What cache is and why you might clear it

Cache is temporary data that apps and Safari store on your iPhone to load faster next time. When you visit a website, Safari saves images and text. When you use an app, it stores login information, settings, and parts of content you've already seen. This speeds things up — but over time, cache can take up storage space or cause an app to behave oddly.

You might clear cache if an app is freezing, if Safari is slow to load pages, or if you want to free up storage space. Clearing cache does not delete your passwords, photos, or documents — it only removes the temporary files apps use to run faster.

Key Takeaways

  • Safari cache clears through Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data, and you can choose to clear only cache or cache plus browsing history.
  • Individual apps store their own cache in Settings > General > iPhone Storage, where you can offload or reinstall an app to clear its cache without losing your data.
  • Clearing cache frees storage space and can fix apps that freeze or load slowly, but does not delete passwords or saved information.
  • Some apps like Maps and Photos have their own cache-clearing options buried in their settings, separate from the general iPhone cache tools.

Clear Safari cache and browsing data

Open Settings and tap Safari. Scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data. A menu appears with three options: the time range (Last hour, Today, Today and Yesterday, or All time) and what to clear. By default, both history and website data are selected — website data is the cache Safari stores.

If you want to clear only cache and not your browsing history, tap the time range dropdown first, choose your range, then uncheck History so only Website Data stays selected. Tap Clear History and Data to confirm. Safari will clear the cache for that time period.

If you clear "All time" website data, Safari will forget passwords for websites you've saved — you'll have to type them in again next time. Clearing only the last hour or today usually removes enough cache to fix slow loading without losing saved passwords.

Clear cache for individual apps

Most apps store cache in the same place on your iPhone. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Scroll through the list of apps and tap the one you want to clear cache for. You'll see two options: Offload App and Delete App.

Tap Offload App. This removes the app and its cache from your phone but keeps your data — logins, saved games, documents, and settings stay on your iPhone. The app icon remains on your home screen, grayed out. Tap it again to reinstall the app, and your data will be there. This is the safest way to clear an app's cache without losing anything.

If you tap Delete App instead, both the app and all its data are removed. Only do this if you're sure you don't need the app's saved information, or if you plan to reinstall it and don't mind starting fresh.

Clear cache for Maps and Photos

Maps stores cache of downloaded maps and search history. Open Maps, tap your profile icon in the top right, then tap Settings. Scroll down and tap Clear Map Cache. This removes offline maps you've downloaded and clears the list of places you've searched, but keeps your saved locations and favorites.

Photos stores cache of edited versions and thumbnails. Open Photos, tap your profile icon (or go to Settings > Photos), and look for storage or cache options — the exact menu varies by iOS version. In most cases, Photos cache clears automatically when you restart your iPhone, so you rarely need to clear it manually.

Restart your iPhone to clear temporary cache

A full restart clears temporary cache that apps are actively using in memory. This is different from the permanent cache stored on disk — restarting won't free storage space, but it can fix apps that are frozen or running slowly.

To restart, go to Settings > General > Shut Down, then slide to power off. Wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. This forces all apps to close and clears their active memory. Many freezing or lag problems disappear after a restart.

When to clear cache versus when to leave it alone

Clear cache if an app is crashing, if Safari is loading pages slowly, or if you're running low on storage. Check how much space cache is using first: go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and look at the app size. If an app shows 500 MB or more, clearing its cache might free significant space.

You don't need to clear cache on a schedule. Cache only becomes a problem if it's causing an app to malfunction or if storage is genuinely full. Clearing cache too often can actually slow your iPhone down slightly, because apps have to rebuild their cache from scratch the next time you use them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my passwords?

Clearing Safari cache will make you re-enter passwords for websites, because Safari stores saved passwords separately from cache. Clearing app cache through offloading keeps app passwords intact. If you want to clear cache without losing website passwords, clear only the last hour or today instead of all time.

How much storage space does cache usually take up?

Cache size varies widely. Safari cache is usually 50 MB to 500 MB depending on how many websites you visit. Individual apps can store anywhere from 10 MB to several gigabytes. Check Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see which apps are using the most space.

Can I clear cache without losing my photos or documents?

Yes. Cache is separate from your actual files. Clearing Safari cache, offloading apps, or restarting your iPhone will not touch photos, documents, notes, or any files you created. Only the temporary data apps use to run faster gets removed.

Why is my iPhone still slow after clearing cache?

Cache is usually not the cause of slowness unless storage is nearly full. If clearing cache didn't help, restart your iPhone, check for iOS updates in Settings > General > Software Update, or look at Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see if another app is using most of your space.

Do I need to clear cache before selling my iPhone?

No. When you erase your iPhone before selling it, Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings removes everything, including all cache. You don't need to clear cache separately first.