What the Instagram cache is
The cache is a folder of stored images, videos and data. Instagram keeps it so your feed opens fast. Over weeks it grows to hundreds of megabytes. Parts of it can break. A broken cache causes blank images, a feed that will not refresh, and the “Something went wrong” error.
Before you clear it, check if Instagram is down. If the servers are down, clearing the cache changes nothing.
How to clear Instagram cache on Android
- Open your phone Settings.
- Tap Apps (or Apps and notifications).
- Find and tap Instagram.
- Tap Storage (or Storage and cache).
- Tap Clear cache.
Do not tap Clear data unless you know your password. Clear data wipes the app back to a fresh install and logs you out. Google explains the difference on its Android storage help page.
The exact menu names change by phone brand. Samsung, Pixel and Xiaomi all put it under Storage.
How to clear Instagram cache on iPhone
iPhone has no cache button for any app. You have two options.
Option 1: Offload the app
- Open Settings.
- Tap General, then iPhone Storage.
- Scroll to Instagram and tap it.
- Tap Offload App.
- Tap the Instagram icon on your home screen to reinstall it.
Offloading removes the app and its cache but keeps your login and settings. Apple describes it on its offload apps page.
Option 2: Delete and reinstall
- Hold the Instagram icon on your home screen.
- Tap Remove App, then Delete App.
- Open the App Store and install Instagram again.
- Log in.
This is the full reset. Have your password ready. If you use two-factor, have your phone or codes nearby.
Clear cache inside the Instagram app
Instagram does not have a true cache button inside the app. What it does have:
- Clear search history. Go to Settings and activity → Your activity → Recent searches → Clear all. This removes old searches, not the media cache.
- Media quality. Settings and activity → Your app and media → Media quality. Turning off “Upload at highest quality” makes the cache grow slower.
Some older Android builds of Instagram had a clear cache option under Settings. Most current versions do not. Use the phone settings instead.
What clearing the cache does not do
This matters, because people clear the cache hoping to fix the wrong thing.
- It does not delete your posts, Reels, messages or followers. Those are on Instagram’s servers.
- It does not log you out on Android. Clear data does.
- It does not fix an action block or a “try again later” limit. That is on your account, not your phone. See our something went wrong guide.
- It does not remove a shadowban or restore reach.
- It does not fix an outage.
When you should clear it
- Images or Reels show blank or grey.
- The feed says “Couldn’t refresh feed” on a good connection.
- The app is slow to open or crashes.
- Your phone storage is almost full.
If the problem is the feed only, our couldn’t refresh feed guide has more fixes.
What happens after
Instagram rebuilds the cache as you scroll. The first open may be slower. Images load from the network again, so it uses more data for a day. That is normal.
If clearing the cache did not help, update the app, restart your phone, and check your connection. If nothing works, the Instagram Help Center lists known issues.