Tech Reference

How to clear your Instagram cache and free up space on your phone

Written by William Antonelli
young person using smartphone in kitchen
How you clear your Instagram cache will depend on what phone you have. Morsa Images/Getty Images
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Any app that shows images likely has a cache. The cache stores data about the pictures so they can load faster in the future.

So as you might expect, Instagram's cache can grow incredibly large over time. And if your phone is running low on space, this can make Instagram a data hog.

Luckily, you can clear Instagram's cache on both iPhone and Android. Here's how.

How to clear Instagram's cache on an iPhone

The only way to clear the Instagram cache on an iPhone is to delete and reinstall the app.

1. Find the Instagram app icon on your Home screen or in the App Library.

2. Tap and hold your finger on the Instagram icon until a menu appears, or all the apps start to jiggle.

3. Tap Remove App, or the minus sign at the top-left corner of the icon.

An iPhone's Home screen, with the Instagram app selected and the Remove App option highlighted.
Remove the app from your iPhone.  William Antonelli/Insider

4. Confirm that you want to delete the app.

You can then reinstall Instagram for free from the App Store and log back into your account.

How to clear Instagram's cache on an Android

On an Android phone, you don't need to delete the Instagram app, or even log out of your account. The Settings app has a built-in way to clear the cache.

1. Open the Settings app and tap Storage.

The Settings menu on an Android phone. The Storage option is highlighted.
Open the Storage menu.  William Antonelli/Insider

2. Select Other Apps, and then find Instagram in the list of apps and tap it.

A list of apps on an Android. Instagram is highlighted.
Your apps will be sorted by how much space they take up.  William Antonelli/Insider

3. Tap the Clear Cache option.

You should see the Clear Cache button gray out, and the Cache section underneath Space Used drop to 0 B.

Two images side-by-side. The left image shows the Instagram app info page on an Android, with the "Clear Cache" and "Cache" options highlighted. The right image shows the same page after the cache has been cleared, with the "Clear Cache" option grayed out and the number next to "Cache" reduced to 0.
Clear Instagram's cache data.  William Antonelli/Insider

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WillAntonelli
William Antonelli
ExperienceWilliam joined Business Insider in 2019 to help found Tech Reference, a vertical dedicated to answering the internet’s most common questions about the gadgets they buy. In that role, he helped grow the vertical into a powerhouse that attracted over 20 million pageviews a month. He also wrote and edited one of Business Insider’s most successful stories: How to take a screenshot on Windows.William later became one of Business Insider's lead consumer tech reporters, writing roundups and reviews about gadgets ranging from smartphones to gaming PCs. He also established key industry contacts at brands like Apple, Google, Nintendo, and more. He’s also cited on the Wikipedia page for Among Us, an honor above all others.William’s work for Business Insider has included reviewing the best gaming laptops, publishing previews of new Nintendo games and consoles, and comparing Apple’s latest releases so readers know what’s worth their money. Across all assignments, he’s been praised for his depth of knowledge and research skills.In addition to his work at Business Insider, William’s writing has appeared in outlets like The Guardian, Polygon, Thomson Reuters’ Context, and more. He's also a regular guest on TV stations like CBS and NBC, where he provides expert analysis on AI, consumer tech, and Silicon Valley moguls.Why you can trust WilliamWilliam believes the goal of journalism should be to tell the truth, not sell products. In his reviews, William never hesitates to call out a product’s flaws, but he also has no issue complimenting features that genuinely add value.When reviewing a product, William doesn’t test it in a vacuum. He tries to incorporate each product into his daily routine to get a better sense of how it’ll work for the everyday user. And when writing, he focuses on reader comprehension. He’s talented at explaining complicated concepts in ways that all readers can understand, without losing depth or nuance — or his distinctively engaging voice.Expertise
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Consumer Technology (Laptops, PCs, video games and gaming consoles, smartphones, more)
  • Social Media (TikTok, X, Meta, more)
  • Internet Culture (Memes, influencers, viral trends)
  • Disinformation
EducationWilliam graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2018. There, he studied English, communications, and adolescent education, alongside reporting news for the university’s radio and TV stations.Outside workWhen he’s not reporting, you can usually find William biking through Central Park, playing video games, or at home listening to music and writing fanfiction. He’s also a co-manager of the New York Mandolin Ensemble, one of NYC’s premier string orchestras.You can contact him at w.antonelli322@gmail.com, visit his official website at williamantonelli.com, or follow him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher and BlueSky @wantonelli.bsky.social.