Pinterest caches thousands of preview images, so its storage can quietly grow past a gigabyte. On Android, clear it at Settings > Apps > Pinterest > Storage > Clear cache. On iPhone there's no cache button, so offload the app instead: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Pinterest > Offload App.

TL;DR

  • Pinterest aggressively caches pin images and previews — often 500 MB to 2 GB+.
  • Android: Settings > Apps > Pinterest > Storage > Clear cache clears it instantly.
  • iPhone: no cache button; use Offload App to wipe cached images while keeping the app.
  • Your boards, pins, and saves are stored on Pinterest's servers and are never affected.
  • The cache refills as you browse, so expect to repeat this occasionally.

How do I clear the Pinterest cache on Android?

Go to Settings > Apps > Pinterest > Storage (labeled Storage & cache on some devices), then tap Clear cache. Pinterest's cache is almost entirely downloaded images, so this often reclaims the most space of any single action. Avoid Clear storage / Clear data — that resets the app, logs you out, and clears local preferences. Your boards stay safe either way, but clearing data means signing back in.

How do I clear the Pinterest cache on iPhone?

Pinterest for iOS has no in-app "clear cache" option, and iOS doesn't surface one system-wide. Offload the app: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Pinterest > Offload App. Look at the Documents & Data figure first — that's the cached images you're about to clear. Offloading deletes the app and its cache but keeps your data, then reinstalls cleanly when you tap the icon. You stay logged in.

If you'd rather not dig through Settings app by app, the same result is covered in how to clear app cache on iPhone without deleting apps.

Why does Pinterest take up so much space?

Pinterest is image-first: every scroll downloads high-resolution previews it keeps cached for fast re-loading. Heavy browsers regularly see 1 GB or more attributed to the app, almost all of it cache rather than anything you saved. That's why the storage figure looks alarming but the fix is harmless — you're clearing copies of images Pinterest can re-download on demand.

What the app does natively, and where it stops

Both iOS and Android purge app caches automatically when storage gets critically low, and Pinterest will re-fetch images as needed. Where that stops: the OS waits until you're nearly full before acting, so a 2 GB cache can sit untouched while your phone feels cramped. Clearing it manually reclaims that space now. What this cannot do: it won't stop the cache from growing again, and it won't delete or hide any boards, pins, or sent messages — those are server-side and re-sync instantly on next launch. The only thing you lose is load speed for the first few seconds as previews re-download.

FAQ

Will clearing the Pinterest cache delete my boards or saved pins?

No. Boards, pins, and saves are stored on Pinterest's servers. Clearing the cache or offloading the app only removes locally downloaded image copies, which re-download when you browse.

How often should I clear Pinterest's cache?

Only when storage is tight. Heavy users might clear it every few weeks; the cache rebuilds with normal use, so daily clearing isn't worth the effort.

Does clearing the cache log me out of Pinterest?

Clearing cache (Android) or offloading (iPhone) keeps you logged in. Only Clear storage / Clear data on Android signs you out and resets preferences.

Pinterest is rarely the only culprit when storage fills up — see iPhone storage full but nothing to delete: what's actually using it, or free up iPhone space across every app at once with Cleanor for iPhone.