Clearing the cache on TikTok can help free up space on your device and fix certain issues you may experience with the app. The TikTok cache contains temporary files, such as thumbnails, videos, and images that the app downloads. Deleting the cache removes these files to free up storage space. Clearing the cache can also fix problems like videos not loading or the app crashing.
Why Clear the TikTok Cache?
Here are some of the main reasons you may want to clear the TikTok cache:
- Free up space on your device – The cache builds up over time from all the media TikTok downloads, which can take up a lot of storage space on your phone or tablet.
- Fix app crashes or freezing – If TikTok is crashing frequently or freezing, clearing the cache can potentially resolve software issues causing these problems.
- Resolve loading or buffering issues – If TikTok videos are slow to load or buffering, a bloated cache could be interfering with playback performance.
- Improve slow performance – Large cached files can slow down the overall performance of the app itself.
- Troubleshoot other glitches – Cache issues can contribute to other bugs or glitches in the app.
How to Clear Cache on Android
If you’re an Android user, follow these steps to clear the TikTok cache:
- Open your Android device’s Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap on Apps.
- Tap on TikTok in the list of apps.
- Tap Storage.
- Tap Clear Cache. This will delete all the temporary cached files stored by TikTok.
That’s it! The TikTok cache has now been wiped from your Android device. This process will free up space taken up by the app and may help resolve issues you’ve had with freezing, crashing, or videos not loading properly in the app.
Additional Android Cache Clearing Steps
Some Android devices may have slightly different options for clearing app caches. Here are a few other places you can look if you don’t see the Clear Cache button:
- In App Settings, tap Storage > Clear Cache
- In App Settings, tap Storage > Clear Data > OK
- In your device Settings, tap Apps > TikTok > Storage > Clear Cache
How to Clear Cache on iPhone
If you have an iPhone, follow these instructions to clear the TikTok cache:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap General.
- Tap iPhone Storage.
- Find TikTok in the list of apps.
- Tap on TikTok.
- Tap Offload App > Offload
Offloading TikTok will delete the cache and temporary files while keeping your account info and favorites saved. Your profile and data will not be lost.
Reinstall TikTok
Once you’ve offloaded TikTok to clear the cache, you’ll need to reinstall TikTok from the App Store to use it again. Just search for TikTok and tap Get to reinstall it. Your account, favorites, and settings will still be intact after reinstalling.
Clear Cache in TikTok Settings
In addition to the steps above to clear the overall app cache, you can also delete cached files within the TikTok app:
- Open TikTok and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right.
- Go to Settings and Privacy.
- Tap Clear Cache.
This will clear files that TikTok has temporarily downloaded and cached within the app itself. Clearing this cache can also help troubleshoot problems.
Force Stop TikTok
Force stopping the TikTok app on Android can also help clear out any corrupted cache files or data that may be causing issues:
- Go to Settings > Apps.
- Tap TikTok.
- Tap Force Stop.
Give TikTok some time to fully close out before opening it again. Force stopping the app will dump cached files and let you start fresh.
Sign Out and Back In
If you’re still having issues in the app after clearing the cache and force stopping, try signing out of your TikTok account and then signing back in. This will dump all temporary data and files and refresh your login.
- Open TikTok and tap your profile.
- Tap the 3-line Menu icon in the top right corner.
- Choose Manage account > Log out
- Log back into your account with your username and password.
Logging out and back in can fix lingering bugs by clearing out bad data attached to your account.
Refresh the App
You can also refresh the TikTok app itself to clear any corrupt files or cache issues:
- Force quit TikTok if it’s currently running.
- Go to your device Settings > Apps > TikTok.
- Tap Force Stop or completely uninstall updates.
- Open TikTok – it should re-download the latest version of the app.
This will dump any cached data for TikTok and fetch a fresh copy of the app from the server.
Restart Your Device
As a last resort, try restarting your Android device or iPhone. This will wipe any corrupt cache files from memory and you’ll be starting with a clean slate when the device boots back up.
Power your phone off completely, leave it off for at least 30 seconds, then turn it back on and open TikTok. This may resolve stubborn caching issues that are causing the app to crash or freeze.
Prevent TikTok Cache Buildup
To help avoid having to repeatedly clear the cache, there are a few things you can do to prevent the TikTok cache from getting too large:
- Watch videos only on WiFi to limit cached files being stored.
- Manually clear the TikTok cache about once a month.
- Disable auto-save of videos you watch.
- Turn off the “pre-download top videos” setting.
- Delete old videos or media you’ve saved within TikTok.
- Check for and install TikTok app updates frequently.
Following these tips will help keep your TikTok cache from ballooning over time and prevent issues with the app.
When to Clear Cache
Some signs that it’s time to clear your TikTok cache include:
- Videos won’t play or load.
- You have to wait a long time for videos to start.
- The app is freezing or very slow.
- TikTok crashing unexpectedly.
- Your device storage space is low.
- Content seems outdated in the app.
As a general rule, aim to clear your TikTok cache about once a month to keep things optimized. Anytime you run into the issues above, start troubleshooting by emptying the TikTok cache.
FAQs about Clearing TikTok Cache
Does clearing the cache delete my account?
No, clearing the TikTok cache does not delete or log out of your account. Your profile data is stored separately and will not be affected.
Will I lose my draft videos?
No, draft videos are also stored outside of the cache so clearing it will not delete videos you have not posted yet.
Can clearing the cache fix video upload failures?
Yes, sometimes a full cache can interfere with uploading new videos. Clearing it out can resolve upload failures.
Will this delete videos I’ve favorited or liked?
No, clearing the cache does not affect favorites, likes, or any other account data. Your profile info will remain intact.
How much space will clearing the cache free up?
It depends on how much content you view and cache size, but many users free up over 100MB or more of space when deleting the TikTok cache.
Is there a max cache size?
There is no definite max size, but the TikTok cache can grow to 1GB+ in some cases if left uncleared for a very long time.
