PUBG Mobile and BGMI start near 1-2 GB but balloon past 8-12 GB once you download the high-definition resource packs, extra maps, and seasonal assets. To check yours on iPhone: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > PUBG Mobile (or BGMI). On Android: Settings > Apps > PUBG Mobile > Storage, where the "Data" line carries the resource-pack weight.

TL;DR

  • A base install is ~1-2 GB; optional resource packs add 6-10 GB.
  • The biggest reclaim is removing maps and HD packs you don't play.
  • Clearing cache is safe; your account, rank, and skins are cloud-bound.
  • On iPhone, Offload App keeps settings; Delete App forces a full re-download.
  • On Android, clearing storage forces the game to re-download resource packs.

Why is PUBG Mobile / BGMI so large?

The core game is modest. The size comes from optional content you opt into: HD resource packs, individual maps (Erangel, Miramar, Sanhok, Livik and others each ship as separate downloads), event modes, and high-resolution texture sets. The game encourages downloading everything for smoother matches, but most players only rotate through two or three maps. Add accumulated cache from menus, the store, and replays, and the install easily doubles. This is the same pattern covered in why mobile games take so much storage.

How do I remove unused resource packs in-game?

This is where the real gigabytes are. Open PUBG Mobile / BGMI, go to Settings > Basic > Download Resources (the exact label varies by version, sometimes under "Resource" or the download icon on the lobby screen). You will see a list of installed map and HD packs with their sizes and a remove/delete option per pack. Delete the maps and HD textures you don't play. The game re-downloads any pack automatically the next time a match needs it, so this is fully reversible — you are only trading a short download later for space now.

How do I clear PUBG cache on iPhone?

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > PUBG Mobile. iOS gives you:

  • Offload App — removes the binary, keeps your local settings and downloaded resources. Reinstalling restores the app. See how to offload large apps on iPhone.
  • Delete App — wipes the local install entirely, including downloaded resource packs, forcing a full re-download.

iOS has no per-app cache button, so for a quick reclaim use Offload App, or delete unused resource packs in-game first for a more targeted cut.

How do I clear PUBG cache and downloads on Android?

Go to Settings > Apps > PUBG Mobile > Storage:

  • Clear cache drops temporary files safely and is the first thing to try.
  • Clear storage removes the local game data, including resource packs and login session — the game re-downloads packs on next launch.

On older Android versions, PUBG stored large expansion data as OBB files. Before manually deleting anything outside the app, read is it safe to delete Android OBB files so you don't break the install.

What the OS does natively, and where it stops

Android's Clear cache and iOS's Offload App both reclaim space without touching your account. Where they stop: neither knows that the Miramar pack is 1.5 GB you never load, or that three event modes from last season are still installed. The OS treats the game as one opaque blob. The in-game Download Resources screen is the only place that shows pack-level sizes, which is why targeted in-game removal usually beats a blunt OS clear.

Recoverability: what comes back and what doesn't

Everything here is recoverable. Clearing cache, offloading, deleting resource packs, even clearing storage — all of it just triggers a re-download. Your progress, rank, UC balance, outfits, and friends are tied to your account (Facebook, Google, Twitter, or your game ID), not to the local files. As long as you remember your login, you can wipe the local install entirely and restore everything by signing back in. The only cost of clearing is the data and time to re-download what you removed.

FAQ

Does clearing PUBG Mobile cache delete my account?

No. Your account, rank, skins, and UC are stored on the server and linked to your login. Clearing cache or even deleting the app only removes local files; sign back in and everything returns.

What's the safest way to make PUBG smaller?

Delete unused maps and HD resource packs from the in-game Download Resources screen. That reclaims the most space and the game re-downloads any pack automatically when a match needs it.

Will I lose my skins if I delete the app?

No. Skins and cosmetics are tied to your account, not the install. After reinstalling and logging in, they are restored.

When your whole phone is tight, Cleanor for iPhone surfaces the apps eating the most space, and the free up iPhone space guide covers the rest. If your iPhone storage is full but nothing seems deletable, oversized game downloads like these are a common culprit.