The Reddit app caches images, videos, and thumbnails as you scroll, and that cache can swell to a gigabyte or more. On Android you can clear it from the app or system settings; on iPhone you clear it inside the Reddit app or by reinstalling.

Short answer:

  • Android: Reddit app Settings > Clear local history / cache, or Settings > Apps > Reddit > Storage & cache > Clear cache.
  • iPhone: Reddit app Settings > Clear cache, or offload/reinstall via iPhone Storage.
  • Clearing cache keeps your account, saved posts, and subscriptions, it only removes temporary files.

Why the Reddit App Cache Grows

Reddit is image- and video-heavy. Every time you scroll a feed, the app downloads thumbnails, full images, GIFs, and video clips and stores them locally so they reload instantly. The more you browse, the larger this cache becomes.

Heavy users routinely see Reddit consuming 500MB to over 1GB. None of it is essential, your saved posts, subscriptions, and login are tied to your account, not the cache. Clearing it just makes Reddit re-fetch content as you browse next.

To check the size on Android, go to Settings > Apps > Reddit > Storage & cache. On iPhone, open Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Reddit and look at Documents & Data.

Clear the Reddit Cache on Android

Android gives you two reliable methods.

Method 1, inside the Reddit app:

  1. Open Reddit and tap your profile icon.
  2. Tap Settings (gear).
  3. Scroll to the account/general section and tap Clear local history (and any Clear cache option present).

Method 2, system settings (always works):

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Reddit > Storage & cache.
  2. Tap Clear cache.

Use Clear cache, not Clear storage. Clearing storage resets the app entirely and may log you out, while clearing cache only removes the temporary media files.

Clear the Reddit Cache on iPhone

iOS doesn't expose a system-level cache button, so you have two options.

Method 1, inside the Reddit app:

  1. Open Reddit and tap your profile icon in the top-left.
  2. Tap the gear/Settings icon.
  3. Scroll to find Clear cache (under general or account settings) and tap it.

Method 2, offload or reinstall:

  1. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Reddit.
  2. Tap Offload App to remove the binary while keeping data, or Delete App and reinstall from the App Store for a complete cache wipe.

Reinstalling is the most thorough way to dump a stubborn cache on iPhone, and you simply log back in afterward.

What Clearing the Cache Does and Doesn't Touch

It's worth being clear about what's safe.

  • Removed: cached images, videos, thumbnails, and temporary browsing data. These re-download automatically as needed.
  • Kept: your account, password, saved posts, subscribed subreddits, karma, and settings, all tied to your Reddit account on Reddit's servers.

So clearing the cache never costs you anything you'd miss, it just reclaims space. The only noticeable effect is that previously viewed content loads slightly slower the first time after clearing.

Stop the Reddit Cache From Filling Up Again

A few habits keep it in check:

  • Clear the cache every few weeks if you scroll Reddit heavily.
  • Disable autoplay video in Reddit's settings to reduce how much video gets cached.
  • Lower the video Autoplay setting to Wi-Fi only to limit downloads on cellular.

Reddit is rarely the only cache-heavy app on a phone, though. Social and streaming apps collectively hoard gigabytes. A review-first cleaner like Clenoir for iOS (or Cleanor for Android) scans on-device and surfaces large videos and duplicate photos, showing everything before you confirm a deletion.

Third-Party Reddit Apps Cache Too

If you use a third-party Reddit client instead of the official app, the same caching applies, but the controls differ.

  • Most third-party apps have an in-app Clear cache option buried in their settings, often under a Storage or Data section. Check there first.
  • On Android, you can always fall back to Settings > Apps > [the app] > Storage & cache > Clear cache regardless of the client.
  • On iPhone, offload or reinstall the app via iPhone Storage if it lacks a built-in cache button.

Some clients let you cap how much they cache or disable image preloading entirely, which keeps the footprint small from the start. If your app preloads media or autoplays video by default, turning those off is the most effective long-term fix.

Whatever client you use, the rule holds: clearing cache only removes re-downloadable media and never your account, saved posts, or subscriptions.

Keep Your Whole Phone Lean

Clearing one app cache helps, but a tidy phone needs a broader sweep across photos, videos, and other apps. For a structured routine, see the clean up phone storage hub and the storage cleanup FAQ. With Reddit's cache cleared and autoplay tamed, the app keeps working exactly as before, minus the gigabytes it was quietly holding.

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 Reddit cache log me out or delete my saved posts?

No. Clearing the cache only removes re-downloadable images, videos, thumbnails, and temporary browsing data. Your account, password, saved posts, subscribed subreddits, and karma are tied to your Reddit account on Reddit's servers and are untouched.

How do I clear the Reddit cache on an iPhone?

Either open Reddit, tap your profile icon, open the gear/Settings, and tap Clear cache, or go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Reddit and tap Offload App or Delete App and reinstall. Reinstalling is the most thorough way to dump a stubborn cache on iPhone.

On Android, should I use Clear cache or Clear storage for Reddit?

Use Clear cache, not Clear storage. Clearing storage resets the app entirely and may log you out, while clearing cache only removes the temporary media files. On Android you can clear it at Settings > Apps > Reddit > Storage & cache > Clear cache.