Clear the cache for either app at Settings > Apps > [Android Auto or Google Maps] > Storage & cache > Clear cache. That dumps temporary map tiles and session files without deleting your offline maps, saved places, or settings. The bigger space user is usually offline maps, which you manage separately inside Google Maps, not the cache.
TL;DR
- Cache path: Settings > Apps > Google Maps > Storage & cache > Clear cache.
- Clear cache is safe; it removes map tiles and temp files, not your saved places or offline areas.
- Offline maps are the real space cost and live under Maps > profile > Offline maps.
- Clear storage resets the app and signs you out of in-app data; use it only for bugs.
- Android Auto is mostly a projection layer, so its own cache is small compared with Maps.
Where does Google Maps cache live and how do I clear it?
Maps stores temporary tiles, search session files, and rendered imagery in its cache. To clear it:
- Open Settings > Apps > Google Maps.
- Tap Storage & cache.
- Tap Clear cache.
This is safe. Maps rebuilds tiles as you browse and navigate. Your timeline, saved places, and offline maps are not in the cache, so they stay put.
How do I manage offline maps that take the most space?
Offline maps are deliberate downloads, not cache, and a single metro area can run hundreds of megabytes. Manage them at Google Maps > tap your profile picture > Offline maps. There you can see each downloaded area's size, delete ones you no longer need, or tap an area and choose Update to refresh it. Deleting an offline map only removes the download; you can re-download any area later over Wi-Fi.
How do I clear the Android Auto cache?
Android Auto mainly projects your phone's apps to the car screen, so it holds far less data than Maps. To clear it:
- Open Settings > Apps > Android Auto.
- Tap Storage & cache > Clear cache.
If Android Auto misbehaves (connection drops, blank screen), you can tap Clear storage to reset it to defaults. That doesn't delete anything important on your phone; it just makes Android Auto re-pair and reload your preferences on the next drive.
What Android does natively, and where it stops
Android's built-in Storage screen and Files by Google will clear app caches and flag large apps, and they'll show you that Maps is heavy. What they won't do is separate the safe-to-clear cache from your intentionally downloaded offline maps. To Android's cleaner it's all just "Maps storage." So a blunt clear can tempt you to remove downloads you actually rely on offline. Knowing that offline maps are managed inside Maps, not by the system cleaner, is the part automation misses.
Can I recover offline maps or saved places after deleting?
There's no Trash or 30-day bin for Maps data on Android. But almost nothing here is truly lost: offline maps re-download from Google, and saved places, labels, and your timeline are tied to your Google Account, so they sync back when you sign in. The only thing you can't recover is unsynced local state. Before a big cleanup, confirm you're signed in to the right Google Account so your saved places are backed up.
For the wider picture, see how to free up space on Android without a factory reset and our clean up phone storage guide. If your downloads folder is also bloated, what happens if you clear the Downloads folder on Android is worth a read.
FAQ
Does clearing Maps cache delete my offline maps?
No. Offline maps are stored as deliberate downloads, not cache. Clear cache removes only temporary tiles and session files. Offline areas stay until you delete them yourself under Maps > profile > Offline maps.
Will clearing Android Auto data unpair my car?
Clearing the Android Auto cache won't. Clear storage resets it to defaults, so it may re-pair and reload preferences on your next drive, but it doesn't harm your phone or car.
Why is Google Maps using gigabytes of storage?
Usually offline maps, not cache. Each downloaded region can be hundreds of megabytes, and several add up fast. Check Maps > profile > Offline maps and delete regions you don't need offline anymore.
If you'd like to see which part of Maps is cache versus real downloads before you clear anything, the Cleanor app (Android preview) breaks it down so you free space without losing the maps you depend on.