How to Clear Cache on Android (Apps and Chrome)
By CleanX TeamPublished
Quick answer
- Open Settings › Apps › See all apps, tap the app, then Storage & cache › Clear cache.
- Google says clearing the cache removes temporary files and can free up space, but it builds up again over time.
- Don’t tap Clear storage unless you mean it: Google says it permanently deletes all of the app’s data.
Apps keep a cache of temporary files so they open faster. Google says clearing it can free needed space, but it’s a short-term fix: over time, cached data builds up again, and some apps may be slow the next time you open them. Menu names below are Google’s; they can vary by phone maker.
Clear an app’s cache
Step 1: Open the app list
Open your phone’s Settings app and tap Apps, then See all apps.
Step 2: Pick the app
Tap the app whose cache you want to clear.
Step 3: Clear cache
Tap Storage & cache, then Clear cache.
Clear Chrome’s cache
Step 1: Open the menu
In Chrome, tap More on the right of the address bar, then Delete browsing data.
Step 2: Choose what to delete
Tap More options, choose a time range and select Cached images and files.
Step 3: Delete
Tap Delete data.
Google says cached images and files are parts of pages Chrome remembers so they open faster. Cookies and site data is a separate option; Google says deleting cookies while signed in to Chrome doesn’t sign you out of your Google Account.
Clear junk files with Files by Google
In Files by Google, tap Menu › Clean, then Clean xx MB on the Junk files card and Clear to confirm. Google says this removes temporary files some apps store and doesn’t affect app settings, but the files are deleted permanently.
| Android and Google apps | CleanX | |
|---|---|---|
| Clear one app’s cache | Settings › Apps › Storage & cache › Clear cache | Not covered |
| Find which apps are biggest | Settings › Storage, then the Apps category; Free up space lists apps you haven’t used recently | Your installed apps by size, including data and cache once you allow Usage access |
| Remove apps you don’t need | The Delete unused apps card in Files by Google can uninstall several at once | Uninstall several in a row, with Android’s confirmation for each |
| Cost | Free | Listing and uninstalling free |
CleanX
See which apps take the most space with CleanX
CleanX doesn’t clear app caches; Android keeps that in Settings. What it does on Android is list the apps you installed by size, including their data and cache once you allow Usage access in Settings, so you can see which ones are worth clearing or removing. Select the apps you don’t need and CleanX opens Android’s uninstall prompt for each in turn.
- Installed apps sorted by size, or by least used with Usage access
- Real size with data and cache, with Usage access
- Listing and uninstalling apps are free
When clearing cache helps
- An app misbehaves: Google lists clearing the cache as a step when an installed app isn’t working.
- You need a little space quickly: it frees temporary files, but they come back as you use the app.
- For lasting space, see how to free up space on Android.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clear all cache on Android at once?
Android clears cache app by app in Settings › Apps › See all apps › Storage & cache. Files by Google’s Junk files card clears temporary files that apps store, in one step.
Is it safe to clear cache on Android?
Clear cache only removes temporary files; Google notes some apps may be slower the next time you open them. Clear storage is different and deletes all of the app’s data.
Will clearing cache delete my photos or messages?
Clearing the cache removes temporary files only. Clear storage permanently deletes the app’s data, so try deleting data inside the app first.
How do I clear Chrome cache on Android?
In Chrome, tap More › Delete browsing data, then More options, select Cached images and files and tap Delete data.
Why does the cache come back?
Google says clearing the cache is a short-term fix: apps build up cached data again as you use them.
Related guides
- How to Clear Cache on iPhoneClear Safari’s cache in Settings and learn what really clears an app’s data.
- How to Delete Duplicate Photos on AndroidUse the Duplicate files card in Files by Google, keep the Original, then empty Trash.
- How to Free Up Space on AndroidCheck Settings › Storage, remove backed-up photos, uninstall unused apps and clear junk files.
- How to Uninstall Apps on AndroidUninstall from the home screen, Settings or the Play Store, archive apps you may need later, and disable pre-installed apps.
