Cache on Android is temporary files that applications create to work quickly. Over time, they accumulate, taking up gigabytes of memory, slowing down the smartphone and causing errors. But not everyone knows where exactly to look for these files how to safely delete them. In this article we will look at all the methods - from standard settings to hidden tools for experienced users.

Clearing the cache can solve many problems: from sudden application crashes to interface freezing. However deleting the cache of system applications (for example, Google Play Services) without rebooting can lead to malfunctions of the phone. We will show you how to do this correctly so as not to harm the device.

The instructions in the article are relevant for all versions of Android - from Android 8 Oreo to Android 15, including shells from manufacturers (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS and others). If your smartphone is running on outdated firmware (below Android 7 Nougat), some menu items may differ.

📊 How often do you clear the cache on your phone?
Once a week
Once a month
Only when The phone is slow
Never cleaned

1. Clearing the cache through standard Android settings

The easiest and safest way is to use the built-in system tools. This method is suitable for all applications, including system ones, but requires manual selection of each of them.

How to do this:

  • 📱 Open Settings → Applications (or Applications and notifications on some phones).
  • 🔍 In the top search bar, enter the name of the application (for example, Chrome or Instagram).
  • 🗑️ Click on Storage, then select Clear cache.
  • 🔄 For complete clearing, you can also click Delete data, but this will reset all application settings (logins, saves, etc.).

On some phones (for example, Xiaomi or Realme) there is a separate section for clearing garbage:

  • 🧹 Go to Settings → About phone → Memory (or Cleaning).
  • 🔍 The system will automatically scan unnecessary files, including the cache.
  • ✅ Press Clear to delete.
⚠️ Attention: Do not clear the application cache Google Play Services, Android System WebView and Services Framework unless absolutely necessary. This may disrupt Google services and require a reboot.

Close all applications in multitasking|Connect your phone to charge (if the battery level is below 20%)|Make a backup of important data|Check the free space on the device-->

2. Automatically clear the cache using built-in tools

Many manufacturers add utilities to their shells (MIUI, One UI, EMUI) for automatic optimization. They not only delete the cache, but also close background processes, saving battery power.

Examples for popular brands:

Manufacturer Name of the utility Path in settings
Samsung Device Care Settings → Device Maintenance
Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco Security Settings → Cleaning or Security → Cleaning
Huawei/Honor Phone Manager Settings → Memory → Cleaning
Oppo/Realme/OnePlus Phone Manager Settings → Advanced settings → Cleaning

These tools usually offer:

  • 📊 Analysis of cache space.
  • 🗑️ One-time or regularly scheduled cleaning.
  • 🔋 Optimization of power consumption.

However built-in optimizers do not always delete the cache completelyFor example, they can skip system application files or browser caches in incognito mode. For deep cleaning, it is better to combine this method with manual deletion (section 1).

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If, after clearing the cache, the application begins to run slower, this is normal. The cache is created again at the first launch, so the first few minutes may be observed. slowdown.

3. Clearing the cache via Recovery Mode (for experienced users)

If the phone is very slow or does not boot normally, you can delete the cache via Recovery modeThis method will reset all temporary system files, including the update cache, but will not affect the user updates. data.

Instructions:

  1. 🔌 Turn off the phone.
  2. 🔘 Press the button combination to enter Recovery:
    • Samsung: Power + Volume Up + Bixby.
    • Xiaomi/Redmi: Power + Volume Up.
    • Google Pixel: Power + Volume Down, then select Recovery Mode.
  • 📱 In the Recovery menu select Wipe cache partition (use the volume buttons to navigate and the power button to select).
  • ✅ Confirm the action and wait for completion.
  • 🔄 Reboot the phone (Reboot system now).
    • ⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse Wipe cache partition s Wipe data/factory reset! The second option will completely reset the phone to factory settings, deleting all your files.

    This method is especially useful after unsuccessful system updates or if the phone stuck on the logo. However, it does not clear the cache of individual applications - only the system one.

    What to do if Recovery Mode does not open?

    If the button combination does not work, try:

    1. Connect the phone to the PC and use the command adb reboot recovery (enabled USB debugging is required).

    2. On some phones (for example, Sony Xperia), you must first connect the charger and then hold down the buttons.

    3. If the screen does not respond, the firmware may be damaged - in this case, you will need to reflash it via Fastboot or contact a service center.

    4. Using third-party applications to clear the cache

    If the built-in tools do not work, you can use specialized utilities. They offer a more in-depth analysis. and additional functions, for example, cleaning residual files after deleting applications.

    Top 3 tested applications:

    • 🛡️ CCleaner - deletes cache, temporary files and analyzes startup There is a cleaning function APK files after updates.
    • 🧹 Files by Google —an official application from Google with a simple interface. Shows which applications take up the most space.
    • 🔍 SD Maid —for experienced users. Can clean system cache, dalvik-cache and finds “dead” files.

    How to use (on example Files by Google):

    1. 📥 Install the application from Google Play.
    2. 🔍 Open the section Cleanup or Free up space.
    3. 🗑️ Select category Application cache.
    4. ✅ Click Delete and confirm the action.
    ⚠️ Attention: Some "optimizers" (for example, Clean Master or DU Speed Booster) aggressively close background processes and show false notifications about "problems". This may reduce battery lifeas applications will have to be constantly restarted. Use only trusted utilities.

    Third-party applications are convenient, but do not replace manual cleaning.For example, they do not always see the system application cache or files in protected folders. For complete cleaning, combine them with other methods.

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    Third-party optimizers speed up the process, but do not guarantee 100% cleaning. For critical cases (for example, before selling your phone), use manual methods or resetting via Recovery.

    5. Clearing the Google Play cache and Google services

    Cache Google Play Market, Google Play Services i Google Services Framework often causes errors when downloading applications or updates. Clearing it can solve problems with:

    • 🚫 Errors 495, 504, 927 when installing applications.
    • 🔄 Endless loading or updating applications.
    • 📱 Freezing Google Play Market.

    How to clear:

    1. 📱 Go to Settings → Applications.
    2. 🔍 Find and open Google Play Market.
    3. 🗑️ Click Storage → Clear cache i Delete data.
    4. 🔄 Repeat steps 2-3 for:
      • Google Play Services
      • Google Services Framework (if in the list)
      • Download Manager
  • 🔄 Reboot your phone.

    • After this procedure:

    • ✅ When you first start Google Play Market you will need to accept the terms of use.
    • ⚠️ You may have to re-enter your account password Google.
    • 🔄 Application updates will start downloading from scratch.

    If the problem is not solved, check date and time on your phone (they must be up to date) and the stability of the Internet connection. It will also help deleting a Google account with the subsequent addition of

    6. Clearing the cache of browsers and social networks

    Browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Opera) and social networks (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) accumulate gigabytes of cache - photos, videos, web pages. Clearing them will not only free up space, but can also eliminate content display errors.

    How to clear the cache in popular applications:

    Application Path to clearing What will be deleted
    Google Chrome ⋮ → History → Clear data → Cached images and files Saved pages, images, scripts
    Instagram Profile → ⚙️ → Settings → Storage → Clear cache Photos, videos, stories (will not affect your publications)
    Facebook ⋯ → Settings → Storage → Clear cache Media files, autofill data
    TikTok Profile → ⚙️ → Free space → Clear cache Videos, thumbnails, temporary files

    For Chrome and other browsers it is also useful:

    • 🔍 Clear cookie and site data if they do not work correctly.
    • 🔄 Use the mode Incognito to reduce cache accumulation.
    • 📥 Enable the option Saving traffic (in Chrome) to reduce the size of the downloaded cache.

    After clearing the browser cache, the first page loads may be slower, since all data (images, styles) will be downloaded again. This is normal and temporary.

    7. When clearing the cache does not help: alternative solutions

    If after deleting the cache the phone still slows down, the problem may be deeper. Let's consider alternative optimization methods:

    1. Transferring applications to an SD card

    • 📱 Suitable for phones with support adoptable storage (for example, Samsung to Android 9, Xiaomi).
    • 🔧 How to do: Settings → Applications → Select application → Storage → Edit → SD card.
    • ⚠️ Not all applications support transfer.

    2. Disabling or deleting unnecessary applications

    • 🗑️ System applications can disable (but not delete): Settings → Applications → ⋮ → Disable.
    • 📱 To remove built-in applications you need root access or ADB.

    3. Factory reset

    • 🔄 Completely clears the phone, including cache, settings and user data.
    • 📌 Make a backup first: Settings → System → Backup.
    • ⚠️ After the reset, you will need to reconfigure the phone and install applications.

    4. Firmware update

    • 🔄 An outdated version of Android may cause lags: Settings → System → Software update.
    • 📱 If there are no official updates, you can install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), but this requires unlocking the bootloader.
    ⚠️ Attention: If the phone slows down due to physical wear and tear. memory (for example, after 3-5 years of use), clearing the cache will not help. In this case, consider replacing the drive (if possible) or buying a new device.

    8. How to prevent cache accumulation in the future

    To avoid clearing the cache every week, follow these tips:

    • 📵 Limit background application activity:
      • 🔧 Settings → Applications → Select an application → Battery → Background activity → Limit.
      • 📱 On Xiaomi: Settings → Battery → Application selection → Limit background activity.
    • 🔄 Set up automatic cleaning:
      • In Files by Google enable Auto-cleaning in the settings.
      • On Samsung activate Auto-optimization v Device Care.
    • 🗑️ Use "light" versions of applications:
      • 📱 Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite, Twitter Lite take up less space and cache data less often.
      • 🌐 Turn on the mode in the browser Lite page (in Chrome or Opera Mini).
    • 📡 Control downloads in messengers:
      • In WhatsApp: ⋮ → Settings → Storage → Storage management.
      • V Telegram: ⚙️ → Data and memory → Clear cache.

    It is also useful check your storage regularly:

    • 📊 On Android 9+: Settings → Memory → Storage Analysis.
    • 📱 On Samsung: Settings → Device Maintenance → Memory.

    If you often install and delete applications, use APK managers (for example, APK Extractor) to save installation files and not download them again.

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    Regularly clearing the cache (once every 1-2 weeks) and controlling background processes can increase the speed of your phone by 20–30% without purchasing a new device.

    Frequently asked questions

    ❓ Is it possible to clear the cache of all applications at once?

    Yes, but not through standard settings. For this you need root access or special utilities like SD Maid (chapter AppControl). Without root, you can use ADB-command:

    adb shell pm trim-caches 256

    This command will clear the cache of all user applications. Number 256 means. cleaning level (can be increased to 1024 for deeper cleaning).

    ❓ Why do some applications run slower after clearing the cache?

    The cache speeds up the loading of frequently used data (for example, thumbnails in Instagram or website scripts in the browser). downloading this data again, which takes time. Usually the speed is restored after 1-2 launches.

    ❓ Can clearing the cache delete my photos or messages?

    No, the cache is temporary files that are not associated with your personal data. clearing application data (not the cache!) will delete:

    • 📸 Photos and videos in the application editor (for example, in VSCO or Snapseed).
    • 💬 Saved messages in instant messengers (if they are not synchronized with the cloud).
    • 🎮 Progress in games (if not linked to an account Google Play Games or Facebook).

    Always check what exactly the selected option deletes!

    ❓ How to clear the cache on Android if the phone does not turn on?

    If the phone is stuck on the logo or does not respond, try:

    1. 🔌 Hard reset: hold the power button for 10-15 seconds.
    2. 📱 Recovery Mode: clean cache partition (instructions in section 3).
    3. 🔧 Fastboot (for experienced): connect your phone to the PC and run the command: 
      fastboot erase cache

      This will clear the system cache without affecting user data.

    If all else fails, will be required flashing via Fastboot or ODIN (for Samsung).

    ❓ Is there an "ideal" cache size?

    No universal value, but there are recommendations:

    • 📱 For phones with 32–64 GB of memory It is optimal to keep the cache within 1–3 GB.
    • 📱 For phones with 128 GB+ you can allow up to 5–8 GB, if you don’t feel any slowdown.
    • ⚠️ If the cache takes up more 10% of the total memory, it’s definitely worth clearing.

    A too small cache (less than 500 MB) is also undesirable - applications will have to constantly reload data, which will increase battery and traffic consumption.