What clearing YouTube cache actually does
Clearing YouTube cache means deleting the temporary files the YouTube app stores on your iPhone — things like video thumbnails, search history, and parts of videos you've already watched. Your iPhone keeps these files so YouTube loads faster the next time you open it. When you clear the cache, you free up storage space and force the app to read fresh copies of everything the next time you use it.
This is different from clearing your watch history or signing out. Cache clearing doesn't delete your account information, saved videos, or subscriptions. It only removes the temporary files that make the app run faster. If your YouTube app is running slowly, crashing, or taking up too much storage space, clearing the cache is usually the first thing to try.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing YouTube cache removes temporary files the app stores, which frees up storage space and can fix performance problems.
- You can clear cache through your iPhone Settings by going to General, iPhone Storage, YouTube, and tapping "Offload App" or "Delete App".
- Clearing cache does not delete your account, subscriptions, watch history, or saved videos — only temporary files.
- If you offload the app instead of deleting it, your data stays on your phone but the cache is removed.
How to clear YouTube cache through iPhone Settings
The most direct way to clear YouTube cache is through your iPhone's built-in storage settings. Open Settings, then tap General. Scroll down and tap iPhone Storage. Find YouTube in the list of apps and tap it. You will see two options: "Offload App" and "Delete App".
If you tap "Offload App", your iPhone removes the app and its cache but keeps your account data and settings. When you reinstall YouTube from the App Store, you will still be signed in and your subscriptions will be there. This is the safer choice if you want to keep everything else intact. If you tap "Delete App", both the app and all its data are removed — you will need to sign back in when you reinstall it.
After you offload or delete, go to the App Store, search for YouTube, and tap the read button to reinstall it. The app will be much smaller than before because the cache is gone.
Clearing cache without removing the app
If you do not want to offload or delete YouTube, you can clear some cache by signing out and signing back in. Open YouTube, tap your profile icon in the bottom right, and tap "Sign out". Then tap "Sign in" and enter your account information again. This clears some temporary files but not all of them.
You can also go to YouTube Settings (the gear icon), tap "Clear watch history" or "Clear search history" if those options appear. This removes data YouTube uses to recommend videos, which can free up a small amount of space. However, this method does not clear as much cache as offloading the app does.
When to clear YouTube cache
Clear your YouTube cache if the app is running slowly, crashing when you open it, or taking up more storage space than you expect. You can check how much space YouTube is using by going to Settings, General, iPhone Storage, and looking at the number next to YouTube. If it shows several gigabytes, clearing the cache will help.
You might also clear cache if you are having trouble with videos not loading, if recommendations seem stuck on old content, or if you are trying to free up space before updating iOS. Clearing cache is safe to do anytime — the worst that happens is YouTube takes a few seconds longer to load the next time you open it.
The difference between cache, data, and storage
Cache is temporary files the app creates while you use it — thumbnails, parts of videos, search suggestions. Data is information tied to your account — your subscriptions, watch history, saved videos, and login information. Storage is the total space the app takes up on your phone, which includes both cache and data.
When you offload an app, you remove both cache and the app itself, but your account data stays on Apple's servers. When you delete an app, everything goes. When you clear cache through Settings, you are removing only the temporary files, not your account information. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right option without accidentally losing something you need.
What happens after you clear cache
After you clear YouTube cache, the app will be noticeably smaller on your phone. The first time you open it, it may take a few extra seconds to load because it has to read fresh copies of thumbnails and recommendations. After that, it will run normally and may even feel faster than before if the cache was corrupted or taking up too much space.
Your account will be exactly as you left it — same subscriptions, same watch history, same saved videos. YouTube will remember you are signed in. The only thing that might feel different is that your recommendations might reset slightly because the app no longer has cached data about what you have been watching, so it may take a day or two to rebuild its suggestions based on your actual viewing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my subscriptions and watch history?
No. Cache is only temporary files. Your subscriptions, watch history, and saved videos are stored on YouTube's servers and tied to your account. They will still be there after you clear cache. You will only lose them if you actively delete your watch history through YouTube Settings or delete your entire account.
How much storage space will I free up by clearing cache?
It depends on how much you use YouTube. If you watch videos daily, clearing cache can free up anywhere from 100 megabytes to several gigabytes. Check Settings, General, iPhone Storage, YouTube to see the current size. After you offload or delete the app, reinstall it and check again — the difference is the cache you removed.
Do I need to sign in again after clearing cache?
Only if you delete the app entirely. If you offload it, your login information stays on your phone and you will still be signed in when you reinstall. If you delete it, you will need to sign back in with your email and password when you reinstall YouTube.
What is the difference between offload and delete?
Offload removes the app and cache but keeps your account data on your phone, so you stay signed in when you reinstall. Delete removes everything — the app, cache, and all local data. For most people, offload is the better choice because it is faster and you do not have to sign in again.
Can I clear cache without using Settings?
Not directly through the YouTube app itself. YouTube does not have a built-in cache-clearing option in its settings menu. Your only options are to offload or delete through iPhone Settings, or to sign out and sign back in, which clears some but not all cache.