Is Instagram taking up too much of your iPhone’s storage space, even though you haven’t downloaded anything on the app? It’s likely because of a bloated cache.
While clearing cache seems like the obvious solution, iOS doesn’t give you a native way to do it. But fret not, as there are a couple of simple workarounds you can use instead. Keep reading, and I’ll show you how to clear the Instagram cache on your iPhone.
What is Instagram cache, and why should you clear it on iPhone?
Instagram cache constitutes temporary files that improve its performance on the device, like speeding up load times. It can include cached info for accounts you visit often, search history, preloaded media for smoother playback, and more.
While useful, if you spend a lot of time on the app, this cache can pile up quickly and eventually fill your iPhone storage, leading to issues like:
- Slow performance: Your iPhone may start having issues such as lag due to limited space.
- App crashes: The app might freeze or close unexpectedly.
- Limited file saving: You’ll have less space for photos, videos, and other files.
2 ways to clear Instagram cache on iPhone
There are two simple ways to clear Instagram cache on your iPhone and free up storage from unnecessary data. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you do it easily.
1. Offload the Instagram app
A straightforward way to clear Instagram’s cache on your iPhone is to offload and reinstall the app. Offloading an app on iPhones implies removing the app from your device while keeping your account and app data intact. When you reinstall the offloaded app, the cache files are cleared, and the app starts building the cache from scratch.
Here’s how to offload the Instagram app on your iPhone:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap General and select iPhone Storage.
- Find Instagram in the app list and tap it.
- Tap Offload App and tap it again to confirm.
- Once done, wait for a while, then tap Reinstall App to reinstall Instagram on your iPhone.
2. Clear cache by uninstalling Instagram
You can also clear Instagram’s cache by deleting and reinstalling the app on your iPhone. It’s best to take this approach when offloading the app doesn’t help. Here’s how to do it:
- Find the Instagram app on your Home Screen or App Library.
- Tap and hold the app, then select Delete App.
- A confirmation pop-up will appear. Tap Delete to uninstall the app. This will remove the app and its data, including the cache.
- Open the App Store, search for Instagram, tap the cloud icon, and follow the on-screen prompts to reinstall the app. Sometimes, you may see the Get button instead of the cloud icon even if you installed the app on your device previously.
What happens when I clear the Instagram cache?
Clearing an app’s cache, like Instagram’s, removes temporary files and data, including thumbnails, images, videos, and search history. This helps free up storage space based on how much cache was taking up space.
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However, as you keep using Instagram on your iPhone, the app will start building new cache from your activities, like storing images, videos, and profile info. This adds to the accumulation over time.
To avoid a buildup of Instagram cache on your iPhone, you’ll need to check and clear it regularly using one of the methods mentioned in this post.
Signing off…
While Instagram cache can improve your experience on the app, it’s usually unnecessary, especially if it starts taking up too much storage. With the methods we’ve covered above, you can easily clear the Instagram cache on your iPhone and stop it from piling up. If you have any questions, feel free to drop them below.
FAQs
Yes, but it only deletes temporary data Instagram uses to run more smoothly. Clearing the cache won’t delete your Instagram account.
Yes, you can clear your Instagram cache by offloading the app on your iPhone instead of deleting it. This allows you to keep all your Instagram data and remain logged into your account when you reinstall.
It depends on how often you use Instagram. The more you use the app, the more cache builds up.
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