The good old caching problem continues in Android 9 Pie. Long gone are the days when you were able to clear the complete cache data piled up in your memory with just a few taps. Now, clearing the cache requires more (and if you ask me, unnecessary) effort.
It all started in Android 8 Oreo, when Google re-modeled the cache-clearing mechanism in Android. Namely, Oreo removed the ability to bulk remove the complete cache data, as you had to go through each app’s settings and clear the cache individually.
Unfortunately, that trend continues with Android 9 Pie. You’re still limited to clearing the cache for each app individually, and that doesn’t seem to change anytime soon. In fact, Google hasn’t made any significant changes to the caching system compared to Android 8.
But, even if your options are limited, I’m going to show you two ways of clearing cached data in Android 9 Pie. Of course, each way has its own compromises, so you can choose which one suits you better.
Clear the cache individually
You can, of course, clear the cache the way it’s meant to be cleared in Android Pie. And that’s by going to each app’s individual settings page and clearing the cached data.
Here’s how to do that:
- Go to Settings > Apps & notifications
- Tap See all (x) apps
- Now, tap the app you want to clear the cache of
- Tap on Clear Cache
And that’s pretty much the pattern you have to repeat for each app. There are a few exceptions, like Google Chrome or Spotify, that allow you to clear the cache in-app.
Bonus: Use Files by Google
If you want to save some more storage space, try Files by Google app. This is Google’s own app for managing storage on Android devices. So, technically it’s not even a third-party app. It just doesn’t come pre-installed like some other services.
Although Files by Google can’t clear the cached data all at once, it will free you of the accumulated junk files, which is sometimes as good as clearing the cache itself. It just requires installing one additional app. But when you look at the effort this app saves you, it’s definitely worth it.
Here’s how to clear the cache in Android 9 Pie using the Files by Google app:
- Download Files by Google from the Play Store.
- Open the app.
- Head over to the Browse section, and tap Apps.
- Tap the three dots, and choose Select all.
- Tap the three dots again, and go to Delete junk files.
Files by Google is a great tool for managing the Storage on your phone in General, not just clearing the cache data. It allows you to delete other junk files, duplicate files, unused apps, and more. So, you should definitely take some time to explore this handy app.
That’s about it. As you can see, clearing the cached data in Android Pie requires more effort than it maybe needs to, but you don’t really have a choice. If you have any comments or questions, just write them down below.
Third way: SD Maid app from the Play Store will clear cache and other tpye of temporary and obsoleted fies.
The ability to batch clear the /cache partition.in Android 8.0.0, and newer versions, was not “removed” per se. Rather, due to major changes in the Android open source code, Android Oreo and newer versions no longer use an actual /cache partition. Hence, an option to batch clear the /cache is not even possible since app cache data is no longer stored within a single /cache partition. Moreover, this newer protocol is much more efficient than the pre-Oreo caching method and alleviates the need to have an entire partition dedicated to the storage of cache junk files. For the most part, in fact, Android users no longer need to clear app cache data, as the Android source code now implements automatic clearing of cache junk from individual apps.
Great article, thanks for the needed help.
What a misleading article, please take the time to write clear decent articles, I wasted my time reading your click bait just to determine that you provided me ONE way to clear the cache and another way to delete junk files (WHICH IS NOT CLEARING CACHE FILES!!!). You stated at the beginning of this article “But, even if your options are limited, I’m going to show you two ways of clearing cached data in Android 9 Pie.”, blatant lie, get your shit together!
Holy mother of genius, thank you thank you thank you. (Bowing. I’m not worthy) ❤️?✌️
O.M.G. YOU FLIPPING ROCK HARD! This helped me with fixing an app that would not load AT ALL. I would not have known about Files By Google. Now that will be my go to for choosing the files to see if that’s an issue. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Just use SD Maid
Helped me! Finally. Thanks! In Android 9, Settings >> Storage though the total didn’t go down but will use this killer feature in future and experiment. Awesome article! All the Google play store apps to do this are outdated by two or more years ugh.
After clearing junk files, I chose one of the apps and looked at it from the Android system preferences and it still had caches… Junk data isn’t the same thing as cached data.
Agree. This didn’t delete the cache. I suspect that Google have disabled the cache option for marketing purposes. A real step backward for the user.