Clearing your phone's cache is akin to unclogging a stuffy nose or removing excess earwax. While the cache contains data necessary for optimal performance, it can become overwhelming at times. Therefore, if your phone is slowing down, it's recommended to clear its cache. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it.
QUICK STEPS TO CLEARING YOUR ANDROID PHONE’S CACHE
-Press and hold the icon of the app you want to clear the cache of.
-Tap the ‘i’ icon to head to the App info sub-menu.
-Under Storage, tap Clear cache.
Cached files are temporary files that are stored on your device to improve app performance by allowing them to load faster. For instance, when you watch a video on YouTube, it starts caching it so that you don't have to download the entire video again. The same goes for streaming songs on Spotify or frequently visiting a particular page on Chrome.
Think of cached files as a virtual storage cabinet where you can access the files you're currently working on without having to search for them. They're like the 100 Chrome tabs you have open, which you don't want to close because you might need them later. However, it's important to clear your cache from time to time to free up space for new files or tabs. Just like how a cluttered desk can hinder productivity, an overloaded cache can slow down your device's performance.
CLEARING YOUR ANDROID PHONE’S CACHE
Clearing an app's cache on Android is a simple process. Despite the fact that Android phones come with various interfaces, Google has made significant efforts to unify disparate manufacturers around certain features, including cache management.
Although there may be some slight variations, the overall steps for clearing an app's cache on Android are generally the same. For instance, there may be an additional prompt or slight differences in wording. To ensure that these steps are applicable across different Android devices from various manufacturers, we used an Oppo Find X5 and double-checked with Samsung, Xiaomi, and Pixel phones.
1. Open the App info sub-menu
To clear the cache of a specific app, tap and hold on its icon, which can be located on your home screen or in your app drawer. This action should prompt a menu to appear, offering access to app-specific quick actions and potentially other controls such as widgets. Within this menu, you should also see an 'i' icon.
Tap on the 'i' icon, which will direct you to the App info screen. Here, you can control almost every aspect of an app, including its permissions, data, battery usage, and storage - the latter being the focus in this case.
2. Enter the chosen app's storage controls
Navigate to either "Storage" or "Storage usage," where you'll find options to clear both the app data and cache. App data refers to files that are essential for the app's functionality, such as downloads and account information. While you can clear app data to address severe issues, it's important to note that this is similar to a nuclear option, essentially resetting the app. Therefore, it should be considered as a last resort, akin to resetting your phone.
3. Clear the app's cache
Choose the "Clear cache" option. In some cases, you may encounter a "Clear data" option first. If this is the case, tap on it, and then select "Clear cache." The cache will be cleared immediately, and you likely won't need to confirm the action.
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO CLEAR YOUR ANDROID PHONE'S CACHE?
Nowadays, many high-end phones are equipped with vast amounts of storage. For example, the Pixel 6a, one of the best budget-friendly phones at the time of writing, comes with a starting storage capacity of 128GB. Even if this doesn't sound like a lot to you, it can likely handle more than you might expect. Many of the best foldable phones come with 256GB of storage, while top-tier flagships, such as the iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, can offer up to 1TB of storage.
However, running out of storage is not the only reason why you might need to clear out your phone's cache through the settings menu. Certain app files can become corrupted, resulting in conflicts with newer files and causing apps to malfunction. Alternatively, there may be other storage-related issues that require a fresh start. That's why Android provides the option to clear the cache.
If you're wondering how to clear the cache on an iPhone, stay tuned!
