How to clear your Android phone cache - and why it greatly improves performance

## Summary
To find which apps are using the most space and clear their cache, open Settings, go to Storage, and tap Apps. (If you don't see Apps, use the search bar in Settings to find it.) Also: I compared the two of the best Android camera phones right now - there's a surprise winner Show more Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET 2. Clear cache for Android apps Don't tap clear storage Now simply tap an app you've installed and select Clear cache. I recommend you avoid system apps like Google Play Services, and do not tap Clear storage unless you want to fully reset the app and erase all its data. Restart your Android phone Flush temporary system files and refresh memory After clearing browser and app caches, restart your phone to clear temporary system files.

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How to clear your Android phone cache - and why it greatly improves performance
This simple tweak can instantly boost speed and responsiveness on almost any device.
Written by
Elyse Betters Picaro,
Senior Contributing Editor
Senior Contributing Editor
April 4, 2026 at 1:49 p.m. PT
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
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ZDNET's key takeaways
Clearing app cache can free storage and fix minor Android issues.
It removes temporary files, not your accounts or login credentials.
Clearing cache every so often helps keep your device running well.
Google is preparing to release
Android 17
in the coming months, so you may be wondering how to get your phone ready. Or maybe your
Android phone
or
tablet
is starting to feel sluggish and could use a tune-up before you even think about installing the next major release.
One simple place to start is clearing the cache, which can free up storage and help resolve minor performance hiccups.
Also:
Slow Android phone? My 4-step refresh routine can speed it up fast
Over time, cached data can pile up, become outdated, or occasionally get corrupted. Restarting your phone can help, but a targeted cache clear is the quickest way to troubleshoot slowdowns and odd app behavior without upgrading hardware.
In this guide, I'll show you how to clear your Android device's cache. If you're an Apple user, here's
how to clear the cache on an iPhone
.
How to clear Android phone cache
What you'll need:
Any Android device. Steps may vary slightly by manufacturer and Android version, but the general process is consistent across most newer phones. I'm using a Pixel 8 running Android 16.
1. See all apps on your Android phone
Let's look at which apps use the most space
On Android, cache must be cleared on a per-app basis. While this can be tedious, it helps prevent accidental data loss and broader performance issues. To find which apps are using the most space and clear their cache, open Settings, go to Storage, and tap Apps. (If you don't see Apps, use the search bar in Settings to find it.)
Also:
I compared the two of the best Android camera phones right now - there's a surprise winner
Show more
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
2. Clear cache for Android apps
Don't tap clear storage
Now simply tap an app you've installed and select Clear cache. I recommend you avoid system apps like Google Play Services, and do not tap Clear storage unless you want to fully reset the app and erase all its data.
Also:
How to turn on Private DNS Mode on Android - and why it's a must
Show more
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
3. Repeat for other Android apps
Try first on social, gaming, and streaming apps
Repeat this process for any apps that use a lot of space.
Start with data-heavy apps such as social media or streaming services. You can see how much storage each app uses listed beneath its name. For example, Google Photos is using 1.24GB of space on my phone.
Also:
Your Android's most powerful security feature is off - turn it on ASAP
Show more
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
4. Bonus: Clear cached data in Chrome
Delete cached images and files, cookies, and more
You can clear Chrome's cache using steps 1 through 3 above, but Google's mobile browser also includes built-in tools for removing browsing data, such as cached images and files.
Open Chrome, tap

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## Expert Analysis

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### Implications
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- When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions.
- This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay.
- If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers android, cache, clear topics. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1481.