On Android, Clear cache deletes an app's temporary data, while Clear storage permanently deletes all of that app's data. That is how Google's Android Help page defines them. Clearing cache is the low-risk option. Clearing storage is closer to wiping the app clean, so use it last.
The two buttons sit next to each other on an app's storage screen, so they are easy to mix up. Here is what Google says each one does, what it leaves alone, and the order to try things in when your phone is full.
What does Clear cache delete on Android?
Google's wording is short: "Clear cache: Deletes temporary data. Some apps may be slow the next time you open them," according to Google's free-up-storage page.
That second sentence explains a common search: why is the app slow after clearing cache? The temporary data was helping the app open faster. Once it's gone, the app has to rebuild it, so Google warns that the next launch may be slower.
Google doesn't say how much space clearing cache usually frees, and its help page doesn't list what each app keeps in its cache. The honest summary is the one Google gives: it's temporary data.
What does Clear storage delete?
Again from Google's help page: "Clear storage: Permanently deletes all app data. Try to delete the data within the app first."
The important word is permanently. Google also recommends a gentler path first: delete what you don't need from inside the app.
Google doesn't spell out what "all app data" covers. It's reasonable to expect an app to behave like a fresh install afterwards, with saved settings, sign-ins and in-app downloads gone. That's an inference from "all app data," not something Google states, and apps differ.
You may also see this called "clear data" in searches. Google's help page uses the label Clear storage and says "Settings can vary by phone," so the exact button name and location depend on your phone maker. Google points you to your device manufacturer for help.
An everyday example: a music app full of downloads
Say YouTube Music is taking up a lot of space because you downloaded albums for a flight.
- Clear cache removes its temporary data. Google says the app may be slow the next time you open it.
- Clear storage permanently deletes all of the app's data, which goes much further than you need.
- The better fix is the one Google suggests: delete downloads inside the app. For YouTube Music, Google's page says to use Remove download, or go to Profile photo > Settings > Downloads & storage > Clear downloads. For Google TV, it's Library > Downloaded > Remove.
That's the pattern for most apps: target the specific thing that's large instead of reaching for the button that erases everything.
Does clearing cache delete photos?
Google describes cache as temporary data, and nothing on its help page says clearing an app's cache removes your photos. Photos are handled separately.
If you back up with Google Photos, Google says you can delete the copies on your phone, and the backed-up copies stay viewable in the app when the device is online. Smart Storage (below) can do this for you.
If your concern is Google account storage rather than space on the phone itself, that's a different problem.
What's the safest order to free up space?
Work from least destructive to most destructive.
1. Use Free up space and Smart Storage
Go to Settings > Storage > Free up space. Scroll to a category, tap Select files (or Browse if the category isn't listed), pick files, and tap Move files to Trash, per Google's instructions. Files go to Trash first, so this isn't an instant, irreversible delete.
To let the phone handle backed-up photos automatically, turn on Smart Storage: Settings > Storage > Free up space > Menu > Settings > Smart Storage. Google says it automatically clears backed-up photos and videos when storage is almost full.
Google notes that some of these steps only work on Android 14 and up.
2. Delete downloads inside the app
Movies, music and other offline files are usually the big items. Remove them from the app that downloaded them, as in the YouTube Music example above.
3. Clear cache
Low risk, per Google's definition. Expect the app to feel slower the next time you open it.
4. Archive apps you rarely use (Android 15 and up)
Archiving is the newer middle option, and it's the closest Android equivalent to offloading an app on iPhone. According to Google's archive help page, archiving removes the app's software, permissions and temporary files and stops its notifications. It keeps the app icon and the app's data.
To archive: Settings > Apps > [the app] > Archive. The icon stays on your home screen, dimmed, with an archiving icon on top.
To bring it back, tap the faded icon, then tap the app to reinstall. You can also unarchive from the App info page in Settings or the app's page in the Play Store. Google lists some conditions:
- Some steps work only on Android 15 and up, and some need supporting hardware.
- Restoring needs the app store installed, and the app must still be available there to download. If an app is pulled from the store, an archived copy may not come back.
- If there isn't enough space to reinstall, you'll be asked to manage your storage.
If you opt in through the Play Store, Android can archive unused apps automatically. To exempt one app, go to Settings > Apps > [the app] and turn off Manage app if unused. You can still archive it manually.
5. Uninstall
If you don't need the app, remove it. Google says a paid app can be downloaded again without buying it again.
6. Clear storage, last
Use it when an app is broken or you want to start fresh, not as a routine way to free space. Google's own advice is to delete data within the app first.
Archive vs uninstall vs Clear storage: which keeps your data?
| Action | Removes | Keeps (per Google) |
|---|---|---|
| Clear cache | Temporary data | Not stated beyond "temporary data" being deleted |
| Archive | App software, permissions, temporary files; stops notifications | App icon and app data |
| Clear storage | All app data, permanently | The app itself remains installed |
Archive is the one to reach for when you want space back but plan to use the app again.
Why closing apps doesn't free storage
Google separates two things that people often lump together. "Storage is where you keep data, like music and photos." "Memory is where you run programs, like apps and the Android system," per Google's help page.
Closing apps deals with memory, not storage. Google also says "You don't usually need to close apps." Close or force stop an app only if it isn't responding. Swiping apps away won't fix a "storage full" warning.
Check what clearing cache did on your phone
Google gives no typical figure, so check your own phone:
- Open Settings > Storage and select a category to see what's using space.
- Open the app's storage screen and note the numbers shown.
- Tap Clear cache.
- Check the numbers again.
If barely anything changed, the space is in downloads or files, not cache. Go back to step 1 or 2 of the safe order.
If you're thinking of resetting the whole phone instead, read where to check whether a factory reset erases your phone first. And if the phone's total capacity looks smaller than the box promised, that's a separate question, covered in why drives show less storage than advertised.
What to do differently next time your phone is full
Stop treating Clear storage as a cleanup button. Start with Settings > Storage > Free up space, turn on Smart Storage if your photos are backed up, and delete downloads inside the apps that made them. Clear cache when an app's temporary data is the problem, archive apps you rarely use if you're on Android 15 or later, and save Clear storage for apps you're willing to reset completely.
