Strava caches map tiles, segment photos, activity images, and feed media that can grow to hundreds of megabytes over time. You can clear that storage on iPhone and Android without losing your activities, because every run and ride is saved in your Strava account in the cloud.
Short answer:
- Android: go to Settings > Apps > Strava > Storage and tap Clear cache (safe). Clear storage logs you out.
- iPhone: there's no in-app cache button, so offload Strava via iPhone Storage or delete and reinstall it.
- Your activities and stats are stored on Strava's servers, so they survive a cache clear, just confirm any in-progress recording is saved.
Why Strava Uses So Much Storage
Strava is heavy on visuals: it caches map tiles for your routes, segment leaderboards, activity photos, and your feed's images and videos so they load quickly. Over months of activity and scrolling, that media piles up.
On iPhone, check Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Strava, where the cache shows under Documents & Data. On Android, open Settings > Apps > Strava > Storage to see the Cache figure.
The reassuring part: this is disposable. Your recorded activities, routes, segments, and stats live in your Strava account on Strava's servers, so clearing the local cache loses none of your training history.
Save Any Active Recording First
Before clearing anything, make sure you're not mid-activity. Strava records GPS data locally while an activity is in progress, and that hasn't been uploaded yet.
If you have a paused or in-progress recording, finish and save it (or upload it) so it lands in your account. Once your activities show in your feed and profile, they're safely in the cloud. This precaution matters mainly if you clear data or reinstall rather than just clearing cache, but it's good practice either way.
Clear Strava Cache on Android (Safest)
Android gives you a clean cache clear that won't sign you out.
- Open Settings > Apps (or Apps & notifications).
- Tap Strava, then Storage (or Storage & cache).
- Tap Clear cache.
Only temporary map tiles and media files are removed. Strava redownloads them as you view maps and your feed, so the app keeps working and you stay logged in. Repeat whenever the cache grows back.
Cache vs Clear Storage: Choose Carefully
The second button on that Android screen behaves very differently, so read before tapping.
- Clear cache: removes temporary files only. Safe, keeps you logged in.
- Clear storage / Clear data: wipes the app completely, logging you out and discarding any unsynced activity recording stored locally.
Use Clear cache for routine cleanup. Only use Clear storage when troubleshooting, and only after confirming all activities have uploaded.
Clear Strava Storage on iPhone
iOS has no per-app cache button, and Strava doesn't offer an in-app clear option, so you reset it from iOS to reclaim cached space.
Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Strava:
- Tap Offload App to remove the app while keeping its data, then reinstall to clear the cache.
- Tap Delete App for a full wipe, then reinstall from the App Store and sign back in.
Because your training history lives on Strava's servers, signing back in restores it all. Just make sure no activity is mid-recording before a full delete, since unsaved recordings exist only on the device.
Keep Strava and Your Phone Lean
A simple habit keeps Strava's footprint small:
- Android: clear the cache from Storage every few weeks.
- iPhone: offload or reinstall Strava when Documents & Data balloons.
- Always save or upload activities promptly so nothing important stays local-only.
Strava is one app among many, and the rest of your phone usually needs attention too, especially the workout photos and videos in your camera roll. A review-first cleaner, Clenoir on iOS or Cleanor on Android, scans on-device and surfaces your largest videos and duplicate photos before you confirm any deletion. For a fuller plan, see the clean up phone storage hub and the storage cleanup FAQ. With the cache cleared, Strava keeps recording and syncing exactly as before, minus the quiet storage creep.
Want the fast version? Cleanor for iPhone scans on-device — nothing uploaded — and surfaces your largest videos, duplicate photos, and heavy caches in one pass. For the full routine, see the free up phone storage guide.
FAQ
Does clearing the Strava cache delete my activities and stats?
No. Your recorded activities, routes, segments, and stats live in your Strava account on Strava's servers, so clearing the local cache loses none of your training history. Just confirm any in-progress recording has been saved first.
What should I do before clearing Strava data or reinstalling the app?
Make sure you're not mid-activity, because Strava records GPS data locally during a recording before it's uploaded. Finish and save (or upload) any paused or in-progress recording so it lands in your account; this matters mainly for clearing data or reinstalling rather than just clearing cache.
How do I clear Strava's cached map tiles and media on iPhone?
iOS has no per-app cache button and Strava offers no in-app clear option, so go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Strava and tap Offload App (keeps data) or Delete App, then reinstall. Signing back in restores your training history since it lives on Strava's servers.