2022-10-13
As applications run, they generate temporary /files that are used to perform system operations. These /files are stored in the cache and should speed up applications. If too many of these /files are accumulated, the smartphone starts working slower and slows down.
The number of temporary /files stored in the cache without affecting the phone's performance depends on the total amount of RAM. To keep your phone fast and stable, you need to clear the cache regularly. There are several ways to clean the cache on Android which we will discuss below.
Content :
Video tutorial
Why clean the cache?
If you regularly use 1-2 applications, it does not make sense to clean the cache on your phone constantly. Cleaning will be needed when there are many different applications in the device memory, some of them are deleted or rarely used.
A typical smartphone with 4-8 GB of RAM gets clogged quite quickly. Cached /files are permanently stored in the operating system memory. Without cleaning, this data may fill up the entire memory of the device, resulting in no resources left for the Android to function.
The frequency of cleaning depends on the number of applications and the technical characteristics of the phone. The best time to clean the cache is when the memory is almost full.
Useful cleaning will cause the opposite effect: the phone will have a lot of free memory, but the temporary application /files will be erased, resulting in malfunctions, instability, slow command execution.
Before clearing the cache it is recommended to evaluate the available memory and only then erase the data - if needed.
Ways to clear the cache
There are several ways to clear the cache /files. The Android operating system has a simple tool for deleting old data. In addition, there are special optimizer apps available on GooglePlay. They improve your phone's performance and clean up system garbage.
Let's take a closer look at all the cache cleaning methods.
Tip . Before deleting /files, be sure to close all running applications, except for cleaning applications or phone settings.
Android settings
Clearing the cache on Android can be done using the standard tools. To do this you need:
- Find the settings menu;
- Browse to the list, find the "Storage", tap on it;
- Log down to the item "Cache data";
- Click on it, a window appears suggesting to clear the cache;
- Confirm the operation, wait for the system to delete all /files.
In the storage you can see the information about the memory used and free. If you have enough free RAM, it is better not to clear the cache.
On Samsung Galaxy phones you can clear the cache by accessing "Settings" > "Device Maintenance" > "Memory" and pressing the "Optimize" button.
Clean Master
This is a special application designed to improve the phone performance, remove old and unnecessary /files, clear the cache. To clear the cache:
- Download Clean Master from the link below, install it on your phone;
- Launch the application, access the "Trash" section;
- Clean Master will analyze and display all unnecessary /files that hinder the phone performance;
- Select the "System cache" checkbox and confirm the removal.
Clean Master is a free application but there is additional paid and promotional content. The app has additional features, such as putting inactive apps into sleep mode. This option allows you to free up some memory for productive work on your smartphone.
Download Clean Master
Piriform CCleaner
Cleaner was originally a memory cleaning program for computers, laptops. The developers have created a mobile version to work with the Android operating system. Cleaning the cache /files is carried out similarly to Clean Master:
- Download and launch the application.
- The first time you launch it, click on "Analyze"; the analysis of the device memory begins.
- In the menu select the "Hidden cache" and "Visible cache" items.
- Click on "Finish Cleaning".
- Wait until the program erases the cache.
The CCleaner includes paid features (annual subscription $12.49) but the free Basic version is particularly suitable to remove system cache.
Download CCleaner for Android
App Cache Cleaner
Works similarly to the previous applications but has a few differences. App Cache Cleaner cleans your phone at a set time, on a schedule. In addition, you can set your cache /files to be moved to a removable storage device, like your SD card.
Download App Cache Cleaner
Important : Not only can cache cleaning not speed up applications, it can also slow down the operating system. Do not use cache clearing too often: your smartphone will perform operations more slowly and behave unpredictably.
Frequently asked questions
If you have any questions on the subject of this article, please ask them in the comments.
What is a cache?
The cache data is necessary to download applications, photos, videos, audio /files faster. For example, a user turns on music. Audio recordings are cached so that there are no delays during playback. The smartphone remembers the user's actions and performs them faster in the future. If cached /files are stored in the device memory for a specific operation, commands will be executed faster.
How to remove the hidden cache on Android
Hidden cache is formed in the non-system folders of Android. During the day, it may appear and not be removed later. In principle this type of cache is not very bad, however if it will clog the system on a regular basis, it is not good.
Hidden cache can be removed using CCleaner application. Read about it below. In brief:
- Open CCleaner for Android,
- Run the analyzer,
- Select Hidden Cache,
- The application will remove all the hidden cache found during the analysis.
Why is the cache not cleared in the applications?
The application is probably running at the moment. The temporary data stored in the cache is necessary to keep it running.
Try to stop the application and then use the clearance function. With system applications this is not recommended - related applications may crash.
Cache not cleared on your Android: what to do?
The built-in cache cleanup utility may not be able to clear all the cache present on your Android. This is also true for Android 10, 11, 12. You can fix this by installing a third-party utility like CCleaner or Clean Master.
Clearing the cache and the RAM using the Recovery menu
This method is not the most popular; use it if the system cache is not cleared by other means for some reason. The method works at least for Android 10 and 11.
- Go to the Recovery menu by holding the volume and power key.
- Use the volume keys as up/down and go to Wipe Cache Partition.
- Confirm the action. Cash wipe complete appears.
- Cache clearing complete, reboot the phone.
How to recover the cache on your Android?
Updated for Samsung Galaxy 10, 21 and other models.
This is most probably not possible. The only exception is if you deleted Android Gallery cache and want to restore thumbnails. This can be done using DiskDigger software (mobile version).
