How to Delete the Cache in YouTube: Desktop & Mobile App

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Fix issues with YouTube or reset your recommendations

Co-authored by Darlene Antonelli, MA Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: July 17, 2024 Fact Checked

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Clearing the App Cache (Android)

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Clearing the App Cache (iPhone/iPad)

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Clearing the Chrome Cache

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Deleting YouTube History (Desktop)

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Deleting YouTube History (Mobile)

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Tips

Trying to fix YouTube on your computer or smartphone? You can clear your web browser cache to solve YouTube issues, or clear the mobile app’s cache on your Android or iPhone. If you’re looking to reset your YouTube recommendations, you can delete your watch and search history. This wikiHow guide shows you how to clear the YouTube cache and delete your YouTube history on Android, iPhone, and PC.

Clearing the YouTube Cache Quickly & Easily

You can quickly and easily clear the YouTube cache in various ways depending on the platform you're using. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > YouTube > Storage > Clear cache. On iPhone, uninstall and reinstall the app. On Chrome, clear your browser cache in the More menu.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Clearing the App Cache (Android)

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1
Open the Settings app. This method clears the app’s cache data, resetting the YouTube app. This fixes common issues, but it doesn’t reset your recommendations since that information is stored on your YouTube account.^{[1]
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- Note that the steps will vary depending on your version of Android and your device model.^{[2]
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This will open the list of apps.

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This will open the app options for YouTube.
This will open the storage settings for the YouTube app.
This will clear the YouTube app’s cache data, which will fix minor issues with the app. If there’s still a problem with the app, try deleting the app and reinstalling it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Clearing the App Cache (iPhone/iPad)

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1
Locate the YouTube app on your homescreen. To clear the app cache, you’ll need to delete the app from your phone and redownload it. Clearing the cache will help fix minor issues with the app, but it won’t reset your recommendations, since that data is stored on your YouTube account.
- Alternatively, you can locate YouTube in the App Library.
This will make an options menu appear.
This will open a prompt asking how you want to remove the app.
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Tap Delete App. This will delete the YouTube app and its data from your phone.
- After it finishes deleting, redownload the app from the App Store. Doing so will restore your YouTube data, but removes any cached data that may have been corrupted, which caused the app not to work properly.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Clearing the Chrome Cache

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Click the More button in Chrome. It’s the three vertical circles in the top right of chrome, next to your profile picture. This method clears your Google Chrome cache, fixing minor issues with the YouTube website. This won’t reset your recommendations, since that data is stored on your YouTube account.^{[3]
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- Open Google Chrome if it isn't already opened.
- This method covers Google Chrome. For Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari, check out our general guide to clearing your browser’s cache.
This is in the More pop up menu.
This is an option in the “More tools” section of the More menu.
Selecting “All time” in the Time range drop down box is the most surefire way to resolve issues. To clear the cache, you only need to check the “Cached images and files” option. Clearing the “Cookies and other site data” may also help resolve problems.
This will confirm your choices and delete the selected data for the select time frame.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Deleting YouTube History (Desktop)

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1
Click the profile button in your browser at https://www.youtube.com/. It’s the circle with your profile picture in the top-left of https://www.youtube.com/. This opens the YouTube profile options.
- If you’ve been watching YouTube videos, but the recommendations haven’t been good lately, deleting your watch and search history resets the recommendations, giving you a fresh start.
It’s next to the shield icon with a person inside. This is in the profile options.
It’s at the bottom of the YouTube Watch History section.
This will open an options menu to select a range of history to delete.
This will open a confirmation window.
This will confirm the deletion of your watch history and search history. Doing so will essentially reset your YouTube recommendations, since it won’t be able to use your history to recommend content.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Deleting YouTube History (Mobile)

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1
Tap the profile button. Your profile picture is in the lower right corner of the app.
- Use this method to delete the watch history on YouTube with the YouTube app on Android and iPhone.
This gear icon is in the top right corner of your screen and opens the Settings menu.
This will open your history menu.
This brings up thumbnails of all the videos that you've watched recently to make sure that you want to delete it all.
Find this button in the lower right corner. Tapping it will delete all your watch history on YouTube.