Learn How to Clear Instagram Cache in 2024: Step-by-Step Guide

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Mamta August 14, 2024

Instagram outages aren’t unheard of, but they’re not always why your app is slow or lagging! If you’re constantly experiencing such symptoms, you need to know how to clear Instagram cache on your Android or iPhone device.

Cache is a form of stored data that takes up space on your phone to help apps load faster by quickly retrieving previously accessed info. But if this data becomes too large, it can slow down your device, which might seem contradictory. 

To avoid such situations, you must clear IG cache regularly. If you’ve never done so before, go through this blog post to learn the step-by-step procedure for clearing cache on Instagram.  

What is Instagram Cache?  

Before moving ahead and learning how to clear Instagram cache, let’s first understand what it actually is.  

Basically, Instagram cache is like a storage room on your phone where the app keeps stuff it might need again – such as pictures, videos, search history, and other relevant bits. This way, Instagram doesn’t have to fetch everything from the internet each time you open it. 

Over time, this storage room can get too full, taking up space on your phone. When the cache is overloaded, Instagram might slow down, freeze, or even crash because there isn’t enough room to work properly. To keep the app running smoothly and quickly, it’s important to know how to clear cache on Instagram and delete this temporary data.  

Step-by-Step Guide to Clear Instagram Cache  

Now that you know the importance of the Instagram clearing cache process, let’s understand how you can do it.  

The method to clear Instagram cache varies a bit between Android and iOS devices. Let’s jump into the steps for both types of devices! 

How to Clear Instagram Cache on Android Devices?  

To clear Instagram cache on your Android phone, just follow these easy steps: 

  1. Open Settings on your Android device.  
  1. Click on “Apps” or “Apps and notifications.” 
  1. Select “Instagram” from the list of installed apps. 
  1. Open “Storage” and click on the “Clear Cache” button.  
How to clear Instagram cache on Android

How to clear Instagram cache on Android – part 2

By doing this, you’re helping make sure that Instagram runs smoother. It’s a good idea to clear out this digital clutter now and then so everything keeps working great. 

How to Clear Instagram Cache on iPhone?  

If you’re wondering how to clear IG cache on your iPhone or iPad, the process is pretty easy. Here’s what you need to do: 

  1. Open Settings on your iOS device. 
  1. Follow this path: ‘General’ > ‘iPhone Storage’ > ‘Instagram’ 
  1. Now, click on the “Delete App.”  
Screenshots showing the procedure of clearing Instagram cache on iPhone device

Screenshots showing the procedure of clearing Instagram cache on iPhone device part 2

After deleting, just head back to the App Store to get Instagram again. This action can help clear IG cache from your iOS device to make it run smoother.  

Why Clear IG Cache from Your Device?  

Over time, Instagram’s cache grows and starts to take up storage space that could be used for other apps or files. Also, a full cache can slow down how fast the app works, making things load slowly. 

On top of that, clearing IG cache keeps your private info safe and makes using Instagram neater since it removes any temporary files or data with personal details in them. 

In short, cleaning out the Instagram cache is key for keeping things running well on both the app and your device. It ensures faster performance without glitches while also giving back some storage space for more important uses. 

To summarize, clear cache Instagram is an important step because: 

  • With slow loading times, Instagram clearing cache can make photos, videos, and profiles load faster in the app. 
  • When it comes to limited storage space on your device, removing this cached data frees up room for more apps and files. 
  • For glitches and crashes that happen now and then with Instagram, cleaning out its cache might stop these issues. 
Free Instagram tool

Signs That You Need to Clear Instagram Cache  

  1. Is your Instagram feed taking forever to load?  
  1. Are you running out of storage on your Android or iOS device?  
  1. Is your Instagram app glitching or crashing when you’re posting something new? 

If the answer to any of the above (or all!) questions is yes, you need to be on the page with how to clear cache on IG.  

Clearing IG cache will also help if you’re having a tough time logging in to your account or certain features aren’t working right.  

How Often Should You Clear IG Cache?  

Clearing IG cache is a smart move to keep your device running smoothly while having enough storage space. How often you should do this really depends on how much you use the app and what kind of phone or tablet you’re using. 

For most people, clearing cache on Instagram every couple of months works well. However, if you’re someone who uses Instagram a lot or has lots of followers, it might be necessary to clear cache on IG more frequently. 

With different types of phones and tablets, it’s also a good idea to check your device maker’s advice, as different brands manage stored data differently. 

What Happens When You Clear Instagram Cache?  

After you clear the Instagram cache, it makes the application work better and improves the overall user experience.  

Here are a few changes you’re likely to notice after clearing IG cache:  

  1. The app speeds up: Once the old data is out of the picture, your application is likely to run faster. 
  1. It works better: When you clear out the old stuff, there’s room for new information to be saved. This fresh cache keeps everything running smoothly so you can enjoy new updates without a hitch. 
  1. Fewer problems: Clearing cached data gets rid of any issues that are slowing things down, making your experience on the app much nicer. 

By doing this cache cleanup regularly, your time on Instagram becomes smoother as the app performs better. You’ll also be able to keep up with all its latest features without trouble. 

👉 Related: Read our guide on how to see deleted Instagram messages here.  

Conclusion  

As a social media marketing professional, not knowing how to clear Instagram cache can directly hinder your day-to-day tasks. That’s because once the data piles up and takes extra storage, your device starts lagging and can result in slower loading times.   

As such, you can’t properly conduct market research, create high-quality content, or analyze overall account performance. Hopefully, this guide on how to clear your Instagram cache helps you get rid of unwanted data and experience a better a better, smoother Instagram experience.  

That was all about clearing Instagram cache, but if you want to monitor Instagram page performance and stay on top of latest industry trends, Vaizle is going to your one-stop solution. Additionally, you can also track the performance of other social media and ad accounts, benchmark performance against competitors, and create white-labeled reports. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing Instagram cache delete my photos or videos?

Clearing the Instagram cache won’t get rid of your photos or messages. This is because the cache just holds temporary data to make things run smoother. With your photos and messages kept in a different part of the app, they’re safe when you clear out this temporary stuff.

What is the difference between clearing cache and clearing data on Instagram? 

When you clear the cache in Instagram, it gets rid of temporary data saved on your device. On the other hand, clearing all data from Instagram wipes out everything related to the app – like your username, password, and how things are set up.  

Getting rid of just the cache is often enough if you’re trying to fix any slow-downs or glitches with how Instagram works. But wiping all data should only be considered when there’s a big problem that needs fixing.  

Can Instagram clearing cache improve app speed?

Clearing the Instagram cache speeds up your app. Getting rid of old temporary data makes room for new cache data to be created. With this fresh cache, your Instagram app can work more smoothly and quickly, making your overall experience on Instagram much better.

How to clear IG cache? 

To clear IG cache, you need to go to your device’s settings. Then, find the applications tab and look for Instagram. If you’re using an Android device, you will see a ‘Clear Cache’ option at the bottom. If you’re using an iOS device, simply click on the ‘Offload App’ option and reinstall once done.

How to clear Instagram cache without deleting the app?

To clear Instagram cache without deleting the app, you can go to your Android phone’s “Settings,” select “Apps” or “Application Manager,” find “Instagram,” tap “Storage,” and then choose “Clear Cache.”  

Unfortunately, iPhones do not offer a direct way to clear app cache without deleting the app entirely. 

How to clear search history on Instagram?

If you want to clear search history on Instagram, simply head over to your profile and click on the menu icon. From there, go into “Settings,” find “Security,” and then hit “Clear Search History.” By doing this, all those past searches will be deleted, making your search bar look fresh again. This way, you can enjoy a clean slate while using the app. 

About the Author

Mamta

Mamta

Mamta is an SEO Analyst with 2 years of experience. Currently, she is spending her time on content roadmapping to drive organic growth and engagement for SaaS businesses. Mamta is also an avid cinephile who spends her spare time watching latest action and sci-fi flicks from around the world.

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