Clearing Cache in Android: What, Why and How?
Cache is a collection of temporary data files stored on your device by apps and browsers. It helps apps and browsers to load information faster by storing frequently accessed data. When you search for something on an app or website, it is stored in the cache so that the next time you search for the same thing, the app or browser can retrieve it quickly without having to load it from scratch. This improves the overall performance and efficiency of apps and browsers.
However, over time, cache files can accumulate and take up a significant amount of storage space on your device. In addition to taking up space, old cache files can also slow down your device and cause errors.
To resolve this issue, you can clear the cache on your device regularly. This can be done through the settings of your device or by using a cache cleaning app.
Pros of Clearing Cache on Android
- Free up space – You can free up some space and improve your device’s functioning to some extent.
- Remove glitches – The accumulated cache can become corrupted. These corrupted files can cause glitches and hinder the performance of the app. Clearing these cache files can reduce the amount of random glitches.
- Privacy protection – All apps and websites store your browsing data to access the same information quickly in the future. If this stored data is accessed by an unauthorized source, there is a risk of data theft. In order to reduce the risk of a privacy breach, it is important to regularly delete the cache data.
Cons of Clearing Cache On Android
- More loading time – Deleting the cache of an app may cause it to take longer to access frequently used data. It is not necessary to delete the cache regularly as it can slow down the app’s performance.
How to Clear Cache of Android Apps?
The older versions of Android had the option to delete all cache files at once, but in newer versions, this option is not available. Instead, you will need to clear the cache for each app separately. The following are the steps to do so:
- Launch the Settings app on your Android phone.
- Scroll down and select Apps.
Go to Settings and select Apps - Select the app you want to delete the cache for.
- Navigate to Storage on the app info page.
Tap on the Storage option - Select Clear Cache in the bottom right corner.
Clear the Cache for the selected app
Some apps have an in-built option for clearing caches like Snapchat, Instagram, FaceBook, etc. You can either clear the cache from the in-built option or utilize the Android Settings option to get rid of cache files.
How To Clear Cache On Android (Chrome)
The default browser for Android, Chrome, tends to accumulate the most cache as it is the most commonly used. When you visit websites, your browser stores data for future use. This accumulated data can be removed using the built-in cache removal option in Chrome. Here’s how:
- Launch Chrome on your device.
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
Go to Settings by tapping the three dots - Here, select History from the menu.
Open browsing history - Now tap the Clear browsing data option.
Tap Clear browsing data at the top of the screen - Choose the time limit from the drop-down menu.
- Uncheck all boxes except for Cached images and files.
- Finally, hit the Clear data button.
Check the box for Clear Cache and hit the Clear data button
Cache files accumulate over time and will continue to do so even after being deleted once. Clearing the cache to free up storage space on your device is not a sustainable solution as constantly deleting the cache can negatively impact the performance of your apps. In this case, it may be more beneficial to upgrade your mobile phone.
