TL;DR: How to clear cache on iPhone: iOS has no single “clear all cache” button, so you clear it app by app. For Safari, go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data (or Advanced > Website Data > Remove All Website Data to keep your history). For Chrome, open the app and use More > Delete Browsing Data. For other apps, look for a built-in “clear cache” option, or use Settings > General > iPhone Storage to offload or reinstall an app. Apple says iPhone also removes cached files on its own when it needs space.
Pages loading old versions, a website that refuses to sign you in, or storage that keeps creeping up: these are the moments people search for how to clear cache on iPhone. The good news is that it takes less than a minute for most apps. The catch is that Apple handles cache differently from Android, so there is no single switch. This guide walks through every method that actually works, what each one deletes, and when you should not bother.
What is cache on an iPhone?
Cache is temporary data that apps and websites store so they load faster next time, such as images, scripts and bits of pages you have already viewed. According to Apple’s storage support page, your device creates cached files when you stream or view content so it loads faster later, and it removes them by itself when it needs more space.
Clearing cache is useful when:
- A website shows outdated content or a broken layout.
- Logins or checkouts fail on one site but work in another browser.
- An app has become sluggish or glitchy after an update.
- One app is using far more storage than it should.
Method 1: Clear Safari cache, history and cookies
This is the most common fix. Apple’s Safari support article lists these steps for current versions of iOS:
- Open Settings, tap Apps, then select Safari.
- Scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data.
- Choose the timeframe you want to clear, then tap Clear History.
Apple notes this does not change your AutoFill information. If the button is gray, there may be no data to clear, or Screen Time content restrictions may be blocking it.
Clear Safari cache but keep your history
If you want to keep your browsing history, there is a more targeted option:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced > Website Data.
- Tap Remove All Website Data, then Remove Now.
You can also swipe left on a single website in that list to delete only its data, which is handy when just one site is misbehaving. Expect to be signed out of websites afterward, because cookies that store logins are removed too.
Method 2: Clear Chrome cache on iPhone
If you browse with Google Chrome, Safari’s settings will not touch it. Google’s Chrome Help page for iPhone gives these steps:
- Open Chrome.
- Tap More (the three dots), then Delete Browsing Data.
- Next to Time Range, pick a duration. Google says the default is 15 minutes, so change it to a longer range if you want a full clear.
- Tap Browsing Data and select Cached Images and Files (and cookies if needed), then tap Confirm.
- Tap Delete Browsing Data.
Other browsers, such as Firefox or Edge, have similar options inside their own settings menus.
Method 3: Clear cache inside individual apps
Many third-party apps keep their own cache, and some include a button to clear it. Streaming, social and messaging apps are the usual candidates. Look in the app’s settings for options labeled Storage, Data, Clear cache or Free up space. Spotify and TikTok, for example, both include a cache-clearing option in their in-app settings. If an app does not offer one, use the next method.
Method 4: Offload or reinstall an app
Apple’s storage tools let you see exactly how much space each app uses:
- Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Tap an app to see its size and its Documents & Data.
- Choose Offload App to remove the app but keep its documents and data, or Delete App to remove everything.
The difference matters:
| Option | What it removes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Offload App | The app itself; keeps documents and data | Freeing space without losing your settings |
| Delete App, then reinstall | The app plus its data and cache | Fully resetting a bloated or buggy app |
| Safari: Clear History and Website Data | History, cookies, cache | Fixing broken websites and privacy cleanup |
| Safari: Remove All Website Data | Cookies and cache, keeps history | Fixing sites while keeping history |
| Chrome: Delete Browsing Data | Whatever you select, including cached files | Chrome users |
Because offloading keeps an app’s documents and data, it frees less space from a cache-heavy app than deleting and reinstalling it. Before deleting an app, make sure anything important is backed up or synced to your account.
Apple’s iPhone User Guide also describes Offload Unused Apps (Settings > Apps > App Store), which removes apps you rarely use when storage runs low while keeping their data.
Method 5: Restart your iPhone
A restart does not wipe app caches, but it clears what is held in memory and can resolve the same kinds of glitches people try to fix with a cache clear. It is quick and harmless, so it is worth trying first if an app is acting up.
What about “System Data” or “Other” storage?
In iPhone Storage you may see a large gray System Data (or Other) section. Apple says this includes things like non-removable logs and caches, Siri voices, fonts and the Spotlight index, and that the system cannot delete some cached files on demand. In practice, iOS clears much of this automatically when storage gets tight, so there is no safe button to wipe it manually. Be wary of third-party “cleaner” apps that promise to do it for you.
Is it safe to clear cache on iPhone?
Yes. Clearing cache does not delete your photos, messages or contacts. The trade-offs are small:
- Websites may load a little slower the first time you revisit them.
- You will likely be signed out of websites when cookies are cleared.
- Deleting an app (rather than offloading it) can remove locally stored data that is not synced.
You do not need to clear cache on a schedule. iOS manages it well on its own, so treat it as a troubleshooting step rather than routine maintenance.
More iPhone fixes
If your phone has other quirks, these guides can help: why is my phone so hot, why your phone is not charging and how to scan a QR code on iPhone.
Bottom line
Knowing how to clear cache on iPhone comes down to knowing where each app keeps its data. Clear Safari from Settings, Chrome from inside the app, and other apps through their own settings or the iPhone Storage screen. For most people, clearing one misbehaving browser or app is all it takes.
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