Your phone stores small files so apps and sites load fast. These files form the cache, and they grow a little each day. Clearing the cache removes these short lived files and frees space. It often fixes a slow app, and your photos, chats and logins stay in place.
This guide shows how to clear cache on your phone on Android and iPhone. You will learn the steps for apps, browsers and system files. You will also learn when to clear cache, and when to leave it alone. It sits with our common tech fixes for most small phone faults.
What is cache on a phone?
Cache is a set of short lived files that apps and browsers save on your phone. An app saves images, scripts and login tokens so the next visit loads fast. A browser saves page parts in the same way. A site you visit often then opens in seconds.
This saved data helps at first, but it piles up over weeks and months. Old files can clash with new app updates and show stale pages or broken buttons. A bloated cache can also eat storage and slow the phone down.
Think of cache as a tray of spare parts beside your desk. A tidy tray speeds your work, while a full tray slows you down. Clearing it puts fresh parts in place. The phone rebuilds the tray as you use each app.
Does clearing cache delete your photos or logins?
No, clearing cache does not delete your photos, videos, chats or contacts. It removes short lived files only, and your saved data stays where it is. Your apps keep their accounts too, so you stay signed in.
The risk sits in a nearby button with a different name. On Android it reads Clear storage or Clear data, and it resets the app. On iPhone, deleting an app removes its data too, so check each tap.
Cookies differ from cache, and they hold site logins and site settings. Clearing cookies in a browser may sign you out of sites. Clear cache alone if you want to stay signed in.
| Type | What it holds | Clearing it does |
|---|---|---|
| Cache | Short lived files for speed | Frees space, keeps logins |
| Cookies | Site logins and site settings | May sign you out |
| App data | Accounts, settings, saved files | Resets the app |
Use this table before you tap any clear button. Pick cache for a quick fix, and pick data only for a full reset. Back up your phone first if a reset is on the cards.
The Short Version
- Cache is short lived data that speeds up apps and sites.
- Clearing it frees space and fixes glitches, and it keeps your photos and logins.
- Never tap Clear storage or Clear data unless you want a full reset.
- On Android, clear cache per app in Settings.
- On iPhone, clear Safari data, offload apps or reinstall them.
How to clear cache on your phone: Android steps
Android lets you clear the cache of one app at a time. The steps below show how to clear cache on your phone on Android. Open Settings, tap Apps, pick the app, tap Storage and tap Clear cache. The whole job takes under a minute per app.
- Open the Settings app on your phone.
- Tap Apps or Apps and notifications.
- Pick the app that feels slow or takes too much space.
- Tap Storage or Storage and cache.
- Tap Clear cache, and leave Clear storage alone.
Start with the apps you use most, such as your browser or social apps. Check the cache size shown on the Storage screen first. A browser or video app often holds the most cache.
Some apps also hold a clear cache button inside their own settings. Look in the app menu for storage, data or free space options. Use the in app button when you find one, as it is the safest route.
- TikTok holds a Clear cache button under Settings and privacy, then Free up space.
- Other apps may hold one too, so check the app settings menu first.
- Chrome holds one in the app too, and section 5 shows the steps.
Menu names differ a little by phone brand and Android version. Samsung, Pixel and other brands use the same five steps, with small label changes. If a label looks odd, search Settings for the word cache.
How to clear cache on your phone: iPhone steps
Apple gives no single button to clear all app caches at once. This section shows how to clear cache on your phone if you use an iPhone. Each route frees space, and your photos and chats stay safe.
Clear Safari cache on iPhone
- Open Settings and scroll down to Safari.
- Tap Clear History and Website Data.
- Pick a time range and confirm the clear.
This clears Safari cache, history and cookies in one move. You may need to sign in to sites again after the clear. Use the Safari app itself if you want to clear one site only.
Offload or reinstall apps to free space
Offload removes the app but keeps its documents and data. Open Settings, tap General, then tap iPhone Storage. Pick an app, tap Offload App, and reinstall it later from the App Store.
Reinstall works best for an app that keeps crashing or hogging space. Delete the app, then install it again from the App Store. Your account data returns when you sign in again.
How to clear cache in Chrome and other browsers
A slow browser often needs its own cache clear, apart from the app cache. Open the browser, find browsing data in its menu, and tick cached images and files. Pick a time range, tap clear, and reload the page.
- Open Chrome and tap the three dots at the top right.
- Tap History, then tap Clear browsing data.
- Tick Cached images and files, and pick a time range.
- Tap Clear data and wait for the bar to finish.
The same steps work in most phone browsers, with small menu changes. Safari on iPhone uses the Settings route in section 4. Edge and Firefox hold the same clear data screen in their menus.
Tick cookies too if a site will not load or will not sign you in. You will sign out of sites when cookies go, so keep passwords handy. Clear cache alone for a quick fix that keeps you signed in. The official Android guide shows the same Chrome steps for Android phones.
How often should you clear cache?
Clear cache when an app misbehaves, storage runs low or a site loads wrong. A monthly check suits heavy apps such as browsers and social apps. Daily clearing wastes time, as the phone rebuilds the cache each day.
| When | What to clear | Why |
|---|---|---|
| App crashes or freezes | That app cache | Fixes stale files fast |
| Storage warning shows | Browser and social app cache | Frees the most space |
| A site loads wrong | Browser cache and cookies | Pulls fresh page data |
| Monthly check | Heavy use apps | Keeps the phone tidy |
Cache exists to speed things up, so clearing it too often slows first loads. Treat it as a fix, not as a daily chore. Pair it with storage housekeeping for the best result.
What to try if clearing cache does not fix it
Some faults sit deeper than cache, so work through this short ladder. Each step takes a minute, and most faults clear before the last step. Stop at the step that fixes your phone.
- Restart the phone and test the app again.
- Update the app and the phone software to the latest version.
- Free up storage by deleting old downloads and unused apps.
- Test the app on Wi-Fi and on mobile data to rule out the link.
- Back up the phone, then reset the problem app or the phone itself.
If pages load slowly on Wi-Fi, the link may be at fault, not the phone. Read our guide to faster Wi-Fi for slow page loads at home. If the phone runs hot or drains fast, read our phone charging guide for battery faults.
A factory reset is the last step, and it needs a full backup first. Try each step above before you reach for it. Most cache faults clear long before a reset.
Frequently asked questions
Does clearing cache delete photos?
No, clearing cache removes short lived files only. Your photos, videos and chats stay in the app and in your gallery. Only Clear storage or Clear data removes saved files, so avoid those buttons.
Will clearing cache make my phone faster?
It can help, mainly when an app feels slow or storage runs low. Fresh files replace stale ones, and the app loads clean data. Do not expect a big speed gain on a healthy phone.
How do I clear cache on Samsung phones?
Open Settings, tap Apps, pick the app, tap Storage, then tap Clear cache. Samsung uses the same Android steps, with small label changes. A system cache wipe in Recovery Mode suits advanced users only.
Is it safe to clear cache every day?
Yes, it is safe, but it wastes time and slows first loads. Cache speeds up apps, so clearing it daily forces the phone to rebuild files. Clear cache when you face a fault, not as a daily habit.
What is the difference between cache and cookies?
Cache holds short lived files that speed up apps and sites. Cookies hold site logins and settings, so clearing them signs you out. Clear cache for a quick fix, and clear cookies only when a site misbehaves.
Why does my phone storage still look full after clearing cache?
Cache is often a small share of used storage. Photos, videos and large apps take far more space. Delete old media, offload unused apps and back up files to free real space.
Give your phone a fresh start today
Pick the app that feels slowest and clear its cache now. Test it for a day, then clear your browser cache too. Small steps like these keep a phone quick without a reset.
Share this guide with a friend whose phone feels slow. One quick clear often fixes the fault they have lived with for weeks. Find more phone fixes in our Tech archive.
This guide showed how to clear cache on your phone, on Android and iPhone. Keep the routine light, and clear cache only when it helps. A tidy phone runs better, and it stays that way with small checks.
