On Android, you can usually clear the Instagram cache through your phone settings. On iPhone, you can delete and reinstall the app to remove local app data. This removes more than just the cache. Do you use Instagram on your computer? Then clear temporary files through your browser. Your posted photos, messages and followers remain associated with your account.
Choose your device below for the steps. When deleting app data, also read what you need to save beforehand: drafts stored only on your phone may be lost.
Clearing the Instagram cache: what do you delete?
A cache consists of temporary files that an app stores on your device. These can include parts of images. Instagram then does not need to load them again each time. However, these files do take up storage space.
The cache is not your Instagram account. A photo you have posted is not stored only in this temporary storage. So if you clear only the cache, you do not delete your profile, posted content or followers.
Suppose you view many photos and videos. Instagram may collect temporary files as a result. After clearing the cache, the app has to load them again. Instagram may therefore open a little more slowly the first time.
Clearing the Instagram cache: which approach suits your device?
Is Instagram working properly and do you have enough free space? Then you do not need to clear anything. Do you want to free up space or find out why the app is malfunctioning? Choose the step that suits your situation.
| Your situation | What can you do? | What should you look out for? |
|---|---|---|
| Android or Samsung: delete temporary files only | Clear the cache through your phone settings | Do not choose to clear storage or data |
| iPhone: free up space while keeping app data | Offload the app, also called clearing the app | This does not delete all app data |
| iPhone: delete local app data | Delete and reinstall Instagram | Save drafts first and check that you can log in |
| Use Instagram in a browser | Clear your browser cache | Cookies and other website data are different |
| No problems and enough free space | Do not clear anything | It is normal for the cache to grow again |
How to clear the Instagram cache on Android and Samsung
You will find this option in your phone settings, not in Instagram itself. The names and order may differ depending on your phone and Android version.
- Save any work and close Instagram.
- Open Settings on your phone.
- Go to Apps or App management.
- Find Instagram and tap it.
- Open Storage or Storage and cache.
- Tap Clear cache or Clear cached data. Read the button carefully before continuing.
- Open Instagram again. Try the same photo, video or action that did not work properly before.
In Google’s explanation of cache and app data on Android it states that clearing the cache removes temporary data. Clearing storage can permanently delete app data. Therefore, do not choose that button if you only want to remove temporary files.
How to find the cache on Samsung
On many Samsung phones, go to Settings, Apps, Instagram and then Storage. There, look for the button to clear the cache.
Does your menu look different? Use the search function in your phone settings to search for Instagram or app management. Do you see only ‘clear data’? Do not use that button as a substitute. First check what your phone will delete with it.
Clearing the Instagram cache on iPhone: offload or delete?
On iPhone, storage management gives you two different choices: offload or delete the app. According to Apple’s explanation of storage on your iPhone offloading keeps the documents and data. Deleting removes the app and its associated data.
Offloading is also called clearing the app. It frees up space while keeping your app data. It is therefore not the same as specifically deleting all temporary Instagram files.
See how much space Instagram uses
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Go to General and then go to iPhone Storage.
- Find Instagram in the list.
- See how much space the app and its associated data occupy.
- Read the explanation of offloading and deleting before choosing. The text on the buttons may differ.
Prepare before deleting Instagram
First check that you can log in again. Do you know your password and have access to the method you use to log in? Do you use an additional security code? Make sure you can receive or generate it.
Save important photos, videos and text outside Instagram if they exist only in a draft. Drafts stored only on your phone may not return after you delete the app.
Then delete the app if you choose to do so. Reinstall Instagram through the App Store and log in to the same account. Removing only the icon from your home screen is not enough: this does not delete the app.
How to clear the Instagram cache on your computer
Do you use Instagram in a browser? Then the browser stores the temporary files. Clearing the cache on your phone does not change this.
- First reload the Instagram page.
- Does the problem persist? Open the browser settings and look for the option to clear browsing data.
- Choose the option for cached images and files. The name differs by browser.
- Check the other boxes before confirming the deletion.
You do not need to delete browsing history, saved passwords and cookies automatically as well. Among other things, cookies help keep you logged in. If you delete them too, you may need to log in again.
Also check which websites you are deleting data for. Some options clear the cache of several websites at once. An option to delete all data for instagram.com only may also delete cookies. Therefore, check both which websites and which types of data are selected.
The difference between the Instagram cache, app data and search history
Not every button labelled ‘clear’ does the same thing. These are the main differences:
| What are you clearing? | What happens? | What do you notice? |
|---|---|---|
| Cache | Temporary files are removed | Instagram has to load components again |
| Storage or app data | The app’s data on your device is removed | You may be logged out and lose locally stored drafts |
| Search history | Saved searches are removed | This does not clear the app cache |
| Your account | You start deleting your account | This is a separate action and is not part of clearing the cache |
Do you only want to remove an old search from your search history? Then use the search history options. Clearing the cache is not the right step for this. Also, do not expect this to reset Instagram’s recommendations.
When does clearing the Instagram cache help?
Clearing the cache can help if Instagram freezes, images do not load properly or temporary files take up a lot of space. It does not solve every problem.
Change one thing at a time and then test again. Suppose a photo keeps getting stuck. After clearing the cache, open the same photo. If you also delete the app and switch internet connections at the same time, you will not know which step made a difference.
- Other apps are also loading slowly: check your internet connection first.
- Your phone is almost full: check the total storage. Clearing only the Instagram cache may not free up enough space.
- Only Instagram is malfunctioning: close the app, open it again and check whether an update is available.
- Instagram also does not work in the browser: the problem may lie somewhere other than in the app on your phone. In that case, do not keep clearing data repeatedly.
Frequently asked questions about clearing the Instagram cache
Will I lose photos, messages or followers?
No, not if you only clear the cache. Posted content and followers belong to your account. A draft stored only on your phone is different. Save it before clearing app data or deleting Instagram.
Do I need to log in again after clearing the cache?
Normally not after clearing only the cache on Android. You may need to do so after clearing app data, reinstalling or deleting cookies. Check your login details before taking those steps.
Why does the Instagram cache grow again?
Instagram stores temporary files again while you use it. This is normal. There is no fixed amount of cache that is too large for everyone. Check whether you have enough free space and whether the app works properly. Clearing it daily is usually not necessary.
