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-modelled 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 may need to, but you don’t really have a choice. If you have any comments or questions, just write them down below.
