Want to clear YouTube’s cache but can’t find the right button? The controls depend on where you watch: Android has a direct cache button, iPhone and iPad use YouTube’s offload-and-reinstall procedure, and browsers have their own cleanup settings. Find your device below to remove temporary files and see exactly when a reset removes more than cache.
Clear YouTube’s cache on Android
Start in your phone’s settings. Open Settings > Apps > YouTube > Storage. Some Android phones call the apps menu Applications; Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets use Apps.
Tap Clear cache.
On a Google Pixel, open Settings > Apps > See All Apps > YouTube > Storage & cache.
Tap Clear cache.
Stick with Clear cache when you only want to remove temporary files. Clear storage and Clear data perform a broader reset. YouTube rebuilds its cache as you use it again.
If clearing the cache doesn’t resolve your problem, try the full app reset in the final section. Read what it removes before proceeding.
Offload YouTube on iPhone or iPad
The missing button is the stumbling block here: YouTube’s own cache fix for iPhone and iPad doesn’t use a control inside the app. It runs through your device’s storage settings instead.
YouTube recommends offloading and reinstalling the app. Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage > YouTube. On an iPad, use iPad Storage instead.
Tap Offload App.
Confirm with Offload App again.
Tap Reinstall app.
Offloading keeps documents and data, so it does not wipe everything YouTube stores locally. Your device also removes eligible temporary files automatically when it needs storage, but that gives you no way to select YouTube or force an immediate cleanup.
Remove cached YouTube files in Chrome
On a computer, open Chrome’s More menu.
Select Delete browsing data.
Set the time range to All time.
Select Cached images and files.
Unselect the other categories for cache-only deletion.
Click Delete data.
In Chrome for Android, open More > Delete browsing data > More options. The initial quick-delete dialog defaults to just 15 minutes.
Select Cached images and files.
Choose the full available time range.
Unselect the other categories for cache-only deletion.
Tap Delete data.
In Chrome for iPhone or iPad, open More > Delete Browsing Data > Time Range.
Choose the full available period.
Open Browsing Data.
Select Cached Images and Files.
Unselect the other categories for cache-only deletion.
Tap Confirm.
Tap Delete Browsing Data.
Use these controls for YouTube in Chrome, including Chrome-installed YouTube web apps; the separate YouTube mobile app needs its own cleanup.
Use Safari’s website-data controls
Watching in Safari on an iPhone? You can remove cookies and cache while keeping your browsing history. This cleanup affects websites in Safari, including YouTube, but leaves the YouTube app alone.
Open Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced > Website Data.
Tap Remove All Website Data.
Confirm with Remove Now. This removes cookies and cache across websites.
On a Mac, open Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data.
Select YouTube.
Click Remove to delete its website data, including cookies and cached storage.
If YouTube still has problems after this cleanup, try it in another browser you use, following that browser’s cache-clearing instructions here.
Delete cached files in Microsoft Edge
This removes cached website files in desktop Edge, including YouTube’s files.
Open Settings and more.
Choose Settings.
Open Privacy, search, and services.
Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear beside Clear browsing data now.
Set the time range to All time.
Select Cached images and files.
Unselect the other categories for cache-only deletion.
Click Clear now.
Clean out Firefox’s cached files
Firefox lets you clear temporary cached files without deleting cookies or history. The controls differ between desktop, Android and iPhone.
On desktop, open Menu > Settings > Privacy and security > Browsing data > Clear browsing data. Another Firefox layout uses Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data….
Set When to Everything.
Select only Temporary cached files and pages.
Click Clear.
On Firefox for Android, open the Three-dot menu > Settings > Delete browsing data.
Select Cached images and files.
Unselect the other categories for cache-only deletion.
Tap Delete browsing data.
On Firefox for iPhone or iPad, open Menu > Settings > Data Management in the Privacy section.
Enable Cache.
Disable the other categories for cache-only deletion.
Tap Clear Private Data.
If the desktop cleanup doesn’t help, open youtube.com. Click the shield or padlock beside its address, then select Clear cookies and site data. This broader reset removes YouTube’s temporary cached files along with its cookies and site data.
Find the cache controls on TVs and streaming devices
On Fire TV, open Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > YouTube > Clear Cache. Stop before Clear Data for cache-only cleanup.
On supported Sony Google TV and Android TV models, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > YouTube > Clear cache. Use Show system apps if YouTube isn’t listed, and confirm with OK or Enter when prompted.
On Samsung TVs with per-app storage controls, open Settings > All Settings > Support > Device Care > Manage Storage > YouTube > View Details > Clear Cache. Screens vary by model and software; this path does not apply to every Samsung TV.
On Roku players covered by Roku’s power-down instructions, disconnect the device’s power supply, then reconnect it. Fully powering down clears app cache. Standby that keeps the device powered does not.
Reset the app when cache clearing isn’t enough
Use the route for your device only when you’re ready to remove app data too, including affected sign-ins, preferences and locally stored downloads.
- 1.On Pixel, open Settings > Apps > See All Apps > YouTube > Storage & cache > Clear storage. This removes all local app data, including cache.
- 2.On Samsung Galaxy, open Settings > Apps > YouTube > Storage > Clear data, then confirm with Delete.
- 3.On iPhone or iPad, touch and hold YouTube, then choose Remove App > Delete App > Delete. Download YouTube again from its official App Store listing. Full deletion removes related data; offloading retains it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing YouTube history also clear its cache?
No. Watch and search history are account-history controls, so deleting them does not remove local cache. Removing Premium downloads also clears a different category of storage.
Why can’t I uninstall YouTube on my Android phone?
Preinstalled copies have removal restrictions. Some offer only disabling or removal of updates. Neither action is a substitute for clearing YouTube’s cache.
Does clearing Safari’s cache also clear a YouTube web app on Mac?
No. Safari web apps on macOS Sonoma 14 and later keep their cookies and cache independently of Safari’s ordinary browsing data.
Can I clear the cache with a hard refresh in my browser?
An ordinary hard refresh bypasses cached resources without completely deleting the cache. Use your browser’s cache-deletion controls to remove cached files.