes, clearing the cache of a specific app may not fix the problem. In that case, you should clear the cache for all apps at once. Here’s how I did it:

1. Go to Settings
2. Click on Storage
3. Find and click on Cached data
4. Tap on Clear all cache

This should clear your phone's cache. However, users of Android 14 or higher version devices may not find these buttons because they have been removed. Instead, these users might need to clear each app's cache individually or use built-in cache-clearing options or tools their Android manufacturer provided. Every Android 14 phone has its specific app. For example, Huawei manufacturers include an app called Huawei's Phone Manager, and Samsung has Samsung's Device Care feature in Settings.

Clear cache through recovery mode

If your Android device malfunctions and can't boot up normally, some devices let you clear the cache through recovery mode. However, this method is more complicated and requires some technical skills. Also, you must check if your device supports clearing the cache through recovery mode. That's because some newer Android devices, especially recent Google Pixel models, have removed that option.

Once you’re sure your device lets you clear the cache through recovery mode, follow these steps:

1. Turn off your device
2. Press and hold both the Power and Volume Down buttons until the bootloader menu appears
3. With the volume keys scroll to Recovery mode and select it with the power button. If a screen with “No command” appears, hold the power button and press the volume up button once to enter recovery mode fully
4. Scroll to the Wipe cache partition option and press the power button to confirm (be careful not to select the Wipe data/factory reset option by mistake – it would erase all of your data)
5. Press Yes to proceed, and let the cache wipe complete
6. When the process finishes, choose Reboot system now to restart your device

After doing that, the cache on your Android device should be deleted.

What to do if clearing the cache doesn’t help

While clearing the app cache can fix a malfunctioning app or improve your Android's performance, it is not always the best solution. In fact, clearing the cache too often may increase your apps' loading times and may only sometimes fix the problem you are having.

What to do when clearing the cache doesn't help depends on the problem itself. If your device is running slow, try restarting it, deleting heavy files from its storage, or uninstalling unused apps. In some instances, these methods may improve the general performance of your device.

Also, sometimes, your Android device may get infected with a virus. In those cases, you will notice a faster battery drain and a radical drop in performance. So make sure to scan your phone for viruses and remove any suspicious applications and files from it.

If nothing works out, you can kick things up a notch and do a factory reset. It's an excellent but extreme way to improve performance. Doing it will erase all data from your phone, but it will likely fix any performance issues. In fact, some people do a factory reset once in a while as a healthy practice to keep their devices fast and clean from unnecessary files.

Alternative cache management techniques

There are other techniques to make sure that your device runs smoothly. These methods can help you manage storage and improve the performance of your Android device.

Using cache cleaner apps

⁤Cache cleaner apps are a great alternative. ⁤⁤These applications can automatically identify and remove unnecessary cached files, free up valuable storage space, and improve your device's performance. ⁤

⁤Some newer phones have their cache-cleaning apps automatically installed by the manufacturer. ⁤⁤These apps are great and should be used. ⁤⁤However, some third-party apps, like SD Maid or Files by Google, are also worth considering. They show a detailed view of what's occupying your phone's storage and have cleaning tools if needed.

Regular maintenance tips

If you want to maintain your Android device and make it run faster, there are other ways to guarantee that beyond clearing the cache. Here are some of the tips to do that:

• Uninstall unneeded applications. Apps take up storage space and consume your device's resources. If you want your Android device to run smoothly, regularly uninstall apps you no longer use.
• Delete unused files. Your phone's speed depends heavily on its storage space – if it's overloaded, your device might become slow. Delete any unnecessary large files or duplicates once in a while.
• Scan for viruses. In this era, catching a virus on your phone is very easy. Use integrated software or download an antivirus program to prevent viruses from infecting your device.

Conclusion

Android applications use cache to optimize their performance. However, cached files can sometimes pile up, overloading your phone and making it slow.

Because of that, sometimes, you must clear your Android device's cache to keep it running smoothly. You can do it manually by choosing whether to clear an individual application's cache or all cache on your phone. Also, you can do it automatically with an integrated or third-person cache-cleaning app.

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