How to clear cache on Android and iPhone (and when it helps)
Cache is a store of temporary files that apps and browsers keep so things load faster next time: images, parts of web pages, map tiles. It is safe to clear, but clearing it is not a magic fix.
When clearing cache helps
- An app is behaving strangely, freezing or showing old content.
- A website loads wrongly or will not show its latest version.
- You need a little space and the cache has grown large.
On Android
- Open Settings and look for Apps (or Apps and notifications).
- Choose the app.
- Tap Storage and then Clear cache.
Do not tap Clear data or Clear storage unless you mean to. That deletes the app’s saved data and usually signs you out.
For the browser: in Chrome, open the three-dot menu, then History or Settings > Privacy and security, and look for Clear browsing data. Tick Cached images and files only if you want to keep your logins.
On iPhone
iPhones do not have a per-app “clear cache” button.
- Safari: go to Settings, look for Apps > Safari (or just Safari on older iOS versions), and choose Clear History and Website Data. This also signs you out of websites.
- Other apps: look in Settings > General > iPhone Storage, pick the app and use Offload App (keeps your data) or delete and reinstall.
What you will notice
The first load afterwards is a little slower, because the phone has to rebuild the cache. Do not clear it every day; that only makes things slower.
If the problem stays
Update the app, restart the phone, and check free storage. See phone storage full: how to free up space and how to speed up a slow phone.
