How to clear the cache on your Android device

Clear up space and speed up your phone.

By Gabriela Vătu Nov. 1, 2026 8:15 am EST ZikG/Shutterstock Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

Every time you use an app or browse sites online, your Android phone builds up a collection of small files in the background called a cache. That's how apps and websites load images, scripts and page elements faster the next time you open them, instead of downloading the same data over and over again.

It's a lot more convenient for the apps and browsers to pull data from storage, of course, but that convenience has a cost as the files start piling up, turning into a storage drain. Over time, this can lead to your phone feeling more sluggish or with you unable to install new apps because you're running out of space.