Have you ever noticed that your Android phone is running slower than usual or that an app suddenly stops working properly? This is more common than you might imagine, and one of the most frequent causes is related to the Cache that apps themselves use to improve their performance. But what is cache really, when is it worth clearing it, and what are the most effective steps to do so without losing your data?
In this comprehensive and updated guide, we'll show you absolutely everything you need to know about how to clear the app cache on your Android phone or tablet. We'll explain What is the cache?, how it differs from user data, when it is a good idea to delete it and, of course, How to perform this process both for individual applications and globally, depending on the version of Android you have. In addition, you will learn tricks, important tips and recommended applications to free up space and Improve the performance of your device without any risk.
What is Android app cache?
When we talk about cache in Android, we refer to a temporary storage space where apps store files, images, scripts, and other frequently used information. The purpose of the cache is simple: to allow apps to go faster and consume fewer resources, since they won't have to download the same data again every time you open them.
For example, if you use Instagram, photos you've already viewed are temporarily cached so they load almost instantly the next time you use them. The same thing happens with messaging apps, browsers, social media, and even games. This cache helps make the experience smoother and more responsive.
Clearing the cache does not delete the app or your personal data.. Just delete temporary files that, if needed, will be generated again when you use the app again. In fact, when an app starts to crash, displays unexpected errors, or runs slower, clearing the cache is often one of the best ways to first solutions recommended.
In what other situations might clearing the cache be useful? Essentially, these are the cases:
- When an application experiences crashes, unexpected closures, or graphical problems.
- If you notice that your device is slower after updating several apps.
- When you need to free up space quickly because your phone is almost full.
- If you want to improve the startup of certain very heavy or resource-intensive apps.
Now, it is important to note that Clearing the cache should not be done compulsively or on a daily basis.In fact, overusing this process will cause apps to take longer to load the first time after cleaning, because they'll have to re-download data you already had stored.
Is the cache taking up too much space?
Many users wonder if the cache actually reaches take up a worrying amount of space on the internal memory of your devices. The reality is that, although the cache can add up to a significant number of megabytes—especially in frequently used apps like browsers, social networks, or games—the Android operating system itself Automatically manages this storage and keeps it under control. It is a normal and necessary process for the optimal functioning of the mobile.
In most cases, you don't need to worry about the cache unless your device is running low on free space or an app starts behaving strangely. However, over time and with intensive use, some apps' cache can easily exceed hundreds of megabytes, even reaching several gigabytes in rare situations. In these cases, clearing the cache will be a simple and quick solution. recover space and fix specific issues.
Remember: The cache does not delete your photos, chats, sessions, or important data.. It only deletes temporary files that the app will recreate when needed. So, it's safe to do a cleanup from time to time, especially if you're experiencing performance issues, but you don't need to obsess over it.
How to clear the cache in an Android app (mobile phones and tablets)
Clearing the cache of a specific application is very simple and safe. It is one of the Recommended first steps for individual app crashes or slowness. Below, we'll explain how to do it, keeping in mind that the option names may vary slightly depending on the brand and customization layer (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, etc.), but the process is very similar for all models:
- Opens Settings on your device.
- Choose Applications o Application Manager.
- Find the app you want to clean (you can use the search engine if you have many apps installed).
- Tap on the app to open its options.
- Enter the section Storage.
- press Clear cache (o Clear cache).
- Confirm the action if the system asks you to do so.
And that's it! Your app will remain installed, retaining your settings, sessions, and personal data, but it will have deleted those temporary files that could be causing problems.
On some devices, you can see the cache space before clearing it, letting you know exactly how much space you're freeing up. An extra tip: take advantage of this option to clear the cache of apps you use frequently and that, by their nature, store more temporary files, such as browsers, photo galleries, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.
How to clear the cache of all apps on Android 8 or earlier
If you have a mobile phone or tablet with an older version of Android (Android 8 or lower), you have the possibility to clear the entire system cache at once, without having to clean up app by app. This is a very effective method if you notice your device is slow, you're low on storage, or if many apps are experiencing issues at the same time.
The general procedure is as follows:
- Opens Settings On your phone or tablet.
- Accede to Storage.
- Look for the option Cached data.
- Tap on it and confirm that you want to delete the content.
The system will delete temporary files stored by all applications. This usually frees up a significant amount of space, especially if you haven't cleaned up your data in a while. Remember that after deleting, apps will take a little longer to load the first time, as they'll have to regenerate this temporary data.
How to clear the cache of all apps on Android 9 or higher
Starting with Android 9, Google removed the native option to clear the cache for all apps simultaneously from the system settings, seeking to prevent errors and the accidental deletion of important data. Therefore, if you have a modern version of Android, you'll need to clear the cache manually on an app-by-app basis.
However, there is an alternative option to clean up temporary files in bulk using specialized applications such as Files by Google, which is completely safe and free. This app identifies junk files, outdated caches, and other residual data that can be deleted without harming the performance of your apps.
Steps to use Files by Google:
- Download and install Google files from Play Store.
- Open the app and select the tab Clear.
- In the section of Junk files, click on Clear.
- Confirm that you want to delete these temporary files.
It is important to highlight that this massive cleanup does not clear the entire cache of the apps, but only the temporary and residual files that are no longer being used. This helps free up space without affecting the normal functioning of your apps. Other apps like CCleaner, 1Tap Cleaner, Norton Clean o Avg Cleaner They can also be useful for similar purposes, but it is always advisable to opt for official and recognized solutions to avoid risks.
What happens after clearing the cache? Is it worth it?
After clearing the cache, You won't lose important information or your user dataYou'll simply be deleting files that help speed up app loading and processes. When you reopen an app, it will generate a new cache tailored to your current needs.
Advantages of clearing the cache periodically:
- Troubleshoot errors and crashes in applications.
- Free up space in internal memory when it is full.
- Improve overall device stability and performance.
It's not necessary to do it every day, but if you notice strange behavior in an app or your phone is running very slowly, it's an excellent preventative measure. In many cases, apps like Chrome, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube store large amounts of temporary files and can benefit from a monthly or bi-monthly cleanup.
How to clear cache and data on Android TV and Google TV
Not only Android phones and tablets can accumulate cache, but also smart televisions who use Android TV or Google TV. The process for clearing this temporary memory is usually very similar:
- Accede to Settings from your TV.
- Choose Applications o Apps.
- Choose the app with problems.
- Open your options and choose Clear cache and, if you see it necessary, also Delete data.
Remember that the interface may vary depending on the manufacturer, but these steps typically work on most TVs and TV boxes running Android TV or Google TV.
Is the app still not working? Try clearing data and reinstalling the app.
Sometimes clearing the cache isn't enough to fix an app's issues. If the app continues to crash after clearing the cache, the best thing to do is uninstall and reinstall the appThis process deletes all files and settings related to the app and may resolve deeper errors.
Steps to uninstall and reinstall an app:
- Opens Settings on your device.
- Accede to Applications o Application Manager.
- Select the problematic app.
- Press on uninstall and confirm.
- Go to the Play Store, search for the app, and download it again.
Please note that when you uninstall the app, you may lose locally stored data (such as unsynced save games or files generated by the app), but you'll keep your backed-up data in the cloud if the app offers that feature. Before deleting an important app, check if it has a backup.
Difference between cache and cookies on Android
It's easy to confuse the terms cache with cookies, as both are temporary files. However, they have different functions:
- Cache: stores files such as images, scripts, and other data that are used to speed up the loading of apps and websites.
- Cookies: They are small text files that remember personal settings, logins, and track browsing to improve your personalized experience.
Recommended apps to clear cache on Android
If you prefer not to do it manually, you can use specialized apps that make it easy to clean cache and junk files safely. Some of the most recommended apps on the Play Store are:
- Files by Google: An official, free, ad-free app that lets you clean temporary files, caches, and other junk in a very visual and simple way.
- CCleaner: One of the most well-known and highly rated cache cleaners, it removes visible cache, residual files, and empty folders.
- 1Tap Cleaner: It stands out for clearing all cache and other call or search history with a single tap.
- Norton Clean: Useful for removing unnecessary items, optimizing memory, and recovering space on Android phones and tablets.
- AVG Cleaner: combines cleaning unnecessary files with optimizing battery and overall performance.
What happens after clearing the cache? Is it worth it?
After clearing the cache, You won't lose important information or your user dataYou'll simply be deleting files that help speed up app loading and processes. When you reopen an app, it will generate a new cache tailored to your current needs.
Advantages of clearing the cache periodically:
- Troubleshoot errors and crashes in applications.
- Free up space in internal memory when it is full.
- Improve overall device stability and performance.
It's not necessary to do it every day, but if you notice strange behavior in an app or your phone is running very slowly, it's an excellent preventative measure. In many cases, apps like Chrome, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube store large amounts of temporary files and can benefit from a monthly or bi-monthly cleanup.
How to clear cache and data on Android TV and Google TV
Not only Android phones and tablets can accumulate cache, but also smart televisions who use Android TV or Google TV. The process for clearing this temporary memory is usually very similar:
- Accede to Settings from your TV.
- Choose Applications o Apps.
- Choose the app with problems.
- Open your options and choose Clear cache and, if you see it necessary, also Delete data.
Remember that the interface may vary depending on the manufacturer, but these steps typically work on most TVs and TV boxes running Android TV or Google TV.
Is the app still not working? Try clearing data and reinstalling the app.
Sometimes clearing the cache isn't enough to fix an app's issues. If the app continues to crash after clearing the cache, the best thing to do is uninstall and reinstall the appThis process deletes all files and settings related to the app and may resolve deeper errors.
Steps to uninstall and reinstall an app:
- Opens Settings on your device.
- Accede to Applications o Application Manager.
- Select the problematic app.
- Press on uninstall and confirm.
- Go to the Play Store, search for the app, and download it again.
Please note that when you uninstall the app, you may lose locally stored data (such as unsynced save games or files generated by the app), but you'll keep your backed-up data in the cloud if the app offers that feature. Before deleting an important app, check if it has a backup.
Difference between cache and cookies on Android
It's easy to confuse the terms cache with cookies, as both are temporary files. However, they have different functions:
- Cache: stores files such as images, scripts, and other data that are used to speed up the loading of apps and websites.
- Cookies: They are small text files that remember personal settings, logins, and track browsing to improve your personalized experience.
Recommended apps to clear cache on Android
If you prefer not to do it manually, you can use specialized apps that make it easy to clean cache and junk files safely. Some of the most recommended apps on the Play Store are:
- Files by Google: An official, free, ad-free app that lets you clean temporary files, caches, and other junk in a very visual and simple way.
- CCleaner: One of the most well-known and highly rated cache cleaners, it removes visible cache, residual files, and empty folders.
- 1Tap Cleaner: It stands out for clearing all cache and other call or search history with a single tap.
- Norton Clean: Useful for removing unnecessary items, optimizing memory, and recovering space on Android phones and tablets.
- AVG Cleaner: combines cleaning unnecessary files with optimizing battery and overall performance.
What happens after clearing the cache? Is it worth it?
After clearing the cache, You won't lose important information or your user dataYou'll simply be deleting files that help speed up app loading and processes. When you reopen an app, it will generate a new cache tailored to your current needs.
Advantages of clearing the cache periodically:
- Troubleshoot errors and crashes in applications.
- Free up space in internal memory when it is full.
- Improve overall device stability and performance.
It's not necessary to do it every day, but if you notice strange behavior in an app or your phone is running very slowly, it's an excellent preventative measure. In many cases, apps like Chrome, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube store large amounts of temporary files and can benefit from a monthly or bi-monthly cleanup.
How to clear cache and data on Android TV and Google TV
Not only Android phones and tablets can accumulate cache, but also smart televisions who use Android TV or Google TV. The process for clearing this temporary memory is usually very similar:
- Accede to Settings from your TV.
- Choose Applications o Apps.
- Choose the app with problems.
- Open your options and choose Clear cache and, if you see it necessary, also Delete data.
Remember that the interface may vary depending on the manufacturer, but these steps typically work on most TVs and TV boxes running Android TV or Google TV.
Is the app still not working? Try clearing data and reinstalling the app.
Sometimes clearing the cache isn't enough to fix an app's issues. If the app continues to crash after clearing the cache, the best thing to do is uninstall and reinstall the appThis process deletes all files and settings related to the app and may resolve deeper errors.
Steps to uninstall and reinstall an app:
- Opens Settings on your device.
- Accede to Applications o Application Manager.
- Select the problematic app.
- Press on uninstall and confirm.
- Go to the Play Store, search for the app, and download it again.
Please note that when you uninstall the app, you may lose locally stored data (such as unsynced save games or files generated by the app), but you'll keep your backed-up data in the cloud if the app offers that feature. Before deleting an important app, check if it has a backup.
Difference between cache and cookies on Android
It's easy to confuse the terms cache with cookies, as both are temporary files. However, they have different functions:
- Cache: stores files such as images, scripts, and other data that are used to speed up the loading of apps and websites.
- Cookies: They are small text files that remember personal settings, logins, and track browsing to improve your personalized experience.
Recommended apps to clear cache on Android
If you prefer not to do it manually, you can use specialized apps that make it easy to clean cache and junk files safely. Some of the most recommended apps on the Play Store are:
- Files by Google: An official, free, ad-free app that lets you clean temporary files, caches, and other junk in a very visual and simple way.
- CCleaner: One of the most well-known and highly rated cache cleaners, it removes visible cache, residual files, and empty folders.
- 1Tap Cleaner: It stands out for clearing all cache and other call or search history with a single tap.
- Norton Clean: Useful for removing unnecessary items, optimizing memory, and recovering space on Android phones and tablets.
- AVG Cleaner: combines cleaning unnecessary files with optimizing battery and overall performance.
What happens after clearing the cache? Is it worth it?
After clearing the cache, You won't lose important information or your user dataYou'll simply be deleting files that help speed up app loading and processes. When you reopen an app, it will generate a new cache tailored to your current needs.
Advantages of clearing the cache periodically:
- Troubleshoot errors and crashes in applications.
- Free up space in internal memory when it is full.
- Improve overall device stability and performance.
It's not necessary to do it every day, but if you notice strange behavior in an app or your phone is running very slowly, it's an excellent preventative measure. In many cases, apps like Chrome, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube store large amounts of temporary files and can benefit from a monthly or bi-monthly cleanup.
How to clear cache and data on Android TV and Google TV
Not only Android phones and tablets can accumulate cache, but also smart televisions who use Android TV or Google TV. The process for clearing this temporary memory is usually very similar:
- Accede to Settings from your TV.
- Choose Applications o Apps.
- Choose the app with problems.
- Open your options and choose Clear cache and, if you see it necessary, also Delete data.
Remember that the interface may vary depending on the manufacturer, but these steps typically work on most TVs and TV boxes running Android TV or Google TV.
Is the app still not working? Try clearing data and reinstalling the app.
Sometimes clearing the cache isn't enough to fix an app's issues. If the app continues to crash after clearing the cache, the best thing to do is uninstall and reinstall the appThis process deletes all files and settings related to the app and may resolve deeper errors.
Steps to uninstall and reinstall an app:
- Opens Settings on your device.
- Accede to Applications o Application Manager.
- Select the problematic app.
- Press on uninstall and confirm.
- Go to the Play Store, search for the app, and download it again.
Please note that when you uninstall the app, you may lose locally stored data (such as unsynced save games or files generated by the app), but you'll keep your backed-up data in the cloud if the app offers that feature. Before deleting an important app, check if it has a backup.
Difference between cache and cookies on Android
It's easy to confuse the terms cache with cookies, as both are temporary files. However, they have different functions:
- Cache: stores files such as images, scripts, and other data that are used to speed up the loading of apps and websites.
- Cookies: They are small text files that remember personal settings, logins, and track browsing to improve your personalized experience.
Recommended apps to clear cache on Android
If you prefer not to do it manually, you can use specialized apps that make it easy to clean cache and junk files safely. Some of the most recommended apps on the Play Store are:
- Files by Google: An official, free, ad-free app that lets you clean temporary files, caches, and other junk in a very visual and simple way.
- CCleaner: One of the most well-known and highly rated cache cleaners, it removes visible cache, residual files, and empty folders.
- 1Tap Cleaner: It stands out for clearing all cache and other call or search history with a single tap.
- Norton Clean: Useful for removing unnecessary items, optimizing memory, and recovering space on Android phones and tablets.
- AVG Cleaner: combines cleaning unnecessary files with optimizing battery and overall performance.
What happens after clearing the cache? Is it worth it?
After clearing the cache, You won't lose important information or your user dataYou'll simply be deleting files that help speed up app loading and processes. When you reopen an app, it will generate a new cache tailored to your current needs.
Advantages of clearing the cache periodically:
- Troubleshoot errors and crashes in applications.
- Free up space in internal memory when it is full.
- Improve overall device stability and performance.
It's not necessary to do it every day, but if you notice strange behavior in an app or your phone is running very slowly, it's an excellent preventative measure. In many cases, apps like Chrome, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube store large amounts of temporary files and can benefit from a monthly or bi-monthly cleanup.
How to clear cache and data on Android TV and Google TV
Not only Android phones and tablets can accumulate cache, but also smart televisions who use Android TV or Google TV. The process for clearing this temporary memory is usually very similar:
- Accede to Settings from your TV.
- Choose Applications o Apps.
- Choose the app with problems.
- Open your options and choose Clear cache and, if you see it necessary, also Delete data.
Remember that the interface may vary depending on the manufacturer, but these steps typically work on most TVs and TV boxes running Android TV or Google TV.
Is the app still not working? Try clearing data and reinstalling the app.
Sometimes clearing the cache isn't enough to fix an app's issues. If the app continues to crash after clearing the cache, the best thing to do is uninstall and reinstall the appThis process deletes all files and settings related to the app and may resolve deeper errors.
Steps to uninstall and reinstall an app:
- Opens Settings on your device.
- Accede to Applications o Application Manager.
- Select the problematic app.
- Press on uninstall and confirm.
- Go to the Play Store, search for the app, and download it again.
Please note that when you uninstall the app, you may lose locally stored data (such as unsynced save games or files generated by the app), but you'll keep your backed-up data in the cloud if the app offers that feature. Before deleting an important app, check if it has a backup.
Difference between cache and cookies on Android
It's easy to confuse the terms cache with cookies, as both are temporary files. However, they have different functions:
- Cache: stores files such as images, scripts, and other data that are used to speed up the loading of apps and websites.
- Cookies: They are small text files that remember personal settings, logins, and track browsing to improve your personalized experience.
Recommended apps to clear cache on Android
If you prefer not to do it manually, you can use specialized apps that make it easy to clean cache and junk files safely. Some of the most recommended apps on the Play Store are:
- Files by Google: An official, free, ad-free app that lets you clean temporary files, caches, and other junk in a very visual and simple way.
- CCleaner: One of the most well-known and highly rated cache cleaners, it removes visible cache, residual files, and empty folders.
- 1Tap Cleaner: It stands out for clearing all cache and other call or search history with a single tap.
- Norton Clean: Useful for removing unnecessary items, optimizing memory, and recovering space on Android phones and tablets.
- AVG Cleaner: combines cleaning unnecessary files with optimizing battery and overall performance.
What happens after clearing the cache? Is it worth it?
After clearing the cache, You won't lose important information or your user dataYou'll simply be deleting files that help speed up app loading and processes. When you reopen an app, it will generate a new cache tailored to your current needs.
Advantages of clearing the cache periodically:
- Troubleshoot errors and crashes in applications.
- Free up space in internal memory when it is full.
- Improve overall device stability and performance.
It's not necessary to do it every day, but if you notice strange behavior in an app or your phone is running very slowly, it's an excellent preventative measure. In many cases, apps like Chrome, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube store large amounts of temporary files and can benefit from a monthly or bi-monthly cleanup.
