Storage
How to Clear Cache on Android (One App or All of Them)
By the llcloud team 5 min read
Quick answer
Open Settings > Apps, pick the app, tap Storage & cache, then Clear cache. That removes temporary files only, so your logins and settings stay. Android no longer has a button that clears every app's cache at once, so for that you need a cleaner such as Broomie, whose Power mode does it in one tap without root.
Cache is the scratch space apps keep so they do not download the same images and data again. It is safe to clear and it can free a lot of room, but Android no longer makes it easy to clear more than one app at a time. Here is the built-in way, what clearing actually does, and when an app is worth it.
What is app cache, and what happens when I clear it?
Apps store temporary files to save time: thumbnails, images from your feed, map tiles, pieces of web pages. Android treats this as data the app can rebuild, and it may clear some of it on its own when storage runs low.
When you clear it:
- You keep your account, settings, chats, offline downloads and saved files.
- You lose the temporary files, so the app may load a little slower once while it rebuilds them.
- You get back the space, which can be large for browsers, social apps, streaming apps and maps.
Clear cache sits next to a more drastic button, so know which is which:
| Button | What it removes | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Clear cache | Temporary files only | Free space, fix a glitchy app |
| Clear storage (or Clear data) | Everything the app stored, logins included | The app is broken and Clear cache did not help |
How do I clear the cache for one app?
- Open Settings > Apps. On some phones it is Apps & notifications or Applications, and on Pixel you may need to tap See all apps.
- Tap the app.
- Tap Storage & cache (on Samsung, Storage).
- Tap Clear cache.
You can also long-press the app's icon, tap App info, and go to the same Storage page. Google's own help notes the menus vary by phone, so if the wording differs, look for the app's storage page.
Clear the browser cache from inside the browser
In Chrome, open the three-dot menu, then Delete browsing data, tick only Cached images and files, and confirm. The exact label has changed between versions. This keeps your history and passwords.
Can I clear all app caches at once?
Not with Android's own settings any more. Older versions had a single "Cached data" entry in the storage screen. Since Android 8, apps cannot clear other apps' caches with an ordinary permission, and the one-tap option went away.
That leaves three options:
- Go through your biggest apps one by one in Settings. Sort by size in Settings > Storage > Apps if your phone offers it.
- Use a cleaner that has the extra access Android requires.
- Root the phone, which most people do not want.
How does Broomie clear cache?
Broomie handles caches two ways, depending on how much setup you want.
Without setup (free). Broomie lists each app's cache with its size, so you can see where the space went. Clearing uses Android's own clearing or opens the app's info page for you. It needs Usage access to measure app caches.
Power mode (Pro). Power mode clears every app's cache in one tap, reaches hidden caches in Android/data and removes leftovers from apps you uninstalled. It sets up a small helper once through Wireless debugging, on the phone itself, with no computer and no root. Rooted phones can use root instead.
A few things Broomie does that matter when you are deleting files:
- Every item says why it is listed, so you are not trusting a mystery number.
- You can protect any app, file or folder, and it is never touched.
- Caches and junk are deleted directly because apps rebuild them. Your own files go to Recently deleted first instead.
- Every clean is recorded in your history.
What it will not do is promise your phone runs faster. Broomie frees storage it can measure on your phone and says so honestly. If the real complaint is that the phone does not last the day, cache is the wrong suspect, and checking your battery health tells you more.
Why does the cache come back so fast?
Because that is its job. Apps cache what you use most so they do not download it again, and a social app can rebuild hundreds of megabytes in a day of scrolling. Clearing it repeatedly costs you mobile data and some loading time for little lasting gain.
So treat cache clearing as a fix, not a habit:
- When an app shows old content, crashes or will not load, clear its cache first.
- When one app's cache has grown far beyond the others, clear that one.
- When the phone is nearly full and you need room for an update or a video, clear the biggest few.
If a single app keeps growing a huge cache, check its own settings for a cache size limit or offline download option, since streaming and map apps often have one.
What else counts as junk besides cache?
Cache is often not the biggest win. Broomie's free junk cleaner also finds thumbnail caches, logs, temp files, LOST.DIR, empty folders, old installer files and bug reports, and it lists WhatsApp and Telegram media, including statuses you already viewed.
If cache clearing did not free enough, our guide on how to free up storage on Android goes through the bigger targets: large videos, duplicate photos and apps you never open. For private photos you want to keep but get out of your gallery, see how to hide photos on Android, which covers the built-in folders and Velum, our encrypted vault that is coming soon.
Should I use a cleaner app at all?
Built-in tools are fine if you only need to clear one or two apps now and then. A cleaner earns its place when you want to see every app's cache together, clear them all at once, or find leftovers that Settings does not show. Pick one that shows what it deletes and lets you undo mistakes. If you are comparing options, Broomie vs SD Maid looks at two cleaners that take very different approaches to setup and pricing.
Sources
Questions
Is it safe to clear cache on Android?
Yes. Cache is temporary data an app can rebuild, such as thumbnails, downloaded images and pieces of web pages. Clearing it does not sign you out or remove your settings. The app may load a little slower the first time afterwards while it rebuilds what it needs. Clear storage, the button next to it, is the one that wipes everything.
What is the difference between Clear cache and Clear storage?
Clear cache removes only temporary files. Clear storage, called Clear data on some phones, deletes all of the app's data, including logins, settings, offline downloads and saved games that are not backed up. It returns the app to the state it was in right after installing. Use Clear cache first and keep Clear storage for an app that is truly broken.
How do I clear all app cache at once on Android?
Android removed the built-in button for this in Android 8. Apps can no longer clear other apps' caches with an ordinary permission. Your options are clearing each app in Settings, or a cleaner with extra access. Broomie's Power mode, part of Pro, clears every app's cache in one tap after a one-time setup through Wireless debugging, or with root.
Will clearing cache make my phone faster?
Not in any way you can count on. Clearing a bloated cache can fix an app that misbehaves and it frees storage, which helps when the phone is nearly full. On a phone with plenty of free space, clearing caches mostly means apps rebuild them. Be wary of any cleaner that promises a speed boost.
How often should I clear cache?
There is no need for a schedule. Clear it when an app misbehaves, when one app's cache has grown to gigabytes, or when you are short of space. Caches regrow as you use apps, which is normal. Broomie Pro can run a weekly clean that touches only junk, empty folders and caches, never your own files.
