How to clear the cache on a computer or mobile device

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

These simple steps can help you clean up junk, free up memory, and speed up your device.

How to clear cache in Windows 10

Open the start menu and start typing the word "storage". Select Storage Options. Or click Start → Options → Memory.

In the window that opens, click on the "Temporary files" item. Then click the Delete Files button.

Done, the system cache has been cleared.

There is another way. Go to the start menu and start typing the word "cleanup". Open the found system utility "Disk Cleanup". Select the system drive you want to delete data from and click OK. The default drive is C.

In the next window, check the boxes next to the items you want to delete. The cache is hidden under the items "Temporary files" and "Sketches". Then click OK again.

A confirmation window will appear. Answer in the affirmative and the action will be taken.

How to clear cache on macOS

Open Finder and click Go → Go to Folder in the menu bar. In the window that appears, enter

~ / Libraries / Caches

or

~ / Library / Caches

and click OK.

The folder with the system cache will open. Select the files and folders you want to get rid of, right-click and click Move to Trash. You can press Cmd + A and delete everything at once, this should not lead to negative consequences. You may need to enter an administrator password.

Then right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and click Empty Trash.

How to clear cache in Android

Unlike desktop systems, pure Android does not allow you to deal with the system cache in one fell swoop. But you have the option to delete the temporary files of individual applications. The sequence of actions will depend on the version of your system, but in general, the algorithm looks something like this.

Tap Settings → Apps & Notifications → Apps. Select "Sort by size" to select those programs that take up the most space. Then click on the desired application and select "Memory" → "Clear cache".

In some versions of pure Android, you can still wipe the entire cache by clicking Settings → Storage → Cache Data → OK. And in firmware from Xiaomi, Samsung and a number of other manufacturers, it is possible to optimize the system, quickly getting rid of all the garbage by pressing one button.

• In MIUI, for this you need to select the "Cleanup" application on the home screen, wait a couple of seconds until the search for unnecessary files is completed, and press the "Clean" button.
• On Samsung smartphones, use Settings → Device Maintenance → Storage → Optimize.
• In OnePlus gadgets, you need to select "Settings" → "Memory" → "Cleanup" → "Clear".

For devices from other manufacturers, the algorithm is approximately the same.

How to clear cache in iOS

iOS believes it knows better than the user when to delete temporary files and when not, and there is no reason to disagree with it. However, sometimes an overly bloated application cache has to be cleared manually.

Tap Settings → General → iPhone Storage and look for an app that's taking up too much space. Tap the title and select Download Application.

The program will be deleted from the smartphone's memory, and its icon will turn gray, but the documents and files related to it will remain. When you click on the shortcut, the application will be reinstalled.

If in the "iPhone Storage" section you have activated the "Load unused" option, the system will periodically clear the memory from rarely launched programs.

Another way to clear the iOS cache is to delete the app completely and re-bore it from the AppStore.

There are also many third-party programs for cleaning your computer from junk. For example, the infamous CCleaner. But keep in mind that often such software imposes many additional functions, sends telemetry, is registered in background processes, takes up a lot of RAM and insists on buying the Pro version.

Therefore, we recommend using built-in tools. In the end, the system knows better what to delete and what to leave.

The text was updated on February 8, 2021.