We will continue to look more in more detail in what cache is and in what ways you can delete it on the phone / tablet running Android.
Many probably noticed how with time the amount of free memory on any Android device decreases, even if we do not install new applications. This is due to the fact that any program uses caching. Simple words, caching is a process in which the application creates a special data buffer. This clipboard often uses when working in the future, which allows it to do not load various data, for example, from the network. The necessary information is simply placed in the internal storage in the form of a file.
The cache file itself can be calmly deleted - this will not hurt the program and does not break its performance. Is that it can after that much longer. This technology is used not only in applications, but also in databases (reduces delays while accessing any cells), on the Internet (accelerate the receipt of content from servers and faster information sharing) and not only.
What is cache and how it works
In general, there are several types of caches. For example, each modern processor on which the Android devices operate is equipped with a small reserve of cache. This stock is placed directly in the processor, more precisely, in the system on chip (SOC), on which the remaining elements are located: GPU (graphic kernel), ISP (Image Processing Processor), Network Modem and Other. The processor cache is the fastest and limited small volume.
In our case, we are talking about local cache files that are created in the internal memory of the device and store information frequently used by one or another application. A visual example can be brought with a browser Google Chrome (or any other). When we try to go to any web page, the browser will first run on all files and tries to find a ready-made downloaded version of the site. If it finds it - simply loads the site based on it, without making network queries, which saves traffic.
In the event that the browser fails to find a copy of the page on the local disk (internal drive), it loads it, as usual using the Internet. And if a special function is enabled in the settings, the page will be stored in memory as a small cache file.
Another simplest example can be brought with other applications. For example, to constantly do not load any items from the menu and media files (pictures, audio, etc.) from the servers, the program loads this data 1 time and saves them in memory. Subsequent launches will be faster and overall speed will increase significantly.
But there are other cache files that cannot be deleted. This is especially true for "heavy" applications and games that are stored a significant part of their data in the form of a single passionist file. If you delete it, the program will stop working and at best proposed to load the missing data.
Does it make sense in the cleaning of cache
is actually a very correct and current question, given how much "Cleiners" now exists for Android capable of cleaning the device from garbage. But you need to understand that the cache files of a particular application are created in the system constantly while we use it. And even if we delete the cache, for example, Google Chrome, after a couple of minutes after starting the browser, the file will be created again, except with a smaller, but constantly growing size.
Why does it happen? This is the very essence of technology. Each program / browser uses caching. As we said, after launching the application analyzes that area of memory in which it saves cache. And if in this area the program finds the information you need at this point in this time, it just reads it and continues to work.
But what happens after we cleaned the cache? The saved information disappears from the disk, and the application again writes new data (cache) in the conditionally. And the cache size will increase over time. We can only remove it to get the benefit of once and save any amount of memory that we need now. But in the long run, it will not save - caching always works. So sooner or later, the cache removed by us with a conditional size of 600 MB is accumulated again.
Built-in methods
Here we consider all options for cleaning cache files without installing additional software. We will use only the opportunities that the Android system possesses.
We delete the cache in the application manager
to begin with the simplest and secure method that is suitable for any user.
Step 1. Open an application "Settings", after which go to section "Applications and Notifications" (also may be called "Appendices", etc.).
Step 2. Click on the string "Show all applications" and open the full list of installed programs.
Step 3. Cut the built-in (pre-installed by the manufacturer) and the device you need to work, turning the list and choosing a filter "Installed applications".
Step 4. If some system utilities are still present in the list (for example, "Gallery", "Service NFC", "User Dictionary" and other services), then click on "three points" in the upper right corner and choose the option "Hide system processes".
Step 5. Select any program from the list and click on it. Next, go to section "Storage" and we obtain detailed information about the occupied space: application size, user data and cache.
Step 6. Press the button "Clear cache" (but do not touch "Erase the data "!).
Step 7. We repeat steps 5-6 with other programs and thus we exempt the decent amount of internal memory.
Pay attention! Depending on the version of the Android and shell operating system installed on the device (MIUI, OXYGEN OS, EMUI OS, etc.), menu items may differ from those described in the instructions above. For writing, "Clean" (AOSP) version Android 9.0 was used.
Use the file manager
, in contrast to the previous method, this option is more difficult, since it is necessary to understand what files can Delete, and which - no. Given that you can brush the cache by pressing multiple buttons in the device settings, the method cannot be called really useful, but we still read the picture to complete illumination.
Step 1. Find a standard file manager and open it. If this application "Files", open the side menu swipe to the right from the left edge of the screen and go to the internal memory.
Step 2. Among the list of folders, go along the path "Android" - "data".
Step 3. This is where cache files are stored that can be deleted. There are a large number of folders here, each of which belongs to one application installed on the system. Select any and click on the trash can icon to delete.
One big disadvantage of this method is that it is absolutely not suitable for an inexperienced user. If you don’t know how the whole “kitchen” works from the inside and don’t understand what all that bunch of folders means, it’s better to use a simple application manager, since you can accidentally delete not only the cache, but also other important data.
We use cleaning programs
On the Internet and in the official store Google Play there are many utilities that offer quite wide functionality for cleaning the system of debris. They allow you to delete not only the cache (at the same time it is absolutely safe and without deleting other important data without your permission), but also look for another type of garbage - duplicate files. This is a much more automated, simple and efficient way. Let's take a look at some popular cleaning utilities.
Consider the whole process on the example of the program SD Maid. It has long established itself as an effective utility for cleaning up garbage and freeing up memory.
Step 1. Follow the link to the forum w3bsit3-dns.com (registration required) and download the program to the device (choose any of the two versions). Install SD Maid.
Step 2. Run the application and click on the button "Scan".
Step 3. Grant permissions to access internal memory, SD-Card (if installed) and get usage statistics.
Step 4 At the end of the scanning process, start the deletion by pressing the button "Run now".
In addition to cleaning the application cache and searching for garbage, the program has other useful features. For example, it can be used as a file manager or application manager. Also, she can analyze the internal and external drives on the device and display statistics of used and free memory by section. In addition, SD Maid can compress and optimize installed application databases to improve performance.
And if you wish, you can set a special schedule in the settings, within which the utility will automatically clean the system. After each cleaning, a history and a detailed report with a diagram will be generated.
Among other similar programs, I would like to mention CCleaner from the Piriform developer. It is also a proven utility that has moved over from the desktop platform and has long been known to Windows users. In terms of functionality, it can somewhat lose SD Maid, but it also effectively finds garbage. A huge plus is added to her piggy bank for an intuitive interface that any user will understand.
Conclusion
Cache files are a kind of garbage source (when viewed from the point of in terms of the amount of memory occupied and benefit), which multiplies in the system in proportion to how many applications you install on your device. But do not take the cache as something useless. It allows you to increase the speed of the program, speed up its launch and increase the smoothness of work.
The cache can take from several tens of megabytes to several gigabytes of memory. And the whole problem is that after cleaning such files, they will accumulate again and again. This is the essence of the caching process. Perhaps, using the methods described above, you will be surprised at how much memory was taken up by the applications installed on your device.
When cleaning, use either the built-in tools (Application Manager) or proven and efficient utilities designed specifically for this task. Avoid dubious low-rated programs that offer similar functionality to SD Maid or CCleaner functionality.
