Temu and Shein are image-heavy shopping apps that cache thousands of product photos, so each can swell past a gigabyte. On Android, clear them at Settings > Apps > Temu (or Shein) > Storage > Clear cache. On iPhone there's no cache button, so offload the app: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Temu > Offload App (repeat for Shein).

TL;DR

  • Both apps cache huge numbers of product images — commonly 500 MB to 1.5 GB each.
  • Android: Settings > Apps > [app] > Storage > Clear cache clears it immediately.
  • iPhone: no cache button; Offload App wipes cached images while keeping the app and login.
  • Your cart, orders, addresses, and account live on the server and aren't affected.
  • Clearing cache won't sign you out; only Android's Clear data does that.

How do I clear the Temu or Shein cache on Android?

Open Settings > Apps, pick Temu or Shein, tap Storage (or Storage & cache), then Clear cache. Because these apps are almost entirely cached product imagery, this usually frees the bulk of their storage in one tap. Do not use Clear storage / Clear data unless you're prepared to log in again and lose local search history — though your cart and orders, being server-side, survive even that.

Repeat for the second app; each maintains its own independent cache.

How do I clear the Temu or Shein cache on iPhone?

Neither app offers an in-app cache button, and iOS doesn't expose one. Offload each app: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Temu > Offload App, then do the same for Shein. Check the Documents & Data line first — that's the cached images being cleared. Offloading removes the app and cache but keeps your account data, reinstalling a clean copy on next open. You stay signed in.

For a fuller walkthrough of this pattern, see how to clear app cache on iPhone without deleting apps.

Is it safe to clear a shopping app's cache with items in my cart?

Yes. Your cart, wishlist, saved addresses, payment methods, and order history are stored on Temu's and Shein's servers, tied to your account, not to local cache. Clearing the cache or offloading the app removes only downloaded product images and temporary files. When you reopen the app and it confirms your login, everything reappears. The one caveat: items in a cart can still sell out or change price over time, but that's unrelated to clearing cache.

What the apps do natively, and where it stops

Both apps and both operating systems will eventually evict cached images when the device runs critically low on space. Where it stops: that automatic cleanup is reactive and stingy, so multiple shopping apps can hold several gigabytes between them while your phone still warns you. Manually clearing reclaims it on your schedule. What this cannot do: it won't prevent the cache from rebuilding as you keep browsing, and it won't delete your account, cart, or orders — those are server-held and re-sync on sign-in. Expect a brief slowdown as product images re-download the first time you scroll.

FAQ

Will clearing Temu or Shein's cache empty my cart?

No. Your cart and wishlist are saved to your account on the server. Clearing cache or offloading only removes locally stored images and temporary data, which reload after you sign in.

Do I have to log in again after clearing the cache?

Clearing cache (Android) or offloading (iPhone) keeps you logged in. Only Android's Clear storage / Clear data resets the app and requires a fresh login.

Why are these shopping apps so large on my phone?

They download and cache thousands of high-resolution product images as you browse, plus video previews. That cache, not your data, is what makes the apps balloon to a gigabyte or more.

If shopping apps are crowding your device, free up iPhone space across all of them at once with Cleanor for iPhone, or learn how to offload large apps on iPhone to reclaim gigabytes.