Cache on Android is temporary files that speed up applications and the system, but over time turn into digital garbage. They take up precious memory space, slow down your smartphone, and can even cause apps to crash. If your phone starts to slow down, applications close spontaneously or show errors, and free space is melting before your eyes - it’s time to clear the cache.

In this article we will look at all current methods for resetting the cache on Android devices: from basic cleaning through settings to deep reset via recovery i ADB. You will learn how the application cache differs from the system cache (Dalvik-cache), when you need to clear each of them, and how to avoid common mistakes. The instructions are suitable for all versions of Android - from Android 8 Oreo to Android 15, including firmware from Samsung (One UI), Xiaomi (MIUI/HyperOS), Google Pixel and other manufacturers.

Before you begin, remember: clearing the application cache is harmless and does not delete personal data, and resetting the system cache (via recovery) may require re-authorization in some services. If the goal is to free up space, start with the first method. If the phone is buggy after the update, go to the third or fourth.

📊 How often do you clear the cache on your smartphone?
Once a week
Once a month
Only when the phone is slow
Never cleaned it
I don’t know what it is

1. How to clear the cache of individual applications through Android settings

The simplest and safest method is to manually clear the cache for specific apps. It does not require superuser rights (root) and is suitable for any device. This method is ideal if:

  • 📱 One or two applications are unstable (crashes, take a long time to load).
  • 📉 You need to free up a few gigabytes of memory without risking the system.
  • 🔄 You are testing a beta version of the app and want to reset its data.

Instructions for Android 9–15 (the interface may differ slightly on custom firmware):

  1. Open Settings → Applications (on some devices - Settings → Applications and notifications).
  2. Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show all applications (or Sort → By sizeto see the heaviest apps).
  3. Select the application whose cache you want to clear (for example, YouTube, Telegram or Google Play Store).
  4. Go to section Storage (or Memory).
  5. Click Clear cache. If you need to delete user data (logins, settings), select Clear data —but this will lead to logging out of your account in the application!

On Samsung Galaxy the path may look like this: Settings → Device care → Memory → Applications, then select the app and tap Clear cacheon. data-i="82">s Xiaomi With MIUI/HyperOS — Settings → Applications → Manage applications → [app name] → Clear cache.

Remember logins/passwords for the application (if you clear data)

Check if the application is not currently in use (for example, downloading files)

Close the app through the task manager

Make a backup copy of important data (for instant messengers, games with progress)

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⚠️ Attention: Do not clear the cache of system applications (for example, Android System WebView, Google Play Services) unless necessary. This may disrupt the operation of services Google If the problematic application is a system one, it is better to use the methods from section 3 or 4.

2. Automatically clearing the cache of all applications

If manually clearing the cache of each application takes too long, use the built-in Android tools or third-party utilities. This method is suitable for regular optimization memory, but will not help with serious failures. system.

Methods of automatic cleaning:

  • 🤖 Built-in optimization: Most smartphones have a “Memory Cleaning” or “Device Care” function. For example, on Samsung this Settings → Device care → Optimizeon Xiaomi — Security → Cleaning.
  • 🧹 Third-party applications: Utilities like CCleaner, Files by Google or SD Maid can analyze and clear the cache en masse. However, be careful: some "cleaners" aggressively delete files, which can disrupt the system.
  • ⚙️ Task scheduler: On some firmware (for example, ColorOS from Oppo/Realme) you can configure automatic clearing of the cache on a schedule.

How to clear the cache of all applications via Files by Google:

  1. Install the application from Google Play (if it is not there by default).
  2. Open it and go to the tab Cleaning.
  3. Select a category Application cache.
  4. Click Clear and confirm the action.
Cleaning method Advantages Disadvantages Recommendation
Manual cleaning through settings Safe, targeted removal Long for a large number of applications Better for individual apps
Built-in optimization (Samsung/Xiaomi) Fast, does not require software installation Can delete not only the cache, but also temporary files Good for regular cleaning
Third-party utilities (CCleaner, SD Maid) Deep cleaning, additional functions Risk of deleting necessary files, advertising Only proven apps
ADB commands (section 4) Maximum control, clearing the system cache Requires a PC and knowledge For experienced users
💡

If after clearing the cache the application begins to run slower, this is normal. The cache is created again at the first start, so the first few minutes the app may take longer to load data. usual.

3. Resetting the partition cache (wipe cache partition) via Recovery Mode

If the phone starts slow down a lot after updating, system applications crash or errors like "The com.android.phone process has stopped"occur, normal clearing of the cache may not be enough. In such cases, resetting helps. data-i="148">(English partition cache (English) wipe cache partition) through recovery mode (Recovery Mode).

This method does not delete personal data (photos, contacts, messages), but resets the system cache, including:

  • 📂 OS update cache (OTA-updates).
  • 🤖 Dalvik-cache (optimized files for the virtual machine ART/Dalvik).
  • 🔄 Temporary files of system processes.

Instructions for most devices:

  1. Turn off the phone.
  2. Hold the combination of buttons to enter Recovery:
    • 📱 Samsung: Volume up + Power button + Bixby (hold 10–15 seconds).
    • 📱 Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco: Volume up + Power button.
    • 📱 Google Pixel, OnePlus, Motorola: Volume down + Power button.
  • In the menu Recovery (control is carried out volume and power buttons) select Wipe cache partition.
  • Confirm the action (Yes).
  • After completion, select Reboot system now to reboot.
    • ⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, Huawei or Honor c EMUI) item Wipe cache partition may be missing in standard recovery. In this case, use ADB (section 4) or third-party recovery (TWRP).

    If after resetting the partition cache the phone is still unstable, the problem may be due to damaged system files. In this case, only full reset (factory reset) or flashing will help.

    What to do if you can’t enter Recovery?

    If the button combination does not work, try:

    1. Connect the phone to the PC and use command adb reboot recovery.

    2. On some devices (for example, Samsung s One UI 5+), you first need to hold down Volume up + Bixby, then connect the USB cable to the PC while holding the buttons.

    3. For Xiaomi with a locked bootloader, you may need to unlock it via Mi Unlock Tool.

    4. Clearing the cache via ADB (for experienced users)

    If standard methods do not help or you need precisely delete the system cache (for example, Dalvik-cache), you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method requires connecting the phone to the computer and basic knowledge of the command line.

    Advantages of the method:

    • 🎯 Precise control - you can clear the cache of a specific system process.
    • 🔧 Works even if the phone does not boot (in fastboot).
    • 🛠️ mode Allows you to delete the cache, which is not visible in standard settings.

    Instructions:

    1. Download and install ADB Tools on a PC (for example, official Platform Tools from Google).
    2. Enable on your phone USB debugging (Settings → About phone → Number build (tap 7 times) → Settings → System → For developers → USB debugging).
    3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm permission to debug.
    4. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and enter:
    adb shell pm list packages -f | grep cache

    This command will show all cached packages. To clear the cache of a specific application (for example, Google Chrome), use:

    adb shell pm clear com.android.chrome

    To clear Dalvik-cache (permissions required root):

    adb shell su -c "rm -r /data/dalvik-cache/*"
    ⚠️ Attention: Commands with rm and su are potentially dangerous! Incorrect use can lead to data loss or system damage. If you are not sure, use the methods from sections 1–3.

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

    If problems persist after resetting the cache, perhaps their cause lies deeper. Here's what to do in such cases:

    Problem: The phone slows down, but clearing the cache has no effect.

    • 🔍 Check the free space: If the memory is less than 10%, the system starts to lag. Delete unnecessary files or transfer them to a memory card.
    • 🛠️ Disable animation: Enable Mode developer and set Window animation, Transition animation i Animator duration to Off or 0.5x.
    • 🔄 Update the software: Go to Settings → System → System update and check the relevance firmware.

    Problem: Applications crash even after clearing the cache.

    • 📥 Reinstall the app: Delete it and reinstall it from Google Play.
    • 🔙 Roll back the update: In the application settings (Settings → Applications → [name] → Three dots → Cancel updates) return the factory version.
    • 🛡️ Check for viruses: Use Google Play Protect or Malwarebytes.

    Problem: System errors (for example, "android.process.acore has stopped").

    • 🔧 Reset settings: If all else fails, do Settings → System → Reset settings (save the data in advance!).
    • 📱 Flashing: Install the official firmware via Odin (Samsung), Mi Flash Tool (Xiaomi) or Fastboot.

    If you suspect hardware problems (for example, memory wear), check the status of the drive using the application AIDA64 or DiskInfo. Critical read/write errors (I/O errors) may indicate the need to replace the memory module.

    6. How to prevent the cache from filling up in the future

    To avoid having to clear the cache regularly, follow these tips:

    • 📵 Limit background activity: In application settings, disable Background activity for apps that you rarely use.
    • 🚫 Block startup: In Settings → Applications → Startup disable unnecessary apps.
    • 🗑️ Set up automatic cleaning: In Files by Google or Smart Manager (Samsung) enable regular garbage cleaning.
    • 🔄 Update applications: Old versions of apps often create more cache due to unoptimized code.
    • 📴 Use "Lite" version: For example, Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite or Twitter Lite take up less space and cache data less often.

    On devices with Android 12+ you can limit the cache for specific applications:

    1. Go to Settings → Applications → [app name] → Storage.
    2. Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner.
    3. Select Limit background processing (on some firmware - Limit cache).

    For games (for example, Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile), the cache can take up several gigabytes. To reduce its size:

    • 🎮 Disable loading HD graphics in the game settings.
    • 🗃️ Clear the cache regularly via Game settings → Clear cache.
    • 💾 Transfer the cache to a memory card (if the game supports this function).
    💡

    On devices with a small amount of memory (16–32 GB) The cache can fill up especially quickly. In this case, moving applications to the SD card (if supported) or using the function Adoptable Storage (turns the memory card into part of the internal storage) will help.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about resetting the cache on Android

    ❓ Clearing the cache deletes my photos, messages or contacts?

    No, caches are temporary files that are created by applications to speed up work. Your personal data (photos, videos, messages, contacts) are stored in other sections of memory and are not affected when clearing the cache. However, if you choose Clear data (and not Clear cache), then logins, settings and saves in the application will be deleted!

    ❓ Why did the application become slower after clearing the cache?

    This is normal! The cache speeds up the loading of frequently used data. After clearing, the application has to download it again, so the first few launches may be slow. slower. After some time, the cache will be restored and the speed will return to its previous level.

    ❓ Is it possible to clear the cache for all applications at once without third-party apps?

    Yes, but not on all devices (for example, EMUI from Huawei or ColorOS from Oppo) there is a built-in function for mass clearing the cache. On "pure" Android or One UI (Samsung) you will have to use ADB or clear the cache for each application manually.

    ❓ What is Dalvik-cache and can it be deleted?

    Dalvik-cache —these are optimized files for the virtual machine ART/Dalvikthat speed up the launch of applications. You can delete them, but only through Recovery or ADB, since they are stored in system partition. After deletion Dalvik-cache it will be restored automatically the next time you launch applications, but the first start may take longer.

    ❓ Why does the cache appear again after a few days?

    Caches are temporary files that are created by applications during operation. slow down its accumulation:

    • Limit the background activity of applications.
    • Disable auto-loading of unnecessary apps.
    • Clear the cache regularly (once every 1-2 weeks).