Clearing the cache on TikTok can help resolve some common issues you may experience with the app.
Here’s an in-depth look at what clearing the TikTok cache does and how to do it on both iOS and Android devices.
Why would you want to clear the TikTok cache?
There are a few key reasons you may want to clear the TikTok cache:
Fix app crashing or freezing
Over time, the TikTok cache builds up with temporary files, cookies, and data that can cause the app to run slower. Eventually this can even lead to crashing or complete freezing of the app.
By clearing out this temporary cache data, you essentially force TikTok to start fresh and reload all its data from scratch. This clears out any corrupted files or overload of temporary data that may be causing crashes or freezes.
Many TikTok users have reported crashing and freezing issues that were fixed simply by clearing the cache. So if you notice the app freezing or crashing repeatedly, clearing the cache should be one of the first troubleshooting steps to try.
Resolve loading or buffering problems
Slow loading times and buffering issues when trying to watch TikTok videos can be very frustrating. The cause is often a bloated cache full of unnecessary temporary data and files. TikTok relies on the cache for quick loading and streaming of feeds and videos.
So if that temporary data becomes overloaded or corrupted, it can really slow things down.
Clearing out all that temporary cached data forces TikTok to re-download everything fresh. This removes any corrupted temporary data that may be causing lag and buffering problems. Many users report videos loading much quicker after giving the cache a fresh start.
Improve overall performance
Over time, the cache can take up a significant amount of storage space on your device and cause overall sluggish performance. Clearing it out frees up TikTok storage space being used by unnecessary temporary files.
With all that extra storage space and no corrupt data clogging things up, TikTok is able to operate much more efficiently after a cache clear. Pages and videos will load snappier, feeds will refresh quicker, and all around performance improves.
Troubleshoot other odd app behavior
Outside of crashing, freezing, or buffering – any other odd behavior in TikTok can likely be improved by clearing the cache. Sometimes errors or glitches can occur within the app due to temporary data being overloaded or corrupted.
Maybe comments aren’t posting correctly or views aren’t being counted right. Perhaps you can’t log in or certain features of the app aren’t working. The cache could very well be the culprit behind these types of random errors or odd behavior. Clearing it gives TikTok a fresh start, often eliminating many common app problems.
How to clear cache on TikTok for iOS
Clearing the TikTok cache on an iPhone or iPad takes just a few easy steps:
Close the TikTok app
First, make sure to completely close out of the TikTok app if it’s currently running. The easiest way to fully close an iOS app is to double tap the home button and swipe up on the TikTok preview to remove it from the app switcher.
Open iOS Settings
Next, open your iOS Settings app. The Settings app is pre-installed on iOS and contains hundreds of options to customize your device – it has a gray icon with gears on it.
Once Settings is open, scroll down and tap on General about halfway down the page.
Choose iPhone Storage
Under General, you’ll see an option called iPhone Storage. Tap on it. This will provide details on how your iPhone storage is being used.
Select the TikTok app
You’ll now see a list of all the apps installed on your device, including TikTok. Tap on the TikTok app icon to open details related to its storage usage.
Tap Clear Cache button
On the next screen, you’ll see storage details for TikTok. At the very bottom is a blue button that says Clear Cache. Go ahead and tap it to immediately clear the TikTok cache.
After the cache has been cleared, you can open TikTok to see if your issues have been resolved. Clearing the cache forces the app to fully reload data and files, which usually fixes common problems.
How to clear cache on TikTok for Android
Similarly, it only takes a few steps to clear the TikTok cache on Android:
Close the TikTok app
First, make sure TikTok is completely closed if it’s currently running. To fully close an Android app, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the recent apps list, then swipe the TikTok preview off the screen.
Open Android Settings
Next, open your Android Settings app. This is also pre-installed on all Android devices and contains customizable device options.
Once Settings is open, tap Apps & notifications. (On some Android versions it may be called Apps & apps info, Application manager, or something similar).
Select the TikTok app
On the next screen, you’ll see a list of all your downloaded apps. Tap on the TikTok app icon to open its info page.
Tap Storage & cache
With the TikTok app page open, select Storage & cache from the available options. This will show you how much cache data TikTok is storing.
Tap Clear Cache button
On this page you’ll see a Clear Cache button. Go ahead and tap it to immediately wipe the TikTok cache.
After clearing the cache, reopen TikTok and it should load fresh with any previous issues resolved.
You can also clear TikTok cache in the TikTok app settings:
- Open the TikTok app.
- Tap on the profile icon in the bottom right corner.
- Tap on the 3 horizontal lines icon in the upper right corner to open the side menu.
- Tap “Settings and privacy”
- Tap “Data and storage.”
- Under “Storage”, tap on “Clear cache” to clear stored cache data.
When should you clear the TikTok cache?
As a general rule of thumb, aim to clear your TikTok cache about once every 1-2 months. This prevents too much temporary data from accumulating and causing the app to slow down.
Some signs that it’s a good time to clear the cache include:
- TikTok is crashing or freezing a lot
- Videos take a long time to load or buffer
- Your main feed is slow to refresh with new content
- You notice other glitches or odd behavior in the app
TikTok will typically prompt you to clear the cache if it detects storage issues. But don’t wait for a prompt – periodically clearing the cache proactively can prevent many common problems before they happen.
Does clearing the cache delete any of your TikTok data?
An important note is that clearing the TikTok cache does NOT delete or remove any of your saved information in the app. All of your liked videos, posted videos, comments, messages, contacts, and other important data will remain intact after wiping the cache.
The TikTok cache only contains temporary operational files that the app uses to function smoothly. This temporary data can be safely deleted to improve performance without losing any permanent data.
So you don’t need to worry about accidentally wiping any of your main account info, content, or contacts when clearing the cache. It will only remove temporary helper files that are safe to remove.
Can clearing the cache cause any downsides?
In very rare cases, clearing the TikTok cache can cause new unpredictable issues to appear.
This is uncommon, but some users have reported bugs popping up after clearing their cache. If this does happen, the fix is typically to just fully uninstall and reinstall TikTok to get a completely fresh start.
Before reinstalling, make sure your TikTok account and data is backed up properly in case anything gets wiped in the process. As long as you have a backup, reinstalling TikTok should resolve any major downsides to clearing the cache.
For most users though, clearing the cache will only have positive effects and won’t cause any new problems. But it’s still something to be aware of just in case.
How can I speed up TikTok even more?
Along with regularly clearing the TikTok cache, here are some additional tips for keeping TikTok running as fast as possible:
- Close all other apps running in the background
- Connect to stable, high-speed wifi whenever possible
- Ensure your device operating system is updated
- Turn off High Quality Streaming if using mobile data
- Enable Low Data Usage mode in TikTok settings
- Disable autoplay so videos don’t automatically load
- Consider deleting and reinstalling the app if major issues persist
Combining periodic cache clearing with other best practices is key for smooth, optimized TikTok performance. Take advantage of these tips and tricks to keep TikTok speedy.
Key takeaways on clearing TikTok cache
- Clearing the cache fixes crashing, freezing, buffering, and other issues
- It’s done through the Settings menu on iOS or Android
- No user data, likes, follows, etc are deleted when clearing cache
- Clearing cache on TikTok does not change your FYP.
- Clear the TikTok cache every 1-2 months for optimal performance
- Clearing the cache forces TikTok to fully reload all its data
- In rare cases, clearing cache could cause new issues
- Follow other optimization tips in addition to cache clearing
Hope this thoroughly covers how and why to clear the TikTok cache! Let me know if you have any other TikTok questions.
