The Complete Guide to Clearing Your Facebook Cache

Jason

By Jason

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Clear Facebook Cache

Do you notice Facebook running slower than usual? Photos not loading properly? Newsfeed failing to refresh? Clearing your Facebook cache can solve these issues and speed up the app.

This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know about the Facebook cache, when and how to clear it on both iPhone and Android, what happens when you delete the cache, and much more.

What is the Facebook Cache?

The Facebook cache is a storage area on your device that temporarily stores data from the Facebook app. This includes:

  • Profile pictures
  • Newsfeed posts
  • Shared photos/videos
  • Page content
  • Searches
  • Login credentials

By keeping this data locally on your phone, the Facebook app doesn’t need to re-download it every time you use the app. This makes Facebook launch faster and load pages quicker.

However, the more you use Facebook, the more bloated the cache becomes over time. Too much cached data can actually slow down the app and take up a lot of storage space on your phone.

That’s why it’s important to clear out the cache every so often – to purge corrupt, outdated, or unnecessary files.

When Should You Clear the Facebook Cache?

Don’t wait until Facebook is completely bogged down to clear the cache. Make it part of your regular phone maintenance every month or so.

Signs that it’s time to clear the cache include:

  • Facebook app is slow to launch or load new pages
  • Photos/videos won’t load
  • Newsfeed fails to refresh with new posts
  • Can’t view updated profiles or info
  • App frequently freezes or crashes

If you notice any of these issues, deleting the Facebook cache should be your first troubleshooting step.

How to Clear Facebook Cache on Android

  1. Open Settings on your Android device
  2. Tap Apps or Application Manager
  3. Locate and select the Facebook app
  4. Tap Storage or Storage & Cache
  5. Select Clear Cache

That’s it! The app cache will be deleted, freeing up space and removing potentially troublesome files.

How to Clear Facebook Cache on iPhone

Clearing the cache is a bit different on iPhone since you can’t directly access it. Instead, you’ll need to uninstall and reinstall the Facebook app from the App Store.

  1. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage
  2. Find and select the Facebook app
  3. Tap Delete App and confirm deletion
  4. Open the App Store and reinstall Facebook
  5. Log back into Facebook once installation completes

This forces the previous cache to be deleted when you delete the app. Reinstalling starts you fresh with a clean cache.

What Happens When You Clear the Cache?

Here’s what you can expect after clearing cached data from the Facebook app:

  • Faster launch times – The app won’t get bogged down loading unused files on startup.
  • Quicker loading – Pages and content will refresh faster without old cached versions.
  • More free space – Less taken up by temporary files and data on your phone.
  • Fix performance issues – Problems like crashing or freezing can disappear.
  • No loss of data – Your personal info, friends, photos, etc. are safe in your account.
  • Have to re-login – You’ll need to enter your username and password again.
  • Momentary slowness – The first few launches may be slower as the cache rebuilds.

So don’t worry about losing anything important! The cache just contains temporary usage data.

Best Practices for Managing Your Facebook Cache

  • Clear the cache regularly – Don’t let it get overly large and problematic. Once a month is a good rule of thumb.
  • Use the steps above – Following the proper procedures avoids deleting valuable app data.
  • Reboot your phone after deleting the cache – This ensures all old cached files are removed from memory.
  • Monitor your phone’s storage – Watch for the Facebook app taking up an excessive amount of space.
  • Update the Facebook app – Keeping it up-to-date also clears some cached files.
  • Delete the app entirely if issues persist – As a last resort, uninstall/reinstall Facebook to completely clear the cache.

By the way, let’s figure out how to fix the Facebook not loading pictures issue.

FAQs About Clearing the Facebook Cache

How is clearing the Facebook cache different from deleting account data?

Clearing the cache only deletes temporary usage files stored locally on your device. It does not affect your personal info, friends, photos, messages, timeline posts, or any other Facebook account data, which is stored on Facebook’s servers.

Will clearing the cache delete my login info and force me to re-login?

Most likely, yes. Your username and password are part of the cached files. But don’t worry – enter your login info again and you’ll be back into your account.

Does deleting the Facebook cache improve security/privacy?

Not directly. The cache contains usage data from your browsing, but this is just a local copy on your own phone. Clearing it may provide a small security boost by deleting usage history.

Can I clear the cache on Facebook Messenger too?

Yes! Follow the same steps for the separate Messenger app. Clearing this cache can also help speed up messaging.

How can I check how much space Facebook cache is taking up?

On iPhone: Settings > General > iPhone Storage, then check Facebook app size.

On Android: Settings > Apps/Application Manager > Facebook, then check cache size.

I keep having to re-login after clearing the cache – is this normal?

Unfortunately, yes. The constant need to re-authenticate is a nuisance. But logging in again after deleting the cache is expected behavior.

Will everything go back to normal after I reinstall the Facebook app?

Yes, reinstalling Facebook will recreate a fresh, clean cache after deleting the old one. Login again and everything will return to normal.

Key Takeaways

  • The Facebook cache stores data locally on your device to speed up the app. But it can become bloated over time.
  • Clearing the Facebook cache can fix issues like slow speeds and improve performance.
  • On iPhone: Delete the Facebook app, then reinstall it to clear the cache.
  • On Android: Access the app’s storage settings and select “Clear Cache.”
  • Clearing the cache will not delete your personal data, just temporary usage files.
  • Make regularly clearing the Facebook cache part of your monthly phone maintenance.
  • An oversized, outdated cache is often the culprit behind Facebook app problems.

Deleting the cached data gives you the most efficient version of the Facebook app!

I hope this guide helps you clear out Facebook’s cache and gets your account running faster than ever. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Jason
Jason

Skilled software testing specialist with expertise in comparisons and research, passionate about blogging, reviews, and creating video tutorials.

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