SoundCloud builds up storage from two things: a temporary cache of streamed tracks and the offline downloads you save with SoundCloud Go+. To clear the cache on Android, go to Settings > Apps > SoundCloud > Storage > Clear cache. On iPhone there is no in-app cache button, so you offload the app: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > SoundCloud > Offload App.

TL;DR

  • SoundCloud's footprint is a streaming cache plus your offline downloads (Go+ only).
  • Android: clear the cache directly in Settings > Apps > SoundCloud > Storage.
  • iPhone: there's no cache button; use Offload App to wipe the cache while keeping the app.
  • Clearing cache never touches your likes, playlists, follows, or uploads — those live on SoundCloud's servers.
  • Offline downloads can take hundreds of MB; manage them inside the app, not by clearing cache.

How do I clear the SoundCloud cache on Android?

Android exposes the cache directly. Open Settings > Apps > SoundCloud > Storage (on some phones it's Storage & cache), then tap Clear cache. This removes the temporary streamed-audio data and reclaims space immediately. Do not tap Clear storage (or Clear data) — that wipes your local login and any offline files, forcing you to sign back in.

The cache typically rebuilds to 100-500 MB with regular listening, so re-clearing every few weeks is reasonable if storage is tight.

How do I clear the SoundCloud cache on iPhone?

iOS doesn't let apps expose a system cache button, and SoundCloud has no "clear cache" toggle in its iPhone settings. The reliable fix is to offload the app: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > SoundCloud > Offload App. This deletes the app binary and its cache but keeps your documents and data, then reinstalls a clean copy when you reopen it. Check the listing first — "Documents & Data" is the cache-heavy part you're clearing.

If you want a repeatable, app-by-app workflow for this, see how to clear app cache on iPhone without deleting apps.

What about my offline SoundCloud Go+ downloads?

Offline tracks are separate from the cache and are usually the bigger number. To manage them, open SoundCloud, go to Library > Likes or any downloaded playlist, and toggle Make available offline off, or use the app's storage settings to remove all downloads at once. Offloading the app on iPhone removes these too; clearing cache on Android does not. Re-downloading needs an active Go+ subscription, so don't clear them right before a flight or commute.

What clearing the cache does, and where it stops

Clearing the cache or offloading the app frees the temporary streamed-audio data the OS would eventually purge on its own when storage runs low. What it cannot do: it won't shrink the cache permanently — normal listening refills it — and it won't fix a SoundCloud account issue. None of this deletes your likes, reposts, playlists, follows, or uploaded tracks, because all of that is stored server-side and re-syncs the moment you sign in. The only data genuinely at risk is offline downloads you've explicitly saved.

FAQ

Will clearing SoundCloud's cache delete my likes and playlists?

No. Likes, playlists, reposts, and follows live on SoundCloud's servers and re-sync when you open the app. Cache and offline downloads are local only.

Why does SoundCloud use so much storage on my phone?

Mostly offline downloads (Go+) plus a streaming cache that holds recently played audio. The downloads are usually the larger share, sometimes several hundred MB.

Does offloading SoundCloud on iPhone log me out?

No. Offloading keeps your data and login; you stay signed in. It removes the cache and offline files, then restores a clean app when you reopen it.

If SoundCloud is just one of several space hogs, free up iPhone space across all your apps at once with Cleanor for iPhone, which surfaces the cache and junk most apps hide.