Auraz TechHow to Clear Cache on Android (All Brands)
If your favorite app has started crashing, loading slowly, or showing outdated content, the culprit is very often a bloated or corrupted cache. Clearing the cache is one of the safest, quickest maintenance tasks you can do on an Android phone — it deletes temporary files without touching your photos, messages, logins, or personal data. In this guide, we walk through exactly how to clear cache on every major Android brand, explain the difference between app cache and system cache, and clear up the myths that surround this simple fix.
What Is Cache on Android, Really?
Cache is a collection of temporary files that apps store so they can load faster next time. When you open Instagram, for example, it saves thumbnails, profile pictures, and layout data in its cache. The next time you open it, those elements appear instantly instead of downloading again. This is genuinely useful — until it isn't.
Problems start when cached files become corrupted or pile up to gigabytes in size. A corrupted cache can cause an app to freeze on launch, show a blank screen, or refuse to update its content. On phones with 64 GB or 128 GB of storage, several gigabytes of stale cache across dozens of apps can also meaningfully eat into your free space.
There are three kinds of cache worth knowing about:
- App cache: temporary files stored by an individual app. Safe to clear any time.
- Browser cache: stored web pages, images, and cookies in Chrome or your default browser.
- System cache partition: on older Android versions (before Android 8), the OS kept a separate cache partition you could wipe from recovery mode. Modern Android versions manage this automatically, so you no longer need to touch it.
How to Clear App Cache on Any Android Phone
The universal method works on virtually every Android phone running Android 8 or newer:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps (on some phones this is called Apps & notifications).
- Tap See all apps if you don't see the full list.
- Find and tap the app that is misbehaving.
- Tap Storage & cache.
- Tap Clear cache.
That's it. The app will rebuild its cache naturally as you use it. You will stay logged in, and none of your data disappears. If the app was crashing, try opening it again — in our testing, this resolves the issue roughly 8 times out of 10.
Brand-Specific Paths
While the steps above work almost everywhere, manufacturers sometimes rename the menus. Here are the exact paths on popular brands:
Samsung (One UI)
Go to Settings > Apps, select the app, then tap Storage > Clear cache. Samsung also offers a one-tap cleanup: open the Settings > Battery and device care > Storage menu, where you can see exactly how much cache each category holds.
Google Pixel (Stock Android)
Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps, pick the app, then Storage & cache > Clear cache. Pixel's Settings > Storage screen also shows a breakdown of cached data across the system.
Xiaomi / Redmi / Poco (MIUI / HyperOS)
Go to Settings > Apps > Manage apps, choose the app, then tap Clear data at the bottom and select Clear cache (be careful not to tap "Clear all data" unless you intend a full reset of the app). Xiaomi's built-in Security app also has a Cleaner tool that sweeps cache across all apps at once.
OnePlus (OxygenOS)
Go to Settings > Apps > App management, select the app, then Storage usage > Clear cache.
Oppo / Vivo / Realme (ColorOS / Funtouch OS)
Go to Settings > App management > App list, choose the app, then Storage usage > Clear cache.
How to Clear Cache for All Apps at Once
Android no longer offers a single "clear all cache" button in stock settings (Google removed it in Android 8 to prevent accidental data loss), but you have options:
- Manufacturer cleaners: Xiaomi's Security app, Samsung's Device Care (Settings > Battery and device care > Optimize now), and similar tools on Oppo/Vivo include cache cleanup.
- Files by Google: install Google's free Files app, tap Clean at the bottom, and use the Junk files card to remove cached and temporary files across apps safely.
- Avoid third-party "booster" apps: most cleaner apps from unknown developers are ad-ridden, request excessive permissions, and sometimes do more harm than good. Stick to the built-in tools or Files by Google.
Clearing Browser Cache in Chrome
If websites are showing old versions of pages or logins are acting strangely, clear Chrome's cache:
- Open Chrome and tap the three-dot menu (top right).
- Tap History > Clear browsing data.
- At the top, choose a time range — All time for a full cleanup.
- Check Cached images and files (leave "Cookies and site data" unchecked if you don't want to be logged out of sites).
- Tap Clear data.
Clear Cache vs. Clear Data: Don't Mix Them Up
On the same Storage & cache screen you'll see two buttons, and they do very different things:
- Clear cache: deletes temporary files only. You stay logged in. Safe.
- Clear storage / Clear data: resets the app completely — as if freshly installed. You will be logged out and lose offline content, settings, and downloaded files within that app. Only use this when clearing cache didn't fix the problem, and make sure anything important (like WhatsApp chats) is backed up first.
When Should You Clear Cache?
Clear an app's cache when it crashes on launch, freezes, shows stale content, or misbehaves after an update. As routine maintenance, a quick cache sweep every month or two via your phone's device-care tool is plenty. There is no benefit to clearing cache daily — in fact, doing so can make apps slightly slower, since they have to rebuild the cache they use to load quickly.
Clearing Cache in Popular Apps: Specific Walkthroughs
Some apps accumulate cache faster than others. Here's how to handle the worst offenders individually:
- Chrome: Chrome > three-dot menu > History > Clear browsing data — check "Cached images and files," pick a time range, and tap Clear data. Do this monthly if you browse heavily.
- WhatsApp: WhatsApp doesn't expose a cache button in its own settings — clear it via Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Storage & cache > Clear cache. This never touches your chats. If WhatsApp feels sluggish, also use its internal Settings > Storage and data > Manage storage to delete large forwarded videos.
- TikTok / Instagram: these are cache monsters. TikTok even has a built-in option: Profile > menu > Settings and privacy > Free up space > Clear cache. For Instagram, use the system path under Settings > Apps.
- Google Play Store: if the Play Store won't download apps, Settings > Apps > Google Play Store > Storage & cache > Clear cache fixes it more often than any other single trick.
A good habit: once a month, sort Settings > Apps by size and clear cache on the top five. Five minutes, gigabytes recovered, zero risk.
FAQ
Will clearing cache delete my photos or messages?
No. Clearing cache only removes temporary files. Your photos, chats, contacts, and logins are stored separately and remain untouched. The similarly named "Clear data" / "Clear storage" button is the dangerous one — avoid it unless you mean to reset the app.
Why is there no "clear all cache" button on my phone?
Google removed the system-wide button in Android 8 (Oreo). Use your manufacturer's device-care tool or the Files by Google app's "Junk files" cleaner for an all-at-once sweep.
Does clearing cache make my phone faster?
It can fix a misbehaving app, which may feel like a speed boost, but it doesn't meaningfully speed up the whole phone. For genuine performance gains, free up storage space and reduce background apps instead.
How often should I clear app cache?
Only when needed — when an app acts up — plus a light monthly cleanup with your phone's built-in tools. Daily cache clearing is unnecessary and counterproductive.