You can speed up your Android device by clearing its cache

You can speed up your Android device by clearing its cache

When you use an app or visit a website, temporary data is stored on your Android phone in what is known as the cache. There’s a valid reason for this — by having particular files to hand, whether that's images, files, text or code, the app or website doesn’t need to keep downloading them.

Over time, those files and data accumulate and start to slow your device. Files in the cache can also become corrupted or outdated which results in problems such as slow loading, freezes and crashes.

By clearing the cache on an occasional basis or whenever problems with an app or website appear, you can ensure your device runs at an optimal speed with as few issues as possible.

So, let’s check out how to clear your Android's cache, for individual apps and a browser.

Clear the cache of individual Android apps

Each app will have a cache of its own. Clearing it can tackle problems with the app or simply clear up some space.

1. Launch the Settings app

To clear the cache of individual apps, you need toopen the Settings app.

2. Go to Apps

Next,scroll downandselect Apps. In some cases this may read Apps and notifications depending on which device you are using.

3. Find an app

You will see a list of apps. Beneath each app is the amount of internal storage space it is using and this can be useful if space is also a reason for clearing the cache.

Simplyselect an app.

4. Choose Storage

When you choose an app, you will see lots of information but, in this case, you need toselect Storage.

5. Clear the cache

You have two options. You can clear the data or just go with the stated aim andselect clear cache.

Remember clearing data removes all app data whereas clearing the cache only removes the temporary files and data.

Clear Google Chrome’s cache

You can use the steps above to clear the cache in Google Chrome or you can do it within Chrome itself.

1. Launch Chrome

First of all,open Google Chrome. Thentap the three-dot menuin the top-right of the screen.

2. Select Settings

In the menu that appears, you will need toselect Settings.

3. View Privacy options

This will take you to another menu.Scroll downandtap Privacy and Security.

4. Choose Delete

Nowselect Delete browsing data— as it informs you, this will let you delete history, cookies, site data and the cache.

5. View the basic options

There are two tabs: Basic and Advanced. Both have check boxes that allow you to determine what you wish to delete.

Justtick the options you require—in the case of clearing the cache, you willtick cached images and files, and thentapDelete Data.

6. See advanced options

If youselect the Advanced tab, you will be able totick the boxesto remove more elements such as saved passwords, auto-fill form data and site settings.

Again,tap Delete Data.

And there you go. You now know how to speed up your Android device by clearing its cache.

If you have different devices, then you may want to discover how to clear the cache on Mac and how to clear your iPhone cache. You can even find out how to clear the cache on Xbox Series X and S.