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Clearing an App's Cache vs Its Storage on Android

Clear cache versus clear storage on Android: what each deletes, when to use which, the steps, and why cleared cache comes back, using Google's Android help.

By Published 3 min read

Reign Creative LLC makes Video Player All Formats PRO, which this article links to, so we have a commercial interest in it. How we write and check articles.

AI-assisted article. Drafted with AI tools from the sources cited below and checked by automated tests and an AI editorial review. No person has reviewed it yet. How we write and check articles.

Key takeaways

  • Clearing an app's cache deletes temporary files; Google notes the app may be slower the next time it opens.
  • Clearing storage, or data, permanently deletes all the app's data; Google suggests deleting data within the app first.
  • Google calls clearing cache a short-term fix for space: cached data builds up again over time.
  • On a Pixel the path is Settings, Apps, See all apps, the app, Storage & cache; Google notes settings vary by phone.
  • Try cache first, then storage, and contact the developer if problems continue.

Android offers two buttons that sound alike and do very different things: Clear cache and Clear storage, sometimes labelled Clear data. One is a harmless clean-up; the other, in Google's words, permanently deletes all app data. This guide explains the difference, when to use each and the steps, using Google's Android and Pixel help.

Cache versus storage

Clear cache Clear storage (Clear data)
What it deletes Temporary files All of the app's data
Accounts and settings Kept Removed
Saved content kept only on the device Kept Removed
Typical side effect The app may be slower the next time it opens Everything the app saved is erased
Undoable Nothing to undo No: the data is gone

Google's help puts it plainly. Clearing cache deletes temporary data, and some apps may be slow the next time you open them. Clearing storage permanently deletes all app data, and Google suggests trying to delete the data within the app first.

What the cache is for

Google's Pixel help describes the cache as temporary files, and its Android help warns that some apps may be slow the next time you open them after it is cleared. Google's help also makes the important point that clearing cache is a short-term solution: over time, cached data will build up again.

When to clear the cache

Clear an app's cache when:

  • the app is behaving oddly: showing stale content, failing to load images or crashing on one screen;
  • you need a quick bit of space and the app's cache is large;
  • an update has left the app misbehaving.

It is safe to try first, because it does not remove your data.

When to clear storage

Clear storage only when clearing the cache has not helped and you accept starting again. Expect to sign in again and to lose anything the app kept only on the phone. Back up or export anything you want to keep first.

Check before you clear storage

Pause before clearing storage if the app holds anything that exists only on your phone:

  • notes, drafts or journals that are not synced to an account;
  • game progress that is not linked to a cloud save;
  • offline downloads, such as maps, music or videos saved inside the app, which you would have to download again;
  • app-specific settings you spent time choosing, such as playback preferences or themes.

If in doubt, open the app's own settings and look for an export, backup or sync option first. Clearing storage cannot be undone, so a two-minute check is worth it.

The steps

Google's Pixel help gives this path for Pixel phones. Its general Android help says settings can vary by phone and points you to your device manufacturer, so the menu names on another brand may differ:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Apps, then See all apps.
  3. Tap the app.
  4. Tap Storage & cache.
  5. Tap Clear cache, or Clear storage (or Clear data) and confirm.

A worked example: what each button costs a video player

Suppose a local video player starts misbehaving. Clearing its cache removes only temporary files, so the cost is, at most, a slower next start. Now suppose you clear its storage instead. Video Player All Formats PRO, for example, keeps recent videos, playback history, saved positions and favourites locally on your device, so clearing its storage would erase where you stopped in each video and your favourites list. The app plays files already stored on your device, so the videos themselves are a separate matter from the app's data. Cache first, storage last.

If neither fixes it

Google's troubleshooting steps for an installed app that is not working come in this order:

  1. Restart the phone; Google suggests restarting after each step.
  2. Update Android and the app; updating apps on Android covers how.
  3. Force stop the app.
  4. Clear the cache, then, if needed, clear storage.
  5. Uninstall and reinstall.

Google notes that if problems continue after force-stopping or clearing data, you may need to contact the app's developer.

Cache and storage space

If the real problem is a full phone, clearing caches gives back space only briefly. Freeing up storage on Android covers the bigger wins, such as backed-up photos, downloads and archiving unused apps. For video playback problems in particular, the Android video player guide and subtitles not working on Android cover common fixes. Video Player All Formats PRO is one of our video and utility apps.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Will clearing an app's cache delete my data?
No. Google's Android help says clearing the cache deletes temporary data, and that some apps may be slower the next time you open them. Your accounts, settings and saved content stay. Clearing storage is the option that deletes data.
What happens when you clear an app's storage?
Google says clearing storage permanently deletes all the app's data, so you may need to sign in again and lose settings, history or offline content kept on the device. Google suggests deleting data within the app first where possible.
How do you clear an app's cache on Android?
On a Pixel phone, Google's help says: open Settings, tap Apps, then See all apps, tap the app, then Storage & cache, then Clear cache. Google's Android help notes that settings can vary by phone, so other makers may use different names.
Why does the cache come back after I clear it?
Because apps rebuild it as you use them. Google calls clearing cached data a short-term solution: over time, cached data will build up again. Clearing it again later is fine, but it does not give back space for long.

Sources

  1. Free up storage on your Android device (opens in a new tab)Google Android Help — accessed
  2. Fix an installed Android app that isn't working (opens in a new tab)Google Android Help — accessed
  3. Fix an installed app that isn't working on a Pixel phone (opens in a new tab)Google Pixel Phone Help — accessed

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