What clearing your cache actually does
Clearing your Facebook cache removes the temporary files your phone or computer stored while using Facebook — things like images, videos, login information, and browsing history from the app or website. This does not delete your actual Facebook account, posts, messages, or photos. It only removes the local copies stored on your device.
When you clear cache, Facebook will reload slower the next time you open it because your device has to read those files again. But you stay logged in, your account remains unchanged, and Facebook's servers still hold everything you posted. Cache clearing is useful if the app is running slowly, if you want to free up storage space on your device, or if you share a device and want to remove traces of your browsing from that specific machine.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing cache removes temporary files stored on your device, not your actual Facebook account or data.
- The steps differ depending on whether you use Facebook on iPhone, Android, Windows, or Mac.
- Clearing cache frees up storage space and can fix a slow or glitchy app, but you will need to re-read images and videos the next time you use Facebook.
- If you want to remove your browsing history from Facebook's servers (not just your device), you need to use Facebook's Off-Facebook Activity tool separately.
How to clear cache on iPhone
On iPhone, you clear Facebook cache through your phone's Settings app, not through Facebook itself. Open Settings, scroll down and tap Facebook, then tap Offload App. This removes the app's temporary files while keeping your login information. Tap Reinstall App to read Facebook fresh, or straightforward open the Facebook app and it will reinstall automatically the next time you use it.
If you want to remove your login information as well, tap Delete App instead of Offload App. This removes everything related to Facebook from your phone, and you will need to log in again when you reinstall it. Most people use Offload App because it clears the cache without forcing you to re-enter your password.
How to clear cache on Android
On Android, open Settings, tap Apps or process Manager, find Facebook, and tap Storage. Tap Clear Cache. This removes temporary files without affecting your account or login status. If you also want to clear app data (which includes some login information and preferences), tap Clear Data, but you will need to log in again the next time you open Facebook.
The exact names of these settings vary slightly by phone manufacturer — Samsung, Google Pixel, and other brands use slightly different menu names — but the path is always Settings → Apps → Facebook → Storage → Clear Cache.
How to clear cache on Windows and Mac
If you use Facebook in a web browser on a computer, clearing cache works differently. In Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top right, select Settings, click Privacy and Security, then Clear Browsing Data. Make sure "Cached images and files" is checked, set the time range to "All time" if you want to clear everything, and click Clear Data. This removes cache for all websites you visit, not just Facebook.
In Firefox, click the menu button (three horizontal lines), select Settings, go to Privacy & History, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and click Clear Data. In Safari on Mac, click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, go to Privacy, and click Manage Website Data. Find Facebook in the list and click Remove. These steps clear cache from your browser, which is where temporary Facebook files are stored when you use the website rather than the app.
The difference between cache and browsing history
Cache and browsing history are related but separate. Cache is the temporary files — images, videos, code — that your device stores to make websites load faster. Browsing history is the list of pages you visited. Clearing cache does not clear your browsing history, and clearing history does not clear cache. If you want to remove both, you need to do both actions.
On iPhone, clearing browsing history happens in the Facebook app itself: tap the menu (three horizontal lines), scroll down, tap Settings & Privacy, tap Settings, tap Your Information, then tap Clear Browsing History. On Android, the same path exists in the app menu. On a computer browser, clearing history is usually a separate option in the same menu where you clear cache — in Chrome, it is the "Browsing history" checkbox in the Clear Browsing Data window.
What clearing cache does not do
Clearing cache does not stop Facebook from tracking your activity on other websites. Facebook uses tracking pixels and the Facebook Pixel tool on third-party sites to follow what you do outside Facebook, and clearing your device's cache does not affect that. To limit that tracking, use Facebook's Off-Facebook Activity tool, which you can find in Settings & Privacy → Settings → Apps and Websites → Off-Facebook Activity. This tool shows you which websites and apps have sent information about you to Facebook, and you can disconnect them.
Clearing cache also does not delete messages, posts, or photos you have uploaded. Those live on Facebook's servers, not on your device. If you want to delete something you posted, you need to delete it from within the Facebook app or website. If you want to remove your account entirely, that is a separate process that requires you to request account deletion through Facebook's settings.
When to clear cache and when it will not help
Clear cache if Facebook is running slowly, if the app is crashing, or if you are running low on storage space. Cache buildup can sometimes cause performance problems, and clearing it is a quick troubleshooting step. If clearing cache does not fix a slow or crashing app, the problem is likely something else — try restarting your device, updating Facebook to the latest version, or checking whether you have enough free storage space overall.
Do not expect clearing cache to improve your privacy on Facebook itself. Facebook still knows what you do inside the app, and clearing your device's cache does not change that. If you are concerned about what Facebook knows about you, focus on the privacy settings inside Facebook — what information is visible to others, what ads you see, and which third-party apps can access your data — rather than on clearing cache.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache log me out of Facebook?
Usually not. On iPhone, using Offload App keeps you logged in. On Android, Clear Cache keeps you logged in. On a computer browser, clearing cache usually keeps you logged in because your login cookie is often treated separately from cached files. If you do get logged out, straightforward log back in — your account and all your data remain unchanged.
How much storage space does Facebook cache take up?
This varies widely depending on how much you use Facebook and how many images and videos you view. On some phones it can be hundreds of megabytes; on others it might be less than 100 MB. The only way to know for your device is to check before and after clearing cache — on iPhone, go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage and find Facebook; on Android, go to Settings → Apps → Facebook → Storage.
Do I need to clear Facebook cache regularly?
Not unless you are experiencing problems or running low on storage. Most people do not need to clear cache more than once every few months. If Facebook is running smoothly and you have plenty of storage space, there is no reason to clear it regularly.
What is the difference between clearing cache and clearing data?
Cache is temporary files that help the app load faster. Data includes your login information, preferences, and other settings stored on your device. Clearing data removes more information and usually forces you to log in again. Clearing cache is the gentler option and is usually what you want unless you are trying to completely reset the app.
Does clearing cache on my phone affect Facebook on my computer?
No. Cache is stored separately on each device. Clearing cache on your phone does not affect the cache on your computer, and vice versa. If you use Facebook on multiple devices, you need to clear cache on each one separately.