The cache on Android is like the invisible backpack of your smartphone: it is constantly filled with data, but rarely does anyone look inside until the phone starts to “slow down” or display “insufficient memory” errors. The problem is that The cache is scattered in different corners of the system, and not all users know exactly where to look for it. Some limit themselves to cleaning through application settings, not even suspecting that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

In fact, the cache on Android is divided into user (which can be deleted without consequences), system (touching which is risky) and hidden (the existence of which most do not even know). In this article, we will not just show you where to look for the cache on your phone, but also explain which files can be deleted and which are better leftso as not to break the system. You will learn about 5 key cache storage locations - from obvious to deeply hidden, including those that standard file managers do not show.

It is important to understand: clearing the cache is not a panacea for all problems, but a tool that needs to be used consciously. For example, deleting the cache Dalvik will speed up the phone, but the first time you launch applications after that, they will take longer to load. And clearing the cache media files may cause the gallery to stop displaying thumbnails. We will analyze all the nuances so that you can make informed decisions.

1. Application cache: where it is stored and how to find

The most obvious and safest type of cache to clear is the cache of individual applications. It stores temporary data that apps use for fast work: downloaded pictures, configuration files, authorization data. Deleting this cache will not harm the system, but it can reset some settings inside applications (for example, you will have to re-enter your login on social networks).

Where to look:

  • 📱 Through Android settings: Settings → Applications → Select an application → Storage → Cache. Here you can see how much space the cache of each application takes up and clear it separately.
  • 🗃️ Through a file manager: Folder /data/data/application_package_name/cache/. For example, for WhatsApp the path will be /data/data/com.whatsapp/cache/. Please note: without root access you will not see the contents of this folder, but some managers (for example, Solid Explorer) will show its size.
  • 🔍 Through special utilities: Applications like CCleaner or SD Maid scan the cache of all applications and offer to clear it en masse. This is convenient, but risky - some apps can delete data necessary for correct operation.

How much space does the application cache take up? It depends on their type:

Application type Average cache size Can it be cleared
Social networks (Facebook, Instagram) 50–500 MB Yes, but you will have to log in again
Messengers (Telegram, Viber) 100–1 GB Yes, but the media files will be downloaded again
Games (PUBG, Genshin Impact) 1–5 GB Yes, but the first launches will be slower
Navigators (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps) 200 MB-2 GB Yes, but the maps will be downloaded again
⚠️ Attention: Some applications (for example Netflix or Spotify) store downloaded movies and music in a cache. Clearing the cache of such apps will delete all offline content!
📊 How often do you clear it? application cache?
Once a week
Once a month
Only when memory runs out
Never cleared

2. System cache: where is it hidden and can it be touched

The system cache is temporary files that it creates itself Android to speed up the interface, download updates and optimize processes. deleting the system cache can lead to unstable operation of the phone, especially if done incorrectly. However, in some cases, clearing it helps solve problems with freezes or errors after updating the firmware.

Where to look for the system cache:

  • 🛠️ Folder /cache: This is the main storage of the system cache. It contains update files, log files and temporary recovery data. Cleared only through the recovery menu or using root access.
  • 📁 Folder /system/cache: Cached data of system applications is stored here. It is not recommended to delete them manually - it is better to use the command wipe cache partition to recovery.
  • 🔄 Dalvik cache: This is a virtual cache machine Dalvik, which speeds up the launch of applications. Located in /data/dalvik-cache/. Cleaning is possible, but after this the first launch of applications will be slower.

How to clear the system cache safely:

  1. Turn off the phone.
  2. Hold down the combination of buttons to enter recovery (usually Power + Volume Up, but on some models Samsung or Xiaomi may differ).
  3. In the recovery menu, select Wipe cache partition (navigation is carried out using the volume buttons, selection is with the power button).
  4. Confirm the action and reboot the phone.
⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse Wipe cache partition with Wipe data/factory reset! The second action will reset the phone to factory settings and delete all your data.

Make a backup copy of important data

Charge the phone to at least 50%

Find out the button combination to enter recovery

Prepare an original USB cable (in case of failure)

-->

When you open the gallery or music player, Android does not scan all folders on the phone in real time - instead it uses media cachewhich stores thumbnails, metadata and indexes. If this cache is damaged, you may encounter problems:

  • 🖼️ The gallery does not show new photos, although they are in the folder.
  • 🎵 The music player “does not see” the tracks.
  • 📽️ Videos are displayed without a preview or with the wrong duration.

Where the media file cache is stored:

  • 📂 Folder .thumbnails: Here are the thumbnails for the gallery Located in. root of the internal memory or on the SD card. You can delete it manually - the system will restore it automatically.
  • 🗄️ Database MediaStorage: Files media.db and media.db-journal in the folder /data/data/com.android.providers.media/databases/. Deleting will lead to re-indexing of all media files (may take up to 10 minutes).
  • 🔄 Application cache Gallery: Cleared in the standard way through Settings → Applications → Gallery → Memory → Cache.

How to force update the media file cache:

  1. Delete the folder .thumbnails (if it is visible in the file manager).
  2. Clear the cache applications Gallery or Music.
  3. Restart your phone.
  4. Open the gallery and wait until indexing is complete (a “Scanning” notification may appear on the screen media files").
💡

If, after clearing the media file cache, the gallery still does not show the photo, check whether the folder with the images is hidden by the file .nomedia. Delete this file and the media files will become visible again.

4. Browser cache: Chrome, Firefox and others. data-i="160">Browsers are one of the main cache eaters. They save copies of visited pages, images, scripts and cookies to speed up the loading of sites when you visit them again. However, over time, this cache grows to a gigantic size (often 1-2 GB), and some sites begin to work incorrectly due to outdated data.

Browsers are one of the main cache eaters. They save copies of visited pages, images, scripts and cookies to speed up loading of sites when you visit them again. However, over time, this cache grows to gigantic sizes (often 1–2 GB), and some sites begin to work incorrectly due to outdated data.

Where to look for the cache. browsers:

  • 🌐 Google Chrome:
    • Page cache: /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Cache/
    • Media cache: /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Media Cache/
    • Cookies: /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Cookies
  • 🦊 Mozilla Firefox: The cache is stored in /data/data/org.mozilla.firefox/cache/ and /data/data/org.mozilla.firefox/files/mozilla/.
  • 🅾️ Opera: Folder /data/data/com.opera.browser/cache/.

How to clear the browser cache:

  1. Through the browser settings: In Chrome go to ⋮ → History → Clear data → Cached images and files.
  2. Through Android settings: Settings → Applications → Browser → Memory → Cache.
  3. Manually (with root access): Delete content folders indicated above.
⚠️ Attention: Clearing the browser cache will delete all saved passwords if they are not synchronized with the account Google or Firefox! Before clearing, check whether synchronization is enabled.
What will happen if you do not clear the browser cache?

Over time, the browser will begin to work slower, some sites may not display correctly (for example, outdated versions of pages). Traffic consumption will also increase, as the browser will try to load new data on top of old ones. In extreme cases, the cache can take up up to 50% of the internal memory if it is never cleared.

5. Hidden cache: temporary files you didn't know about

Most users do not even suspect that their phone has a cache that is not visible either in the settings or in the standard file manager. These are temporary files that system processes, services Google and some applications create. They take up space but don't show up in regular "storage" lists. Let's look at the main types of hidden cache:

Where to look:

  • 📡 Service cache Google Play: Folder /data/data/com.google.android.gms/app_chrome/Default/Service Worker/CacheStorage/. Data is stored here to speed up the work of Google Play Store, YouTube and other services. Cleared only with root access.
  • 🤖 Cache Android System WebView: This component is responsible for displaying web content in applications. Its cache is located in /data/data/com.google.android.webview/cache/ and can occupy up to 300 MB.
  • 📦 System update cache: Folder /cache/sideload/ stores OTA update files. If the update is interrupted, “stubs” of files may remain here, taking up space.
  • 🔑 Encryption key cache: The folder /data/misc/keystore/ stores temporary keys for secure connections. It is not recommended to delete them - this may disrupt the operation of VPN or banking applications.

How to find a hidden cache without root access:

  1. Use file managers that support displaying hidden files (for example, FX File Explorer or Root Explorer).
  2. Enable the display of hidden folders in the manager settings (the "Show hidden files" option).
  3. Check the folders /data/ i /cache/ —even without root, some managers will show their size.
  4. To clean, use specialized ones utilities like SD Maid (the "CorpseFinder" function finds residual files of deleted applications).
💡

The hidden cache rarely takes up much space (usually 100–500 MB), but clearing it can solve problems with “buggy” system processes or Google service errors.

6. How to clear the cache without harming your phone: step-by-step guide

Now that you know where to look for the cache on Android, the main question remains: how to clear it safelywithout breaking the system? Here is a universal instruction that is suitable for most cases:

Step 1: Assessing the situation

  • Check how much free memory is left on the phone (Settings → Memory).
  • Determine which type of cache takes up the most space (applications, system, media).
  • Decide whether you need to clear the cache completely or only partially.

Step 2: Clear the application cache

  1. Go to Settings → Applications.
  2. Sort applications by size cache (click on the three dots in the upper corner → “Sort by size”)
  3. Select applications with the largest cache and click "Clear cache."

Step 3: Clear the system cache (if necessary)

  1. Turn off the phone.
  2. Hold the combination to enter recovery (for Samsung: Power + Volume Up + Bixby; for Xiaomi: Power + Volume Up).
  3. Select Wipe cache partition → Yes.
  4. Reboot the phone.

Step 4: Clear cache media files

  1. Delete the folder .thumbnails (if visible).
  2. Clear the application cache Gallery or Music.
  3. Reboot the phone and wait for re-indexing.

Step 5: Check the result

  • Make sure that the free space has increased.
  • Check the operation of critical applications (messengers, banking app).
  • If errors appear, reboot the phone again.
⚠️ Attention: If after clearing the cache the phone begins to work slower, do not panic - this is normal. The system and applications are now restoring the necessary data. Performance will return to normal after 10-15 minutes of active use.

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

Sometimes users clear the cache, but the problem (lack of memory, slow operation) remains. In such cases the cache is not the main reason, and you need to look for other solutions:

What to do if clearing the cache did not help:

  • 🗑️ Delete unnecessary files: Check the folders Download, DCIM (photos and videos), WhatsApp/Media (media from instant messengers). Often gigabytes of unnecessary data accumulate there.
  • 📱 Move data to an SD card: If your phone supports memory expansion, transfer photos, videos and music to a memory card.
  • ☁️ Use cloud storage: Download rarely used files to Google Drive, Yandex.Disk or Dropbox.
  • 🔄 Reset your phone to factory settings: A last resort if all else fails. Don't forget to make a backup!
  • 🛠️ Check your phone for viruses: Some malware creates hidden files that take up space. Use Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light.

If your phone constantly reports low memory, but you can’t find what exactly is taking up space, use storage analysis utilities:

  • Storage Analyzer (shows which files are taking up the most space).
  • DiskUsage (visualizes used space as a chart).
  • Files by Google (looks for duplicates and unnecessary files).
⚠️ Attention: On some phones (for example, Xiaomi or Huawei) part of the memory is reserved for system needs and is not displayed in the settings. This is normal - this is how the firmware works. Do not try to “free up” this memory manually!

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the cache on Android

Is it possible to clear all caches? applications at once?

Yes, but this is not always safe. Some applications (for example, banking) may require re-authorization. It is better to clear the cache selectively, starting with the most "gluttonous" apps. For bulk cleaning, use utilities like SD Maid or CCleaner, but make a backup copy first. data-i="280">Why do applications take a long time to load after clearing the cache?

Why do applications take a long time to load after clearing the cache?

Because applications have to re-load and cache data (pictures, configurations, scripts). This is a temporary phenomenon - after 1-2 launches, the speed will return to normal. The exception is games: they can take longer to load even after several launches, since they cache large amounts of data.

How to clear the cache on a phone without root access?

Without root access you can clear:

  • Application cache through settings.
  • Browser cache in their menu.
  • Folder .thumbnails (if the file manager shows it).
  • System cache via recovery (does not require root).

To clear the hidden cache (for example, Dalvik or services Google) root access is required.

What happens if you clear the cache Google Play Services?

This will lead to resetting some service settings Google:

  • Authorization data may be lost in some applications.
  • Google Play Market and YouTube will work slower when first launched.
  • The synchronization of some functions will be disrupted (for example, Find My Device).

However, after 5-10 minutes, the services will be restored. Clearing the cache Google Play Services sometimes helps solve problems with updates or service errors.

How often should you clear the cache?

There is no clear schedule, but there are recommendations:

  • Application cache: once every 1–2 months or when memory runs out.
  • System cache: once every 3–6 months (or after updating the firmware).
  • Browser cache: once a month (or more often if you actively use the Internet).
  • Media cache: only if the gallery or player is not working correctly.

If the phone is stable and there is enough memory, there is no need to clear the cache.