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How do I clear the cache on my Android phone?

By the AndroidAnswers Editorial Team · Updated

About 4 minutes · Storage & cleanup

Steps written for Android 16 and 17, including Samsung One UI 8 and 9, Google Pixel, and Motorola. Menu names can vary a little by model and carrier.

Illustration of a phone showing a trash bin, with a folder on one side and a refresh arrow on the other

Open Settings, tap Apps, choose the app, then tap Storage (or Storage & cache) and Clear cache. This removes temporary files only. Your photos, messages, and sign-ins stay put. Do not tap Clear data or Clear storage unless you want to reset the app. Most phones clear cache one app at a time, not all at once.

Steps to check

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  1. Know Clear cache versus Clear data

    Clear cache deletes temporary files the app saved to help it load. Google notes some apps may be a little slow the next time you open them. Clear storage (called Clear data on Samsung) is different: it permanently deletes everything the app saved on the phone and resets it, so you may need to sign in again. Your photos in Gallery or Google Photos are not part of another app's cache.

  2. Clear cache for one app

    Open Settings, tap Apps, then See all apps if you see that option. Tap the app that feels bulky or is acting up. Tap Storage or Storage & cache, then Clear cache. If storage is tight, start with the apps you use most for videos, social media, or browsing. On Motorola, a quick way is to touch and hold the app icon, tap App info, then Storage & cache → Clear cache.

    • Samsung Settings → Apps → search for or select the app → Storage → Clear cache.
    • Pixel Settings → Apps → See all apps → app → Storage & cache → Clear cache.

  3. On Motorola, you can also use the Files app

    Motorola also lets you do this from the Files app: open Files, tap Browse, tap the Apps category, tap an app, then Storage & cache → Clear cache. This is handy for going through several apps in a row. The Files app can also suggest old downloads and unused apps you could remove.

  4. Know there is no safe "clear all" button on most phones

    Samsung's help says the only way to clear the cache on every app at the same time is a factory reset, which erases the whole phone. That is not worth it just for cache. Clear the biggest apps one by one instead. On Samsung, Settings → Device care → Memory → Clean now can also close background apps if the phone feels slow, but it does not replace Clear cache.

  5. If the app is still huge after clearing cache

    Clear cache only removes temporary files. Big apps often keep downloaded videos, chat photos, or offline maps as app data, and that stays. Look inside the app's own settings for a storage or downloads option, or uninstall the app if you no longer use it. Skip the "wipe cache partition" option in the phone's recovery menu unless your phone maker's support tells you to use it for your exact model.

Normal vs. not

Usually normal

Cache growing again over days or weeks, and an app taking a moment longer to open right after you clear it.

Worth a closer look

Clear cache missing for every app, or storage still almost full after clearing the biggest apps. Restart, then check Downloads and large videos next. Our free up storage guide walks through that.

What people are saying

Common questions

Does clearing cache delete my photos?
No. Cache is temporary app files. Photos in Gallery, Google Photos, or your camera folder stay put.
Should I clear data if clear cache did not help?
Only if you are ready to reset that app. Samsung suggests writing down your account names first so you can sign back in. For routine cleanup, Clear cache is enough.

Sources we checked

Menu names can differ by phone brand and Android version. See our editorial policy for how we check steps.