How to Clear Facebook Cache: A Complete Guide for iPhone, Android, and Web Users

Learn the step-by-step methods to effectively clear Facebook cache on your iPhone, Android phone, or web browser. Free up storage, fix app glitches, and improve performance so you can browse your favorite social media platform more easily:

Why You Should Clear Your Facebook Cache Regularly?

The Facebook app is one of the most resource-intensive applications on any mobile device. As you scroll, watch videos, and view photos, the app automatically stores temporary files-known as the cache-on your device.

The cache is designed to improve your experience by making content load instantly the second time you view it. However, over time, this data accumulation can lead to several problems:

1. Storage Drain: The cache can balloon to several gigabytes, consuming valuable space on your phone.
2. Performance Lag: An oversized or corrupted cache can slow down the app, causing freezing, crashing, or sluggish scrolling.
3. Outdated Content & Glitches: Sometimes, Facebook will display old or corrupted cached data instead of fetching the latest information, resulting in posts not displaying correctly or profile changes failing to update.

Clearing the cache resolves all these issues without affecting your actual account data.

What Happens When You Clear the Cache? (Your Data is Safe)

It is 100% safe to clear your Facebook cache. When you do this, you will not lose:

• Your login information (unless you also clear cookies or app data).
• Your photos, videos, or uploaded posts.
• Your messages or friend lists.
• Your saved items or account settings.

The only immediate effect is that content (like photos and videos) may take a fraction of a second longer to load initially, as the app must re-download the necessary temporary files.

Now let's read the most accurate and to-the-point Facebook cache clearing guide:

Method 1: Clearing the In-App Browsing Data (Universal)

This method specifically targets the temporary files (cookies and cache) generated by Facebook's internal web browser (the browser that opens when you tap a link inside the Facebook app). This is the first, simplest step you should take, regardless of your device.

This process is nearly identical for both Android and iOS devices:

1. Open the Facebook App on your mobile device.
2. Navigate to the Menu: Tap the Menu icon (it looks like three lines, a hamburger icon, or your profile picture) in the bottom-right (iOS) or top-right (Android).
3. Go to Settings: Scroll down and select Settings & privacy, then tap Settings.
4. Find Browser Settings: Scroll down to the Permissions or Preferences section and tap Browser.
5. Clear Browsing Data: Next to the heading "Browsing data," tap the Clear button.

This will instantly wipe the internal browser's cache and cookies, often resolving immediate issues related to links and advertisements, or if the videos are not loading properly.

Method 2: Full Cache Reset to Free Up Storage (OS-Specific)

For a complete reset that frees up significant storage space consumed by stored images and videos/reels, the method varies depending on your phone's operating system.

1. Clearing Facebook Cache on Android

Android devices allow you to clear the app's cache directly through the phone's system settings without logging you out. This is the most effective way to reclaim space on Android.

1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Navigate to Apps (or Applications or Apps & Notifications).
3. Scroll through the list or use the search function to find and tap Facebook.
4. Select Storage and cache (or just Storage).
5. Tap Clear cache.

IMPORTANT: Do not tap "Clear Storage" or "Clear Data" unless you intend to completely reset the app, which will erase your login credentials and potentially other settings, requiring you to log back in. "Clear Cache" is the correct option.

2. Clearing Facebook Cache on iPhone (iOS)

Unlike Android, Apple's iOS does not offer a dedicated "Clear Cache" button within the phone's settings for individual apps. To perform a full cache reset, you must either Offload the app or delete and reinstall it.

Option A: Offload App (Recommended - Keeps Documents and Data)

"Offloading" removes the app itself and its temporary cache files, but preserves your documents and data (like login info), allowing for a quick reinstallation.

1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Go to General > iPhone Storage.
3. Scroll down and tap on Facebook.
4. Tap Offload App and confirm.
5. Once the process is complete, tap Reinstall App.

The app will download and reinstall without requiring you to log back in, as your essential data was preserved.

Option B: Delete and Reinstall (Full Reset)

If you wish to ensure a complete, clean slate (and don't mind logging back in), the traditional method is deletion and reinstallation.

1. Tap and hold the Facebook app icon on your Home screen.
2. Tap Remove App > Delete App and confirm.
3. Go to the App Store and search for Facebook.
4. Download and reinstall the app.
5. Open the app and log back in using your credentials.

On iOS, this would be the best way to get rid of the unnecessary cache of the Facebook app.

Clearing Facebook Cache on Desktop Web Browsers

If you primarily access Facebook via your computer on Windows or macOS, the temporary data is stored in your web browser's cache. Clearing this will wipe the data for all websites, including Facebook.

The steps vary slightly by browser, but the general process is:

1. Open your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari).
2. Go to Settings or Preferences.
3. Find the Privacy and Security section.
4. Select Clear browsing data or Clear history.
5. Ensure that "Cached images and files" is checked.
6. Optional: To ensure you remain logged into other sites, uncheck "Cookies and other site data." (If you check it, you will be logged out of Facebook and all other sites).
7. Select a time range (usually "All time") and click Clear Data.

The same method can be followed for newly launched AI-browsers such as Atlas, Comet, and Maxthon, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How often should I clear the Facebook cache?

Most users only need to clear the cache every one to three months, or immediately if they notice performance issues, crashes, or glitches within the app.

Does clearing the Facebook cache clear Messenger data too?

No. Facebook Messenger is a separate application and stores its cache independently.

• To clear the Messenger cache on Android, follow the same steps as Method 2 for Facebook, applying them to the Messenger app instead.
• To clear the Messenger cache on iOS, you must delete and reinstall the Messenger app.

How do I clear my Facebook search history?

Clearing your search history is separate from clearing the cache.

1. Open the Facebook app.
2. Tap the Search icon (magnifying glass) at the top of the screen.
3. Tap the See All link next to Recent Searches.
4. Tap the Clear All button in the top right corner.

So, this is the freshly updated article for clearing Facebook cache for better browsing, and I will keep this updated for you, while you can also visit the Facebook help page for other related settings.