Is your phone lagging, low on storage or just not acting like itself? It may be time to clear out some data. Your phone stores way more information than you might think, especially when you take into consideration each app you have downloaded onto it. This blog will explain how to clear app data on iOS & Android phones to eliminate unnecessary bloat—but first, we’ll cover what app data is and why you should clear it from time to time. 

What is app data?

App data is essentially all the important information stored within an app on your phone. When you sign into a music app, customize the app’s settings and start creating playlists, all of that is now app data. This is different from the app cache, which also stores information. The cache consists of temporary files, intended to make loading certain features faster. When you open Spotify and you’re able to pick up right where you left off in the middle of a song? That’s the cache doing its thing. Your Spotify profile, playlists and preferred settings? That’s all app data.  

Why clear app data and settings?

The main benefits of clearing app data and settings on your phone are improved performance and increased storage. If your phone is experiencing lag or seems to be glitching, clearing app data can help. This is especially true if you noticed a sudden change in your phone’s performance after downloading or modifying a specific app. Increased storage space can also improve your phone’s performance, and will come in handy when you find yourself on a vacation wanting to snap as many photos as you can without having to worry about low memory.  

What’s the difference between clearing app data and clearing cache?

App data and the app’s cache are two separate types of information and clearing each of them will affect the app differently. Clearing the cache is a light reset that eliminates temporary files used to help certain parts of the app load a bit faster. This is a recommended basic maintenance step to keep your apps running smoothly. Clearing the app data can fully reset the app to its just-downloaded state, which is far more drastic and not something you should have to do each day. Think of clearing the cache like temporarily forgetting what your friend told you they did this weekend while clearing app data is like forgetting your friend entirely.

when should you clear app data with a purple clock

When should you clear app data?

Clearing app data isn’t something you should have to do on a regular basis, but it can help in certain scenarios. If a specific app keeps crashing, clearing the app data can refresh it and potentially eliminate any bugs. If your phone is moving slow in general, clearing app data on unused or bloated apps can help get it back up to speed. Or if you keep getting a warning that you’re low on phone storage, clearing app data can free up quite a bit of space. 

What happens when you clear app data?

Clearing an app’s data essentially resets it to its default state, like you just downloaded it from the app store. Once an app’s data has been cleared, you’ll need to log in again and update any settings or preferences you had modified in the app before. Certain social media apps also won’t have your drafts anymore.  

how to clear app data on iOS with a phone and a checkmark

How to clear app data on iOS

There are two ways to manage app data on iOS devices. If you have an app that you need to retain the data for but won’t be using again for a while (like a travel app or something seasonal), you can offload the app. This uninstalls the app from your device while leaving the app’s data intact, freeing up space on your iPhone but allowing you to reinstall it at any time without losing any data. The other option is to fully delete the app, clearing all app data in the process. 

Offload the app (Preserving user data)

  1. Tap the Settings icon on your home screen
  2. Scroll down and select General
  3. Scroll down and select iPhone Storage
  4. Scroll through your list of apps and select the app you want to offload
  5. Tap Offload App
  6. Confirm by tapping it again when the pop-up appears

This will remove the app from your iPhone but keep its data for when you’re ready to use it again.

Delete the app (Clearing all data)

  1. Tap the Settings icon on your home screen
  2. Scroll down and select General
  3. Scroll down and select iPhone Storage
  4. Scroll through your list of apps and select the app you want to offload
  5. Tap Delete App
  6. Confirm by tapping it again when the pop-up appears

This removes the app from your iPhone along with all data associated with the app.

how to clear app data on android with a phone icon and a checkmark

How to clear app data on Android

Android phones don’t have an “offload” option, but they do allow you to clear the app data & settings without fully uninstalling the app.

  1. Go into your Android phone’s Settings
  2. Scroll down and select Apps (this may be Applications or Apps & Notifications depending on your Android make & model)
  3. Scroll through your list of apps and select the app you want to manage
  4. Tap Storage or Storage & Cache
  5. Tap Clear Data or Manage Storage
  6. Confirm by tapping OK or Clear All Data when the pop-up appears

This will reset the app to its original state, deleting all settings, accounts and locally stored data. It’ll be like you just downloaded it for the first time. 

You’re now “cleared” to manage app data

Now that you know how easy it is to free up space by clearing app data, you can keep your phone operating at the top of its game. And if you’re looking for a new wireless plan to keep up with that freshly fired-up phone, check out Ultra Mobile. Our plans include unlimited talk & text on America’s largest 5G network with flexible data options and incredible international perks.

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