Clearing the cache on the Google Play Store can help resolve some common issues you may experience with the app store on your Android device. The cache contains temporary files and data stored by the Play Store app to improve performance. Over time, this cached information can become outdated or corrupted, which can cause problems. Clearing the cache gives the Play Store app a fresh start, deleting potentially problematic files. Here’s an in-depth look at what clearing the Play Store cache does and when you might want to do it.
What is the cache on the Google Play Store?
Every app on your Android device has a cache, which is a storage area where temporary data is kept. For the Play Store, the cache stores information like:
- Thumbnails and images for apps, games, movies, and books
- Bits of app download files
- Fragments of data about your Play Store browsing history and searches
- Your Google Play preferences and settings
- Information about your Google account used in the Play Store
This cached information makes the Play Store faster and more efficient to use. Images, game graphics, and other data can load quicker when tapped on. Fragments of downloads are stored so the next time you update an app, it doesn’t have to completely re-download. Your search and browsing history also allows the Play Store to serve up tailored content and recommendations faster.
However, over time the cache can build up with outdated, broken, or incorrect data. If parts of the cache get corrupted, it can cause errors or glitches in the Play Store. Clearing out this information forces the Play Store to freshly download latest assets and data on your profile, searches, downloads queued, and more.
When should I clear the Play Store cache?
Here are some common situations when clearing the Google Play Store cache can help resolve issues:
- Apps are stuck during download or installation – If an app appears to freeze or hang when trying to download or install, deleting the cache forces the Play Store to re-download the whole app versus relying on corrupted cached pieces.
- Play Store is running slow or glitchy – Over time, bugs or errors in the cache can cause performance issues with the Play Store stalling, freezing, or crashing. A clean cache gives you a performance boost.
- Play Store recommendations seem off – Clearing your Play Store data and cache resets the app’s understanding of your preferences via past searches and downloads.
- Play Store content won’t update – If new apps, music, books, or movies aren’t showing up, a corrupted cache may be to blame.
- Can’t install apps – Inability to download and install apps from Google Play could indicate a bad cache. Delete and add your Google account back to refresh.
- Can’t update apps – Similar to installing, a clean cache can help if your existing apps aren’t updating properly from the Play Store.
- After a major Android update – Android version updates often necessitate clearing app caches to avoid operating issues.
If you noticePlay Store problems after an OS update in particular, try clearing the cache as a first troubleshooting step. Rebooting your device after deleting the cache helps too.
How to clear the cache on Google Play Store
Here are step-by-step instructions to clear the cache for Google Play Store on any Android device:
- Open Settings app – Open the Settings app on your Android device (sometimes called Preferences or Gear). This is accessed by tapping the gear icon on your home screen or app drawer.
- Select Apps/Application Manager – Scroll down and select Apps. On some Android devices this section may be called Application Manager.
- Select Google Play Store – Scroll through the list of apps installed on your device and tap Google Play Store.
- Tap Storage – Select the Storage option.
- Tap Clear Cache button – You’ll see a button that says Clear Cache. Tap it to delete the Play Store’s stored cache data.
- Confirm clearing cache – A popup will ask you to confirm that you want to delete the cache. Tap OK to confirm.
That’s all there is to it! The Play Store cache will be deleted. Note that you won’t lose any apps, music, books, account information or anything important – just temporary cached files.
Sometimes clearing the cache alone may not fix Play Store problems. You can also try deleting all Play Store data, via these steps:
- Follow steps 1-4 above to access Play Store storage settings
- Tap Clear Data button (below Clear Cache)
- Tap OK to confirm clearing all Play Store data
This resets the app entirely by deleting search history, recommendations, settings, etc. Re-adding your Google account will repopulate your apps and data.
What happens when you clear the Play Store cache?
When you take the steps to clear cached data for the Google Play Store, here’s what happens:
- All the temporary image, audio, download files are deleted.
- Your Play Store search and browsing history is erased.
- Recommendations and personalized content based on past usage is reset.
- Any corrupted, faulty cached data is removed.
- The Play Store reads your Google account info again, re-syncing details.
- App download processes are started from scratch versus using old cached files.
In essence, clearing the cache gives the Play Store app a fresh slate. It will re-pull all data about your apps, preferences, downloads queue, and Google account details from the internet on next use.
This doesn’t delete or remove any apps, music, books, movies, or other content. Your purchase history remains intact. And you remain logged in with your current Google account.
What doesn’t get deleted when clearing the Play Store cache?
These items are not affected when you clear the Google Play Store app’s cache:
- Your Google account and login credentials
- Existing app and media purchases, downloads, and installs
- In-app purchase history and receipts
- Subscriptions to apps or media
- Google Play balance
- Ratings, reviews, wishlists
So you can safely clear cache without losing anything important. Your Google account details, already installed apps, and purchased content will remain unaffected.
Does clearing the cache delete any apps?
No, clearing the Google Play Store cache does not delete or remove any apps from your device. Your app icons and shortcuts will remain untouched after deleting the cache.
The cache only contains temporary helper files. It does not contain entire apps themselves or any core app data. Anything crucial to apps functioning properly is stored outside of the cache.
You can verify your apps are still installed after clearing the Play Store cache by checking your app drawer or home screens. All icons and shortcuts will still be present.
Do you have to reinstall apps after clearing cache?
Fortunately, no app reinstallation is needed after clearing the Google Play Store cache. Since your apps remain intact and are not deleted, there is no need to download or install them again.
The cached data that gets deleted only consists of temporary helper files. Your actual applications and their data are stored in a different area of internal storage that is not touched during a cache clearing.
So after wiping the Play Store cache, all of your apps should function normally without needing reinstallation. You may need to wait briefly for them to re-sync any Play Store information that was deleted from the cache.
Is it better to clear cache or data on the Play Store?
For most troubleshooting scenarios, clearing only the cache of the Play Store app is better versus clearing all app data. Here’s why:
- Clearing only cache won’t remove any apps or user data
- Cache clear is faster, taking less than a minute versus data clearing which can take longer
- Data clearing forces you to reconfigure Play Store preferences from scratch
However, clearing data can sometimes fix more stubborn Play Store problems. It essentially resets the app to factory settings. If issues remain after a cache clear, try data next.
When should you clear Play Store data instead of just cache?
Try clearing all Play Store data (versus just cache) in these scenarios:
- Play Store force closes or crashes immediately on open
- Can’t install or update any apps
- Play Store interface is completely broken
- Errors when entering credit card or payment information
- “Authentication is required” message appears
Data clearing is slower and more disruptive but can fix corruption issues even a cache clear can’t. You’ll have to re-enter your Google account and Play Store preferences again after.
Does clearing the Play Store cache fix Google Play Services errors?
Unfortunately clearing the Play Store cache alone does not fix issues with Google Play Services. Google Play Services is a background system component on Android devices that handles tasks like authentication, notifications, and syncing.
If you’re seeing crashes, battery drain, or errors from Google Play Services, you’ll need to clear data and cache for that separate app:
- Open Settings > Apps > Google Play Services
- Tap Storage > Clear Cache then Clear Data
After that, reboot your phone and check if Google Play Services problems are resolved.
Should I clear the Play Store cache regularly?
There is no set recommended frequency for clearing the Google Play Store cache on a regular basis. Here are some general guidelines on when to cache clear:
- If you notice Play Store slowness, glitches or errors
- After major Android OS version updates like Android 13
- When your device storage space is getting low
- Once every few months for general maintenance
Be aware that clearing the cache too often can have downsides like needing to re-download images and app info frequently. Only clear when troubleshooting issues or your device needs a refresh.
Can clearing the cache fix Play Store lag/freeze issues?
Yes, one of the most common reasons to wipe the Google Play Store cache is resolving app lag, stuttering, freezing, or crashes. Here’s why it can help:
- Corrupted cache files may be causing the performance problems
- Large cache size can slow down the app and your phone overall
- Refreshing the Play Store data gives a performance boost
After clearing the cache, close and relaunch the Play Store app. It will re-download key data which often fixes lag and crashing problems. Make sure to reboot your phone afterwards too.
Does clearing the cache fix Play Store download issues?
For apps stuck while downloading or during installation, clearing the Google Play Store cache can certainly help get things moving.
During downloads and installs, the Play Store relies on cached data to help complete the process. If this cached data is outdated or corrupt, it can cause the whole process to hang indefinitely.
Wiping the cache forces the Play Store to freshly re-download the whole app instead of relying on any existing broken cache remnants. Afterwards, you should be able to successfully install apps again.
Make sure to also check for internet connectivity issues, blocked ports, disabled downloads over mobile data, or device storage space issues if clearing cache doesn’t help.
Conclusion
Clearing the Google Play Store cache is a simple process that can fix a surprising number of issues with the app’s performance. Slowness, glitches, freezes, download problems, and errors can often be resolved with a quick cache wipe.
Remember that only temporary cached data gets removed during this process. Your apps, account info, purchases, and data all remain intact. Make sure to reboot your device after clearing the cache for the best results.
If even more serious problems arise, try clearing all Play Store data instead. But for general maintenance and troubleshooting, a simple cache clear is usually all that’s needed to get the Google Play Store running smoothly again.
