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And what can it do to your Android phone?
App Cache on Android
When you download an app from the Google Play Store, it is downloaded to your Android phone. The app is stored in the /data/data
folder where you have access to it on your home screen. The app is stored in the cache, which is located
Clearing app cache is a controversial topic when it comes to maintaining your Android phone. Many people clear app cache instinctively to free up additional storage on their phone or to keep their phone and apps from getting sluggish. But should you clear the app cache on Android? If so, how? Does it even do anything, or is it just a placebo?
What is App Cache?
Android has an app cache, which is a memory cache where the system stores apps that you’ve downloaded or installed recently. The /data/data/
folder contains a subdirectory for each app installed on your device, along with a file named /cache
. The cache directory contains cached data such as web pages,
Many users believe that Android should handle app cache and that interfering with default caching behavior is asking for trouble. But the truth is far murkier. Some apps don’t use cache space responsibly, some break when they use too much cached data, and others won’t start after an update without being manually cached. Blanket statements aren’t helpful here. It’s useful to understand what app cache is, why it matters, and why you might want to clear it on your Android smartphone.