Dalvik/ART cache
Also known as: Dalvik cache, ART cache, dalvik-cache Android
The Dalvik/ART cache holds the optimized, precompiled machine code Android generates from your installed apps so they launch faster. It is managed by the system, rebuilt automatically, and not something you clear by hand to free space.
- Precompiled app code that speeds up launches
- Managed and rebuilt automatically by the system
- Not a normal cleanup target — no user clear button
What it is
When you install an app, the Android Runtime (ART, the successor to the old Dalvik virtual machine) compiles parts of it into optimized native code and stores the result. This cache lets apps start quickly without recompiling each time.
It lives in protected system storage, not in your photos or downloads, and its size scales with how many apps you have installed. You will sometimes see "Optimizing apps" after a system update — that is ART rebuilding this cache.
Should you clear it
There is no user button to wipe the ART cache on normal Android, and you do not need one. The system maintains it automatically and rebuilds it when needed, so it is not a target for routine cleanup.
Wiping it (an option only in recovery mode on rooted or older devices) just forces every app to be re-optimized on next boot, briefly making the phone slower with no lasting space gain. Focus cleanup on app cache, media, and junk files instead.