Microsoft Teams caches chats, shared files, images, and meeting data, and on a busy account that cache can grow into the hundreds of megabytes. On Android you clear it in Settings; on iPhone you offload or reinstall; on desktop you clear the cache folder.

Short answer:

  • Android: Settings > Apps > Teams > Storage & cache > Clear cache (safe; keeps you signed in).
  • iPhone: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Teams > Offload App, or reinstall.
  • Desktop note: Quit Teams, then clear the Teams cache folder, or use Settings to clear app cache.
  • Avoid Clear storage / Clear data, which signs you out.

Why Teams Uses So Much Storage

Teams is a heavy collaboration app. It caches your chat history, channel posts, profile photos, link previews, and every image and file shared in conversations you open. Meeting chat, GIFs, and shared documents all add to the local footprint, which climbs the more teams and chats you participate in.

This cache is rebuildable. Your messages, files, and meetings live in Microsoft 365, so clearing the local cache only forces Teams to re-download what it needs. You will not lose any conversations or shared files.

Clear the Teams Cache on Android

Android's storage screen is the cleanest method on a phone.

  1. Open Settings > Apps.
  2. Scroll to and tap Teams (it may be Microsoft Teams).
  3. Tap Storage & cache.
  4. Tap Clear cache.

You stay signed in and the freed space registers immediately. Clearing the cache also fixes many common Teams glitches, like messages not loading or notifications acting up.

Important: the same screen has Clear storage (or Clear data). That resets Teams to a fresh install, signing you out and clearing local settings, so you would re-authenticate. Use it only if Teams is genuinely broken. See clear cache vs clear data on Android and how to clear app cache on Android safely for what each removes.

Clear Teams Storage on iPhone

iOS has no per-app cache button, so use one of these:

  • Offload App: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Teams and tap Offload App to remove the app and cache while keeping its data, then reinstall.
  • Delete and reinstall: For a complete purge, delete Teams and reinstall it from the App Store, then sign back in.

A Clenoir storage scan shows how much space Teams and other apps actually use on iPhone, with a review-first flow so you confirm each cleanup before it happens.

Clear the Teams Cache on Desktop

If you also run Teams on a desktop, clearing its cache often fixes sluggishness and sign-in loops.

  1. Fully quit Teams (right-click the tray icon and choose Quit, not just close the window).
  2. Open Teams Settings and look for a Clear app cache or Clear cache option in newer versions, or manually clear the Teams cache folder in your user app-data directory.
  3. Relaunch Teams; it rebuilds the cache and you stay signed in.

This is the desktop equivalent of the Android cache clear and is safe to do regularly.

Reduce Teams' Storage Footprint

A few habits keep the cache smaller between cleanups.

  • Turn off GIF autoplay and animated content in Teams settings so fewer assets cache.
  • Leave or hide teams and chats you no longer follow.
  • Clear the cache once a month if you use Teams heavily across many channels.

Teams is rarely the single largest app on a phone, so if storage is still tight, look wider. The clean up phone storage hub and the clear cache for all apps at once guide help you sweep every heavy app in one session, which usually surfaces the real space hogs. Clearing the Teams cache is safe, takes under a minute, and keeps the app responsive.

FAQ

How do I clear the Microsoft Teams cache on Android without signing out?

Go to Settings > Apps > Teams > Storage & cache and tap Clear cache. This keeps you signed in and frees space immediately, since your messages and files live in Microsoft 365 and only re-download as needed.

Will clearing the Teams cache delete my chats or shared files?

No. The Teams cache is rebuildable because your conversations, files, and meetings are stored in Microsoft 365, so clearing the local cache only forces Teams to re-download what it needs without losing anything.

What is the difference between Clear cache and Clear storage in Teams on Android?

Clear cache safely removes temporary data while keeping you signed in. Clear storage (or Clear data) resets Teams to a fresh install, signs you out, and clears local settings, so use it only if Teams is genuinely broken.