What cache is and why clearing it helps
Cache is temporary storage your device uses to load things faster. When you visit a website, your browser saves images, text, and code so it doesn't have to read the same files again the next time you visit. Your phone does the same thing with apps. This speeds things up — but over time, cache can pile up, take up storage space, or cause a program to behave strangely if the stored version is outdated or corrupted.
Clearing cache is safe. You are only deleting temporary copies, not your actual files, passwords, or accounts. The next time you use an app or website, it will read fresh copies of what it needs. The trade-off is that things may load slightly slower the first time after you clear cache, because your device has to fetch everything new.
You might clear cache if an app is crashing, a website looks broken, you want to free up storage space, or you are troubleshooting a technical problem. You do not need to clear cache regularly unless you are running low on storage or experiencing specific issues.
Key Takeaways
- Cache is temporary storage that helps apps and websites load faster, and clearing it is safe because you are only deleting copies, not your actual data.
- On Android, go to Settings > Apps, select the app, tap Storage, and choose Clear Cache; on iPhone, you clear cache within individual apps or through Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- In most web browsers, you can clear cache through Settings or Preferences under Privacy, History, or Browsing Data, and you can choose how far back to delete.
- Clearing cache may slow down the first load of an app or website because your device has to read everything fresh, but this is temporary.
- You do not need to clear cache on a schedule unless you are low on storage or an app is malfunctioning.
How to clear cache on Android phones and tablets
Open Settings and go to Apps (sometimes called Applications or App Management). Scroll to find the app whose cache you want to clear, then tap it. Look for a button or option labeled Storage or Storage and Cache. Tap Clear Cache. This removes only the temporary files; your account, settings, and saved data stay intact.
If you want to clear cache for all apps at once, go to Settings > Storage > Cache or Settings > System > Storage > Cached Data, then select Clear All. The exact path varies by phone maker and Android version, so if you cannot find it, search "clear cache" in your Settings search bar.
How to clear cache on iPhones and iPads
iPhone does not have a single "clear cache" button for the whole system. Instead, you clear cache within individual apps or through the app storage settings. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage). Scroll through the list of apps and tap one. If the app has a cache option, you will see it listed under the app name. Tap it to clear that app's cache.
For web browsing, open Safari and go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. Choose the time range (Last Hour, Today, Last Week, or All Time), then tap Clear History and Data. This removes browsing history, cookies, and cached website files. Other browsers like Chrome and Firefox have similar options in their own settings.
How to clear cache in web browsers on computers
In Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top right, go to Settings, then Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data. A window opens where you can choose what to delete (cache, cookies, history) and the time range. Select Cached Images and Files, choose your time range, and click Clear Data.
In Firefox, click the menu button (three horizontal lines), go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and click Clear Data. Check Cached Web Content and Cookies and Site Data, then click Clear. In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Settings > Privacy, click Manage Website Data, select the sites you want to clear, and click Remove.
In Edge, click the three-dot menu, go to Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services, then Clear Browsing Data. Choose what to delete and your time range, then click Clear Now. Most browsers also let you set cache to clear automatically every time you close the browser — look in Privacy settings for an option like "Clear on Exit" or "Delete Cookies and Site Data When Firefox Is Closed."
When clearing cache actually solves a problem
Clearing cache is most useful when an app crashes repeatedly, a website displays incorrectly or loads an old version of a page, or you are experiencing login issues. It is also worth trying if an app is running slowly or using more storage than it should. In these cases, the cached files may be outdated or corrupted, and a fresh read fixes the issue.
If clearing cache does not solve the problem, the next step is usually to restart your device, then uninstall and reinstall the app. Clearing cache alone rarely fixes serious bugs or security issues — those usually require an app update from the developer.
Storage space and cache buildup
Cache takes up storage gradually. A single app might use 100 megabytes to several gigabytes of cache over months of use, depending on how often you use it and what it stores. If your device is running low on storage, clearing cache for your most-used apps can free up space without deleting photos, messages, or documents.
To see how much cache an app is using, go to its storage page (Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Storage on Android, or Settings > General > iPhone Storage > [App Name] on iPhone). The cache size is listed separately from the app itself. Clearing cache will not affect your account or saved preferences within the app — it only removes temporary files.
The difference between cache, cookies, and browsing history
These three things are related but different. Cache is temporary copies of images, code, and files that help things load faster. Cookies are small text files that websites use to remember you — your login, preferences, items in your cart. Browsing history is the list of websites you have visited. When you clear browsing data in a browser, you usually have the option to delete any combination of these three.
If you clear cache but not cookies, websites will still remember you and you will stay logged in. If you clear cookies, you may be logged out of accounts. If you clear history, the websites you visited disappear from your browser's history list, but the sites themselves are not affected. Most people clear all three together, but you can choose what to delete based on what you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my passwords or log me out?
Clearing cache alone will not log you out or delete passwords. Passwords are stored separately in your browser or device's password manager. If you want to stay logged in, make sure you clear cache but not cookies. If you accidentally clear cookies too, you will be logged out, but you can log back in with your password.
How often should I clear cache?
You do not need to clear cache on a schedule. Clear it only when you are experiencing a problem with an app or website, or when your device is running low on storage. If you rarely have issues and have plenty of storage space, you can leave cache alone indefinitely.
Is it safe to clear cache?
Yes, clearing cache is completely safe. You are only deleting temporary copies of files, not your actual data, accounts, or documents. The worst that happens is an app or website loads slightly slower the next time you use it because your device has to read everything fresh.
What if clearing cache does not fix the problem?
If an app still crashes or a website still looks broken after clearing cache, try restarting your device. If that does not work, uninstall the app and reinstall it from the app store, or try a different browser for the website. If the problem persists, it may be a bug that requires an update from the app developer or website owner.
Can I clear cache for just one app instead of all of them?
Yes. On Android, go to Settings > Apps, select the specific app, tap Storage, and choose Clear Cache. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, tap the app, and clear its cache from there. Clearing cache for one app does not affect others.