The X app (formerly Twitter) caches images, videos, and timelines that can swell to a gigabyte or more, and you can clear most of it from inside the app on iPhone without logging out. There's a built-in cache tool that wipes media safely while leaving your account and drafts intact.
Short answer:
- In X, tap your profile, go to Settings and privacy > Accessibility, display and languages > Data usage, then tap Media storage and Web storage to clear them.
- This removes cached images and pages only; your account, posts, and Drafts are untouched.
- If storage is still high, offload or delete and reinstall X from iPhone Storage.
Why the X App Gets So Big on iPhone
X autoplays video and loads image-heavy timelines, and it caches all of that media so scrolling feels instant. Over weeks of use, this cached content piles up under the app's Documents & Data.
To see it, open Settings > General > iPhone Storage and tap X. The App Size is small, but Documents & Data is often where the bloat lives, sometimes well over a gigabyte for heavy users.
The good news: nearly all of this is disposable media cache. Your posts, likes, bookmarks, and account settings live on X's servers, so clearing the local cache costs you nothing permanent.
Clear X's Cache From Inside the App (Safest)
X has a dedicated data screen that lets you wipe cached media without touching your login.
- Open X and tap your profile picture in the top-left.
- Tap Settings and privacy (or Settings and Support > Settings and privacy).
- Go to Accessibility, display and languages > Data usage.
- Tap Media storage and confirm Clear media storage.
- Tap Web storage and choose Clear web page storage (and optionally Clear all web storage).
That clears cached photos, videos, and web previews. The app rebuilds them as you browse, so it keeps working normally and you stay logged in.
Cache vs Data: Know What You're Clearing
It's worth being clear about the distinction before you go further.
- Clear Cache (Media/Web storage): removes temporary media and page files. Safe. You lose nothing but reload time.
- Delete app / Clear data: wipes the app's entire local store, which logs you out and can discard unsynced Drafts.
So the in-app Media storage and Web storage clears are always safe. Reserve a full reinstall for when those don't free enough space.
Reduce Data Usage So the Cache Grows Slower
You can stop X from caching so aggressively in the first place. In the same Data usage screen, tap Data saver and turn it on.
Data saver lowers image quality and disables video autoplay, which means less media gets downloaded and cached as you scroll. You can also tap High-quality images and High-quality video and set them to Wi-Fi only or Never. This noticeably slows how fast Documents & Data rebuilds after each clear.
Offload or Reinstall X for a Deep Clean
If the in-app clears leave the app still bloated, reset it from iOS. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > X.
- Tap Offload App to remove the app while keeping its data, then reinstall to reset cache.
- Tap Delete App for a full wipe, then reinstall from the App Store and log back in.
Before deleting, post or note anything sitting in Drafts, since a full delete can discard unsynced drafts. After reinstalling and signing in, your timeline, bookmarks, and settings return because they live on X's servers, not in the cache you cleared.
What a Cache Clear Won't Fix
Clearing the cache solves storage bloat, but it won't change a few things, so set expectations correctly.
- Bookmarks, lists, and DMs stay exactly as they were, they're account data, not cache.
- Login sessions survive an in-app cache clear; you only sign out on a full delete or Clear data.
- Re-downloaded media will gradually rebuild the cache, so this is maintenance, not a one-time fix.
If X feels sluggish rather than full, the cache clear can still help, since a bloated media store slows scrolling. But persistent crashes usually point to an app update being needed rather than a storage problem, so check the App Store for a newer version too.
Keep X and Your iPhone Lean
A simple habit keeps X from reclaiming gigabytes:
- Clear Media storage and Web storage every few weeks if you scroll a lot.
- Leave Data saver on to slow cache growth.
- Check Settings > General > iPhone Storage occasionally to confirm X hasn't ballooned.
X's own cache tools handle the app itself, but the rest of your iPhone usually needs attention too, especially large videos and duplicate photos. A review-first tool like Clenoir for iOS scans on-device and shows your biggest space hogs before you confirm any deletion. For the bigger routine, see the free up iPhone space hub and the storage cleanup FAQ. With the cache cleared and data saver on, X keeps working exactly as before, minus the quiet gigabytes.
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
How do I clear the X app cache on iPhone from inside the app?
Tap your profile picture, go to Settings and privacy > Accessibility, display and languages > Data usage, then tap Media storage and Web storage and confirm clearing each. This wipes cached images and pages while keeping you logged in.
Can clearing the X cache delete my drafts or bookmarks?
An in-app Media storage and Web storage clear is safe and leaves drafts, bookmarks, lists, and DMs untouched. Only a full delete or Clear data can discard unsynced drafts and log you out, so post any drafts before reinstalling.
How can I slow down how fast the X app cache rebuilds?
In the Data usage screen, turn on Data saver, which lowers image quality and disables video autoplay so less media is cached. You can also set High-quality images and High-quality video to Wi-Fi only or Never.