Your Nothing Phone (3) builds up temporary cached data as you use apps and browse the web. When you start getting low storage warnings or notice apps are a bit slow, clearing out this cache is a quick way to reclaim space and smooth out performance. It's a routine maintenance step that's safe and effective.
Clear Individual App Cache
Open Settings and tap on Apps. You'll see a list of all your installed applications. Tap on any app, then select Storage & cache. Here, tap the Clear cache button. This only removes temporary files the app created, so you won't lose your login info or personal settings.
I'd focus on apps that tend to hoard cache, like Chrome, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, and any large games. Doing this every few weeks for your most-used apps can keep them running lean.
Use the System Storage Cleaner
Nothing OS includes a handy tool for this. Go to Settings > Storage. At the bottom, you'll find a Free up space option. Tapping this will show you categories like Cached data, Large files, and Duplicate files. You can review and select the cached data to clear it all at once, which is much faster than going app-by-app.
Clear Your Browser Cache
If you use Chrome, open the app and tap the three-dot menu. Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. Make sure Cached images and files is checked. You can choose a time range, but "All time" gives you the most space back. Tap Clear data. Your saved passwords and history will stay unless you also clear those options.
Wipe the System Cache Partition
For deeper system-level cache, you can boot into recovery mode. First, power your phone off completely. Then, press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons together until the Nothing logo appears, then release. Use the volume buttons to navigate to the Wipe cache partition option and press the power button to select it. Confirm the action. This is perfectly safe for your photos and apps and can help with odd glitches.
Manage Files with Google's Tool
The Files by Google app is excellent for storage management and is often pre-installed. Open it and tap the Clean button on the bottom left. It will scan for junk files, duplicate photos, unused apps, and large files. It gives you a simple one-tap way to clean gigabytes of space, including app caches.
Review Messages and Downloads
Don't forget about your Messages app. Long conversations, especially group chats filled with photos and videos, can take up surprising space. Go through and delete old threads. Also, regularly check your Downloads folder by opening the Files app, as forgotten PDFs, APKs, and videos can linger there for months.
Restart Your Phone Regularly
A simple restart clears out temporary system caches held in RAM and can resolve minor hiccups. Just hold the power button, tap restart, and let it reboot. Making this a weekly habit helps keep Nothing OS running smoothly, especially if you rarely turn the phone off.
Check Detailed Storage Breakdown
Go to Settings > Storage to see a visual breakdown of what's filling your phone. Tap on categories like Apps, Images, and Audio to see the largest items. This is the best way to identify a single app or a folder of old videos that's the real storage culprit, so you can delete it directly.