Your Samsung Galaxy A20 started to slow down, applications take a long time to load, and the memory runs out out of the blue? The reason may lie in a full cache - temporary files that the system and apps accumulate during operation. Unlike garbage in the gallery or downloads, the cache is not always visible to the user, but it is it that often eats up the lion's share of free space and slows down performance.

This article will help you figure it out how to properly clear the cache on the Samsung Galaxy A20 without the risk of losing important data. We will look at all types of cache - from the system cache to the cache of individual applications and the browser - and also tell you in which cases clearing is really necessary and when it can be harmful. We will pay special attention to the nuances of working with One UI (Samsung's proprietary shell), which are often missed in universal instructions.

Before you begin, check how much free memory is left on your device. To do this, go to Settings → Device care → Memory. If less than 10% of the total volume is free, clearing the cache will definitely not be superfluous.

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

1. What is cache and why does it need to be cleared on Samsung Galaxy A20

Cache (from English cache —“cache”) are temporary files that are created by the system and applications to speed up their work. For example, when you open Instagram, the application stores photo thumbnails in the cache so that it can show them faster the next time you launch it. The same thing happens with web pages in the browser, maps in Google Maps or even with messenger data.

The Samsung Galaxy A20 cache is divided into three types:

  • 📱 System cache - files that are created by the operating system Android to speed up work interface and standard applications.
  • 📦 Application cache — temporary data of individual apps (social networks, games, instant messengers).
  • 🌐 Browser cache — saved pages, cookies and history in Chrome, Samsung Internet or others browsers.

Over time, the cache grows to several gigabytes, which leads to:

  • ⚠️ Slowdown of the phone (lags, freezing).
  • 📉 Rapid battery drain (the system wastes resources on processing unnecessary files).
  • 🚫 Errors in applications (for example, YouTube may display the message “No connection”, although the Internet is working).
  • 📲 Lack of memory for new photos, videos or updates.
⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse the cache with application data! The cache can be deleted without consequences, and clearing data will lead to logging out of accounts and resetting settings in the app.

2. How to clear the cache of individual applications on the Samsung Galaxy A20

If the phone started to slow down after installing a specific application (for example, TikTok or Facebook), it makes sense to clear the cache of this particular app. This is safer than deleting the system cache, and often solves the problem without drastic measures.

Instructions:

  1. Open Settings (gear icon on the home screen or in the notification panel).
  2. Go to section Applications (or Device care → Memory → Applications).
  3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size, to see the heaviest apps.
  4. Select the desired application (for example, WhatsApp or Google Play Market).
  5. Click Memory → Clear cache.

For convenience, we have compiled a list of applications whose cache most often grows to gigantic sizes:

Application Typical cache size When clear
Facebook 500 MB - 2 GB If the feed takes a long time to load or the “No connection” error occurs
Instagram 300 MB - 1.5 GB If Stories is slow or unable to load photos
Google Play Market 100–500 MB If applications are not updated or error 924 is displayed
YouTube 200 MB - 1 GB When video freezes or the error “Player is not available” works"
Samsung Internet 50 MB - 300 MB If sites open slowly or passwords are not saved
⚠️ Attention: Do not clear the application cache Samsung Knox, Secure Folder or Google Services Framework - this may interfere with system functions, including biometric authorization and encryption.

Close the application in multitasking

Connect the phone to charge (if a lot of memory is cleared)

Check that there is no unsaved data in the application (for example, drafts in messengers)

Remember your login and password (in case you need to re-authorize)-->

3. Completely clearing the system cache via Recovery Mode

If the phone starts to slow down a lot, and clearing the cache of individual applications did not help, it’s time to delete it system cache. This is a more radical method, since it affects files that Android uses to speed up the interface. To Samsung Galaxy A20 to do this, you need to go into recovery mode (Recovery Mode).

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Turn off the phone.
  2. Press the buttons simultaneously Volume up + Power and hold them for 5-10 seconds until the logo appears Samsung.
  3. When the menu opens Recoveryrelease the buttons. Use Volume Down to navigate and Power to select.
  4. Select Wipe cache partition (clear cache partition).
  5. Confirm the action by selecting Yes.
  6. After completion, select Reboot system now to reboot.

On Samsung Galaxy A20 with Android 10 firmware and higher may not have the “Wipe cache partition” item in the standard Recovery. In this case, use an alternative method via ADB (described in section 5).

What will happen after cleaning:

  • ✅ The phone will work faster (especially noticeable when opening the settings menu or launching the camera).
  • ✅ Lags will disappear when scrolling lists (for example, in contacts or gallery).
  • ❌ When you first start after cleaning, the systems may take longer to load (this is normal - the cache is created anew).
  • ❌ Some settings (for example, wallpaper or screen brightness) may be reset.
What to do if after clearing the cache the phone does not turn on?

If, after exiting Recovery, the phone is stuck on the Samsung logo or reboots cyclically, try:

1. Repeat clearing the cache again.

2. Go to Recovery and select “Wipe”. data/factory reset" (WARNING: this will reset all data!).

3. If this does not help, reflash the phone via Odin (PC and original firmware for Galaxy A20 are required).

4. Clearing the browser cache: Chrome, Samsung Internet and others

Browsers - one of the main cache eaters. They save not only your browsing history, but also copies of pages, images, scripts and cookies. Two browsers are installed by default: Samsung Galaxy A20 There are two browsers installed by default: Google Chrome and Samsung InternetYou need to clear the cache in both, even if you only use one. data-i="151">For Google Chrome:

For Google Chrome:

  1. Open Chrome and click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
  2. Select History → Clear data.
  3. Check the boxes next to:
    • 🗑️ “Cookies and site data”
    • 🖼️ “Cached images and files”
  • Click Clear data.

    • For Samsung Internet:

    1. Open your browser and click on the three horizontal lines at the bottom of the screen.
    2. Go to Settings → Personal data → Delete browsing data.
    3. Select:
      • 📊 "Cache"
      • 🍪 "Cookies and site data"
  • Click Delete.

    • If you use other browsers (for example, Firefox or Opera), the algorithm is similar: look for the “History” or “Privacy” section in the settings.

    💡

    After clearing the browser cache, some sites may take longer to open on the first visit - this is normal. To speed up the process, bookmark frequently visited pages.

    5. Alternative methods: through ADB and third-party applications

    If standard methods do not help or you want to automate the process, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) or specialized utilities. These methods are suitable for experienced users.

    Clearing the cache via ADB:

    1. Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on PC.
    2. Enable on phone Developer mode (go to Settings → About phone → Build number and press 7 times).
    3. In Developer settings activate USB debugging.
    4. Connect the phone to the PC and in the command line enter: 
      adb shell pm clear --user 0 com.android.chrome

      (replace com.android.chrome with package the desired application, for example com.facebook.katana for Facebook).

      5. Third-party applications for cleaning:

      There are utilities that automatically find and delete the cache. The most proven: Google Play There are utilities that automatically find and delete the cache. The most verified:

      • 🧹 CCleaner - clears cache, history and unnecessary files, but can aggressively offer paid features.
      • 🗑️ Files by Google - official application from Google with the “Memory Cleaner” function.
      • 🔍 SD Maid - advanced utility for experienced users (allows you to clean system folders).
      ⚠️ Attention: Do not use “optimizers” like Clean Master or DU Speed Booster —they often show false warnings about viruses and themselves consume phone resources.

      6. How often do you need to clear the cache on the Samsung Galaxy A20

      The frequency of clearing the cache depends on how you use the phone:

      • 📱 Regular users (social networks, instant messengers, browser) it is enough to clear the cache once every 1-2 months.
      • 🎮 Gamers (many games, streaming) - once every 3-4 weeks (games actively use the cache for textures and levels).
      • 📸 Those who shoot a lot video - once a month (gallery and camera cache can take up gigabytes).
      • 💼 For work (mail, documents, cloud services) - as needed (for example, if Google Drive starts to slow down).

      Signs that it’s time to clear the cache:

      • 🐢 The phone has become noticeably slower (freezes when opening applications).
      • 📉 The memory is running out, although you have not installed anything new.
      • 🔄 Applications are often updated or show errors.
      • 🔋 The battery drains faster than usual (the system wastes resources on processing unnecessary files).

    You should not clear the cache too often (for example, every day) - this will lead to the opposite effect: applications will have to constantly download data again, which will increase the load on the processor and traffic.

    💡

    Regularly clearing the cache (once every 1-2 months) prolongs battery life and prevents "cluttering" memory, but is not a panacea for all problems. If your phone is slow even after cleaning, check it for viruses or consider resetting it to factory settings.

    7. What to do if clearing the cache did not help

    If after clearing the cache Samsung Galaxy A20 continues to slow down, the problem may be deeper. Consider the following steps:

    1. Check the free space. If the memory is less than 1 GB, delete unnecessary files or transfer them to a memory card.
    2. Update the software. Go to Settings → Software update and check that the firmware is up to date.
    3. Delete unused applications. Even if you don't use them, they can run in the background.
    4. Check for viruses. Use Google Play Protection or Malwarebytes.
    5. Reset settings. The last resort is Settings → General → Reset → Reset data (all data will be deleted!).

    If none of the methods helped, the problem may be hardware (battery wear, processor overheating or memory failure). In this case, contact the hardware service center Samsung.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about clearing the cache on the Samsung Galaxy A20

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

    Yes, but not recommended. There is a “Clear cache for all applications” button, but this may cause some apps to malfunction (for example, messengers will lose their chat history, and games will lose their saves). It is better to clean selectively. Settings → Applications There is a “Clear cache for all applications” button, but this can lead to malfunctions of some apps (for example, instant messengers will lose their chat history, and games will lose their saves). It is better to clean selectively.

    Why do some applications run slower after clearing the cache?

    This is normal: applications take time to reload data (images, scripts, etc.). After 1-2 days the speed will return to normal. If lags remain, check your Internet connection or reinstall the app.

    Clearing the cache deletes my photos or messages?

    No, the cache and user data (photos, videos, correspondence) are stored in different memory sections. However, if you clear application data (not the cache!), you will lose settings and maybe chat history (in WhatsApp, Viber).

    Do you need to clear the cache on a new phone?

    On a new one Samsung Galaxy A20 There is no need to clear the cache - it has not yet had time to accumulate. The first cleaning should be done after 2-3 months of active use or if you notice a slowdown.

    Is it possible to disable the cache completely?

    Technically, yes, but this will greatly slow down the phone. The cache is needed to speed up the loading of frequently used data. Instead of disabling it regularly. clear and monitor the free space on the device.