Clear Data vs Clear Cache
Also known as: clear storage Android, clear cache vs clear data, clear app data Android
On Android, Clear cache deletes only an app’s temporary files and is safe. Clear data (Clear storage) wipes the app back to a fresh-install state — settings, logins, and saved files all go, so you are signed out.
- Clear cache = safe temp files only
- Clear data resets the app like a fresh install and signs you out
- Both live in Settings > Apps > [app] > Storage & cache
What each button does
Both live under Settings > Apps > [app] > Storage & cache. Clear cache removes re-downloadable temporary files — thumbnails, streamed media, web content — and leaves your account and saved data untouched. The app simply rebuilds the cache as you use it.
Clear storage (older Android labels it Clear data) is the heavy one. It resets the app as if you just installed it: preferences, downloads, and login tokens are erased, so you will have to sign in and set things up again.
Which one to use
Start with Clear cache. It is the safe, reversible way to free space and fix a sluggish app. Only use Clear data when an app is badly broken — corrupted, stuck, or misbehaving after an update — and you accept being signed out.
Clear data does not touch other apps or your photos and files in shared storage; it only resets the one app you select.