To clear cache on Android, open Settings → Apps, tap the app, tap Storage (or Storage & cache), then tap Clear cache. This removes temporary files and keeps your logins, settings and saved data.
Don’t tap Clear data or Clear storage unless you mean to reset the app. That deletes everything the app has saved on the phone.
Apps store temporary files, called cache, so they load faster next time: thumbnails, bits of web pages, downloaded images. Usually that’s helpful. But a cache can get large or corrupted, and then an app crashes, freezes, shows old content or eats storage. Clearing it is one of the safest fixes you can try. Below are the steps for Samsung Galaxy, Pixel and other Android phones, plus Chrome. Menu names can differ slightly by model and Android version.
Clear cache vs clear data: know the difference
| Button | What it deletes | What you keep |
|---|---|---|
| Clear cache | Temporary files the app can rebuild | Logins, settings, saved data |
| Clear data (Samsung) / Clear storage (Pixel) | Everything the app stores on the phone | Only what’s backed up in the cloud |
Google’s Android Help says clearing cache “deletes temporary data” and that some apps may be slow the next time you open them, while clearing storage permanently deletes all app data. Samsung says clearing data resets the app to factory default settings and removes any personal settings or data saved in it.
How to clear cache on Android for a Samsung Galaxy
- Open Settings.
- Swipe to and tap Apps.
- Select the app, or search for it.
- Tap Storage.
- Tap Clear cache.
That’s it. The cache size drops to zero or close to it. Open the app again and check whether the problem is gone. Expect the first launch to be a little slower while it rebuilds.
Can you clear the cache for every app at once on a Galaxy?
Not with one button. Samsung’s support page says the only way to clear the cache on every app at the same time is a factory reset, which wipes the whole phone. That’s far too drastic for a cache problem. Clear the cache of the app that’s misbehaving instead.
For general cleanup, Samsung points to Settings → Device care. Tap Storage to find and delete large files, or tap Memory and then Clean now to close background apps and free up RAM.
Clear app cache on a Pixel or other Android phone
Google says you can usually clear an app’s cache in the Settings app, and that settings vary by phone. On a Pixel and many other phones, the path looks like this:
- Open Settings and tap Apps.
- Tap See all apps if you don’t see the one you want, then tap it.
- Tap Storage & cache.
- Tap Clear cache.
Google also offers a Free up space tool under Settings → Storage on newer versions of Android (it notes some steps only work on Android 14 and up). It helps you find large files and unused apps rather than clearing caches.
Clear the Chrome cache on Android
Websites behaving oddly, or pages not updating? Chrome keeps its own cache. Google’s steps:
- Open the Chrome app.
- Tap More (the three dots) to the right of the address bar.
- Tap Delete browsing data.
- Pick a time range. The default is a short recent window, so choose a longer one if the problem has been going on for a while.
- Tap More options if you want to choose exactly what to remove, such as cached images and files only, then tap Delete data.
If you also clear cookies, Google says you’ll be signed out of many sites, but you stay signed in to your Google Account in Chrome. Some sites load slower the first time because images need to download again.
When clearing cache helps (and when it doesn’t)
- Helps: an app crashes, freezes, won’t load new content, shows broken images or has grown to a huge size.
- Helps: a website looks wrong in Chrome or keeps showing an old version.
- Doesn’t help much: freeing lots of storage for good. Apps rebuild their cache as you use them.
- Doesn’t help: a whole phone that’s slow, hot or draining battery. That’s usually an app, an update or storage that’s nearly full.
Short on space overall? Our guide to freeing up storage on Android covers the bigger wins, like photos, videos and old downloads. Battery dropping fast after an update? See our One UI 9 battery drain fixes.
If clearing the cache doesn’t fix the app
- Force stop it. In the same app info screen, tap Force stop, then open the app again.
- Update it. Open the Play Store (or Galaxy Store) and install any update for the app.
- Restart the phone. It clears out stuck processes.
- Clear data as a last step. Make sure you know the app’s login, and that anything important is backed up, before you tap Clear data. Samsung notes some system apps can’t have their data cleared.
- Uninstall and reinstall. This gives you a clean copy.
Still stuck? Check our other Android fixes. If problems started out of nowhere and you see apps you don’t recognize, read how to tell if your phone is hacked.
Related guide: How to Clear Cache in Chrome on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone.
FAQ
Is it safe to clear cache on Android?
Yes. Clearing an app’s cache removes temporary files only. Your logins, settings and saved data stay. The app may open a little slower the first time afterward.
Will clearing cache delete my photos or messages?
No. Clear cache doesn’t delete your photos, messages or files. Clear data (or Clear storage) is the button that resets an app and deletes what it has saved.
How do I clear all app caches at once on Samsung?
There’s no single button. Samsung says the only way to clear every app’s cache at the same time is a factory reset, which erases the phone. Clear the cache for the apps causing problems instead.
How often should I clear my cache?
Only when an app is misbehaving or has grown unusually large. Apps rebuild the cache as you use them, so clearing it on a schedule doesn’t save space for long.
How do I clear the cache in Chrome on Android?
Open Chrome, tap the three dots, tap Delete browsing data, choose a time range and what to remove, then tap Delete data.
