1. Open the **Settings** app 2. Scroll down and select **Apps** 3. Scroll down and select **Safari** 4. Tap **Apps** 5. Tap **Clear History and Website Data** 6. Confirm by tapping **Clear History and Data**

1. Open the **Chrome** app 2. Tap the **three-dot menu** in the bottom-right corner and select **History** 3. Tap **Clear Browsing Data** 4. Choose a time range and select **Cached Images and Files** 5. Tap **Clear Browsing Data** and **confirm**

How to clear cache on iPhone

Boost speed, free up space, and stay untraceable

Benjamin Nemeroff

Casey Ford. PhDTechnical reviewer

March 25, 20256 mins read

What is a cache?

Devices and apps, including your iPhone, store data about what you do online in what’s called a “cache.” The word comes from the French term meaning a “hiding place for storing goods” like dried food. In a lot of cases, this is highly useful for people: every time you load the same website, for example, things like user name or preferences will be remembered. This can speed up the loading time of sites and make for an easier experience online.

Over time, however, your caches build up, slowing down performance and consuming valuable storage space. Clearing the cache of outdated data can help boost speed and improve responsiveness on your iPhone. But like regularly clearing your browsing history, it can also enhance privacy.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to clear cache on iPhone in Safari, Chrome, apps, and system storage. Be sure to read on for both the downsides and privacy benefits of doing so.

Clearing browser cache on iPhone

Web browsers store cached data to load pages faster, but this can lead to slow performance and outdated content. Here’s how to clear your Safari or Chrome cache.

On Safari

Open the Settings app
Scroll down and select Apps
Scroll down and select Safari
Tap Apps
Tap Clear History and Website Data
Confirm by tapping Clear History and Data

On Google Chrome

Open the Chrome app
Tap the three-dot menu in the bottom-right corner and select History
Tap Clear Browsing Data
Choose a time range and select Cached Images and Files
Tap Clear Browsing Data and confirm

Offloading unused apps

Offloading removes the app but keeps its documents and data.

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage
Find and tap the app you want to offload
Tap Offload App to free up storage

Deleting and reinstalling apps

Some apps accumulate cache without an option to clear it manually. In these cases, deleting and reinstalling the app might be the best solution.

Press and hold the app icon on the home screen
Tap the "X" or "-" icon to delete it
Go to the App Store, search for the app, and reinstall it

Reviewing large attachments in messages

Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage
Scroll down and select Messages
Review and delete large attachments to free up space

Clearing cache in specific apps (if available)

Some apps provide a built-in option to clear cache:

Open the app’s settings
Look for options like "Clear Cache" or "Reset Storage"

Clearing iPhone cache: FAQs

Is there a way to clear app cache without deleting the app on iOS?

No system-wide cache-clearing tool exists.

Instead, users can offload an app via Settings > General > iPhone Storage > [App] > Offload App. This frees cache but retains user data—though not all cache types are cleared this way.

Does clearing Safari cache affect other apps’ data on the iPhone?

No—clearing Safari’s cache using Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data only affects browsing data in Safari. Other apps maintain independent cache and storage unless cleared manually.

Why can't iPhones clear cache with a one-click universal button?

iOS manages many temporary files automatically. Apple avoids exposing a universal cache-clearing feature for stability reasons. Users must clear data app-by-app or via Safari settings.

How often should I clear cache to improve performance or free storage on an iPhone?

Routine maintenance monthly or quarterly can free space and improve responsiveness. Focus on Safari and data-heavy apps where cache grows fastest.

Can third-party tools truly clear iPhone cache more effectively than built-in methods?

Not reliably—App Store restrictions prevent deep filesystem access. While offloading apps may reclaim some space, secure practice is via manual cleanup or a full factory reset if needed.

About the authors

Benjamin Nemeroff

Ben is a core member of Nym’s marketing team. He writes about privacy, security, and VPNs, helping users protect themselves from tracking and surveillance.

Casey Ford. PhD

Technical reviewer

Casey is the Communications Lead, lead writer at Nym, and editorial reviewer at Nym. He holds a PhD in Philosophy and researches the intersection of decentralized technologies and social life.