How to Clear App Cache on Samsung Galaxy

Clearing the cache on your Samsung Galaxy phone can free up storage space, fix apps that are misbehaving, and sometimes speed things up. This guide shows you how to clear the cache for a single app or for all apps at once, using the built-in settings on current Samsung Galaxy models (One UI 5 and newer). You don’t need any special tools or a computer—everything is done right on your phone.

What You’ll Need

• Your Samsung Galaxy phone (any model running One UI 5 or later)
• Your phone’s unlock PIN, pattern, or password (you’ll need to unlock the screen)
• About 2–5 minutes of your time

Step-by-Step

Clear Cache for a Single App

1. Open Settings. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification panel, then tap the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner. Alternatively, you can find the Settings app in your app drawer.
2. Go to Apps. Scroll down and tap Apps. This shows a list of all installed apps.
3. Find the app. Scroll through the list, or tap the search icon (magnifying glass) at the top to type the app’s name. Tap the app you want to clear the cache for.
4. Open Storage. On the app’s info page, tap Storage. This is usually near the top, under the app name.
5. Clear cache. You’ll see two buttons: Clear data and Clear cache. Tap Clear cache. A small confirmation may appear—tap OK or Clear.
6. Done. The cache is now cleared. You can go back or close Settings. The app’s data (like logins, settings, and saved files) is untouched.

Clear Cache for All Apps at Once

Samsung doesn’t offer a single button to clear every app’s cache at once, but you can clear the system cache partition, which handles cached files for all apps and the system. Here’s how:

1. Turn off your phone. Press and hold the Power button (and the Volume Down button on some models) to open the power menu, then tap Power off. Wait for the screen to go completely black.
2. Boot into recovery mode. Press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously. Keep holding them until the Samsung logo appears, then release both buttons. The phone will boot into the Android recovery menu (a blue or black screen with text options).
3. Navigate with volume keys. Use the Volume Down button to scroll down to Wipe cache partition. The options are usually listed in white text on a dark background.
4. Select it. Press the Power button to select Wipe cache partition. A confirmation screen will appear.
5. Confirm. Use the Volume Down to highlight Yes (or Reboot system now after the wipe) and press Power to confirm. The phone will clear the system cache and then reboot automatically. This may take a minute or two.

Common Mistakes

• Tapping “Clear data” instead of “Clear cache.” This is the biggest one. Clearing data resets the app to factory defaults—you’ll lose logins, settings, and any locally stored files (like downloaded offline maps). Always double-check you’re tapping Clear cache.
• Rebooting into recovery with the wrong button combo. On some Galaxy models (especially newer ones), the recovery key combo is Volume Up + Power, but on others it might be Volume Up + Bixby + Power (older Galaxy S8/S9). If the phone just turns on normally, you pressed the wrong combo.
• Assuming clearing cache frees a lot of space. Cache files are usually small (a few MB per app). If you’re low on storage, clearing cache might not be enough—you’ll need to uninstall apps or move files to an SD card.
• Clearing cache for apps you use constantly. Apps like social media or browsers will rebuild their cache quickly, so you might not see any benefit. Focus on apps that are glitchy or rarely used.

Tips

• Clear cache after app updates. If an app starts acting weird after an update, clearing its cache often fixes it.
• Use the “Storage” settings to see what’s using space. In Settings > Battery and device care > Storage, you can see a breakdown of what’s taking up space. Tap an app to see its cache size.
• Set a reminder. If you notice your phone slowing down over time, clearing the system cache once a month can help keep things snappy.
• Don’t clear cache on banking or payment apps unless necessary. They may require you to re-authenticate or re-download security certificates, which can be a hassle.
• Know the difference between cache and data. Cache is temporary files for quick access; data is your actual information. Always prefer clearing cache first.

Troubleshooting

• I don’t see “Storage” in the app info. Some apps (especially system apps) may hide the Storage option. Try clearing the cache via the system cache partition (the “all apps” method above) instead.
• The “Clear cache” button is grayed out. This happens when the app has no cache stored, or the app is a system app that doesn’t allow cache clearing. You can’t force it.
• My phone won’t boot into recovery mode. Double-check the button combo. If it still fails, try connecting your phone to a computer via USB and then booting—sometimes that helps. If you’re still stuck, search online for your exact model’s recovery key combo.
• Clearing the system cache didn’t fix my problem. If an app is still crashing or slow, try clearing the app’s individual cache (not just the system cache). If that fails, consider clearing the app’s data (but back up first) or uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
• My phone is stuck on the Samsung logo after wiping cache. This is rare, but if it happens, wait a few minutes—the first boot after a cache wipe can take longer than usual. If it’s stuck for more than 10 minutes, try booting into recovery again and selecting Reboot system now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my photos or messages?

No. Clearing the cache only removes temporary files like thumbnails and downloaded assets that apps use to load faster. Your photos, messages, and other personal data are stored in the app’s data or in the phone’s internal storage, not in the cache.

How often should I clear the cache?

There’s no hard rule. If your phone is running fine, you don’t need to clear it regularly. Do it when you notice an app acting up, or when you’re low on storage and want a quick cleanup.

Does clearing cache speed up my phone?

It can, but not dramatically. If an app has a corrupted cache, clearing it will fix crashes and lag. However, if your phone is slow due to low storage or an old battery, clearing cache won’t help much.

What’s the difference between clearing cache and clearing data?

Clearing cache removes temporary files, leaving your app settings and logins intact. Clearing data resets the app to its original state—you’ll lose all settings, accounts, and locally stored data. Always try clearing cache first.

Can I clear cache for all apps without going into recovery mode?

On Samsung phones, there’s no built-in one-tap option to clear every app’s cache individually. The recovery mode method clears the system cache, which is the closest to a “clear all” option. Some third-party apps claim to do it, but they often require special permissions and may not work reliably on Samsung’s One UI.

Will clearing cache on Samsung Internet delete my bookmarks?

No. Bookmarks are stored in the browser’s data, not its cache. Clearing the cache will only remove temporary files like cached images and page scripts. Your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords remain intact.

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