IPhone storage is not endless, alas. It may happen that applications will not be installed, the camera will not take photos and songs will not be downloaded. So it will also happen at the most inopportune moment, when it will be necessary to urgently save something. Even though Apple has abandoned 64 GB of memory in the new iPhones, even 128 GB is still not enough. After all, the lack of space threatens not only with the inability to save something, but also with the slowdown of the device, because there is no place in it to perform everyday tasks. One way to regain space and performance is to delete the cache. This is what we will do now, and at the same time we will understand who needs it at all.
Do I need to clear the cache on iPhone?
In a nutshell, cache is data stored locally by the operating system and applications. This includes web pages, saved games, app downloads, and more. IOS also stores temporary information when writing files or when it needs to save instructions. All of this data takes up space, which in turn can limit your downloads and phone performance.
However, keep in mind that deleting the application cache (and the entire system) deletes all data indiscriminately. That is, the necessary ones too. In many cases, your applications need this data to function properly, or at least to remember your preferences and settings.
That is, before clearing the cache of any iPhone application, think about whether you really need its data. If these are the files you want, save them. And if these are settings – remember. Be prepared for the fact that, most likely, the application will work as if it was just installed.
Also, keep in mind that clearing your cache does not replace a factory reset. If you want to restore your iPhone to factory settings, then this is a separate process that is done through the settings.
How to clear the Safari cache on iPhone
The easiest way to free up storage space and improve iPhone performance is to clear the Safari cache. Here’s how it’s done:
- Open iPhone settings
- Scroll down and tap ” Safari “. You can find it among other Apple apps.
- Click ” Clear history and data “.
- Confirm Action
- Once in the Safari preferences, scroll down and click on Advanced.
- Click ” Site Data “
Look at the top of the list and you can see how much website data Safari stores on your device. In my case, this is 553 MB, but sometimes this volume reaches several gigabytes. In any case, even this is enough to quickly free up the storage, take pictures on the trip, and then slowly disassemble the storage.
To clear the specified amount of memory, click on ” Clear All Data “. Or click ” Edit ” in the upper right corner and delete sites one by one.
Remember, this will get rid of website data, browsing history and cookies. If you don’t want to delete these files, try clearing application memory as described below.
How to clear the app cache on iPhone
Along with Safari, you can clear cached data for other built-in and third-party apps. One way is to open the app and delete its contents from the inside. For example, if you’ve uploaded files to OneDrive or Dropbox for offline use, you can delete local files from your iPhone without deleting them from the cloud. Other apps have built-in tools as shown below.
Open “ Settings ”, go to the “ General ” section, and find “ iPhone Storage ” there. Inside this item, you will see applications and the data that is stored in them. For example, in my case, the applications Podcasts, Photos and FiLMiC Pro take up the most space. Not everyone will allow you to delete the data, but some can. Just open up and choose what you don’t need.
Do I need to restart my iPhone?
All operating systems create temporary files, which are usually meant to transfer data to persistent memory. They are also created when memory cannot be allocated for a task and the OS is accessing local storage to use it as a notepad.
To delete these files, turn off your iPhone and turn it on immediately. On iPhone X and later, press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time, then swipe right when the Power Off slider appears on the screen. When the phone turns off, press and hold the Power button to turn it on.
On iPhone SE or iPhone 8 (and older), you do not need to press the mute button to mute.
Restarting will free up some of the system memory, so the processor and OS will have enough room to manage tasks. During this process, all temporary files and other temporary information will be deleted.
Cache cleaning applications
Another method of clearing your cache is by using a third-party app designed to optimize your iPhone. I do not recommend using such methods, but I cannot but say that they exist.
In general, it is recommended that you use Apple Compatible Apps when using Apple products. Be careful when you decide to use a third-party cleaning app as you risk the security of your phone. Especially if such applications will request too many rights.
