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How to clear the cache on the Galaxy S5 for better performance

androidpit samsung galaxy s5 review 1
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Clearing the system cache on any device is part of your standard toolbox for fixing bugs, troubleshooting system performance or otherwise taking good care of your Android device. Here's how to clear the cache on the Galaxy S5.

AndroidPIT Samsung Galaxy S5 android recovery screen
To enter recovery, just press and hold Power, Volume Up and the Home button. © ANDROIDPIT

Why would I clear the cache?

A couple of reasons. Perhaps you've just updated your firmware to a new Android version and are experiencing some weird bugs. Maybe you're flashing a new ROM and want to minimize your chances of having problems on the other side. Or maybe your apps keep crashing or doing other strange things. Clearing the cache partition can be effective in all of these cases.

What does clearing the cache do?

Not much. Clearing the system cache (or app caches) simply wipes the cached data that an Android device stores to make app launches a little bit faster. So while clearing the cache technically means the next time you run a process or an app it will have to reload that data rather than access it from the cache, regularly clearing your cache can improve the general performance of your device by clearing out unwanted data or stuff from older versions that causes problems after you've updated to a newer version.

AndroidPIT Samsung Galaxy S5 recovery rebooting
You'll see Recovery booting when you've done the button combination correctly. © ANDROIDPIT

How to clear the cache on the Galaxy S5

1. Turn off your Galaxy S5.

2. Press and hold the Power, Volume Up and Home buttons simultaneously.

3. You can release them when you see the Samsung logo with Recovery booting written in blue at the very top of the screen.

AndroidPIT Samsung Galaxy S5 clear cache partition 1
Use the volume buttons to highlight Wipe Cache Partition and use Power to confirm. © ANDROIDPIT

4. You will be brought to the Android System Recovery screen (or a custom recovery if you have one installed – if so, your steps will be slightly different, but basically the same as described here).

5. Use the volume buttons to scroll down the list to highlight Wipe Cache Partition and use the Power button to confirm your selection.

AndroidPIT Samsung Galaxy S5 cache partition cleared
You'll see that the cache clear has worked at the bottom of the screen.  © ANDROIDPIT

7. You'll see a notification at the bottom of the screen in yellow to show that the system cache has been wiped.

8. If Reboot System Now is not already highlighted, use the volume keys to highlight Reboot System Now and press the Power button to confirm.

AndroidPIT Samsung Galaxy S5 reboot system now
Once you've cleared the cache partition you can simply Reboot System Now. © ANDROIDPIT

9. Your Galaxy S5 will reboot with a fresh system cache.

Don't forget that you can also clear the cache for specific apps if you know that one app in particular is causing you problems. Simply go to Settings > Applications and find the app in question. You should be presented with a couple of options, including Clear cache and Clear data. Clearing the cache is temporary, clearing the data wipes passwords, saved progress and app settings, so use that one only as a last resort.  

How often do you wipe your cache partition? What other tips do you have for maintaining a phone?

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Kris Carlon

Kris Carlon
Senior Editor

Kris is a former AndroidPIT Editor who came to the team via a lengthy period spent traveling and relying on technology to keep him in touch with the outside world. He can usually be found juggling three phones at once and poring over G+ posts, Reddit and RSS feeds.

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39 comments
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  • D. Paul Williams 1
    D. Paul Williams Dec 16, 2017 Link to comment

    Worked great. Haters gonna hate! Thanks for taking the time to put this up!


  • Gaylene Gott 1
    Gaylene Gott Mar 20, 2017 Link to comment

    You're awesome. Thanks for the assistance!!!


  • JC Suarez 1
    JC Suarez Dec 27, 2016 Link to comment

    help, its been more than 15 minutes, the bottom screen says wiping cache... but it does nothing and simultaneously on top of the page says Android Recovery and gives me the option for yes or no... what do i do?


    • 1
      KD Allen Jan 4, 2017 Link to comment

      Highlight the option "Yes" and hit the power button to confirm. As soon as you do that, the cache clearing will complete and you'll be set


  • Herborg Munthe 1
    Herborg Munthe Nov 27, 2016 Link to comment

    Just followed the instructions and it worked like a charm.
    Thank you for the article.


  • 1
    Tony Hellinger Sep 14, 2016 Link to comment

    WTH its showing green man with downloading do not turn off target. Did this just wipe out my phone?


    • De Demax 2
      De Demax Dec 4, 2016 Link to comment

      I don't believe you are in the Recovery mode. When you see "downloading" you can Flash files, install Roms and install .zip files. You are not downloading yet when it says "do not turn off target". You can reboot any time. But if you decide to flash, say with ODIN. You must be connected with USB to your computer, Start ODIN .exe within ODIN find the files to flash, Push GO, then "DO NOT TURN OFF TARGET" until the flash is finished. You upgrade and downgrade in that mode, but since you are not in Recovery Mode, I don't think you can clean cache, nor revert to Factory reset. I just don't remember the name of mode you are in, but it's not the Recovery mode.


  • Nancy K 1
    Nancy K Sep 9, 2016 Link to comment

    This works great! Now, if I could just figure out what is draining my S5 battery while I watch. If I'm not using it and the screen turned off, it keeps battery really well. The minute I turn it on and use it for anything I can watch the battery go down at about 1% every 2 minutes. I thought I had it fixed when I deleted Messenger. Now, the only thing that shows lots of battery usage is Android System at 28%. Everything else at 1%.
    I know this thread isn't about battery...can someone point me to a thread that deals with this? Thanks!


    • De Demax 2
      De Demax Dec 4, 2016 Link to comment

      Try a sweep (cleaner). Plenty available in Google store for free. You probably have 50 some android programs running in the background, just waiting to be used. It's kinda like your TV and Stereo (OFF doesn't mean OFF -- OFF means standby) and it's not off until you unplug the power.
      I use "Clean Sweep" but only because it was already installed. I'm sure there are better ones or equal to it.
      Example: I just turned on my phone, clean sweep informed me quote: "2 apps will autostart-Block to avoid consuming memory" "detected apps constantly restarting causing device lag" "fix ?" "Junk notifications" "clean ?" I can't point to what you requested - you need to use your own fingers to search.


  • Debbie Garman 1
    Debbie Garman Aug 22, 2016 Link to comment

    Lost everything! Not happy :[


  • 1
    D.M.F. Aug 13, 2016 Link to comment

    for some reason it will still save information on web sites like previously typed information. I cant get this to delete. Even with clearing cache from the phone or the program. :/


  • 1
    Richard LaLane Jul 1, 2016 Link to comment

    Left out one small detail...THIS DOES A FACTORY REBOOT ON THE PHONE!!!!!!! All I wanted was to clear out the built up garbage, now I'll be up the better part of the night trying to get my phone back in order!!!


    • CoolHwip92 2
      CoolHwip92 Jul 9, 2016 Link to comment

      No need for text yelling. Did you notice that the factory reset option was 1 up from the wipe cache? I'm betting you pressed the wrong one.

      De Demax


    • De Demax 2
      De Demax Dec 4, 2016 Link to comment

      No it doesn't do a Factory reset unless you chose to do so. I've used the clean cache a dozen times and it don't wipe the present system unless you chose so. You evidently chose both to clean cache and do a factory reset. I know it's tiny to read but use magnifying glass before committing yourself. (you can also reboot without doing either.)


  • CrazyToker 420 1
    CrazyToker 420 Jun 5, 2016 Link to comment

    This doesn't even work. I turn off my phone, held the volume up power and home button with no success at seeing the rebooting in blue text.


    • De Demax 2
      De Demax Dec 4, 2016 Link to comment

      You must have a phone like mine. Too sensitive. Try and try again in various order holding the buttons down. Mine takes several tries, but it works ultimately.


  • Richard Matthew 1
    Richard Matthew Mar 14, 2016 Link to comment

    when i did this i lost my screen i mean it went black however its still there the blue tooth litght and everything but i cant get the screen to turn on


  • 2
    Toni Taylor Jan 22, 2016 Link to comment

    Your way didn't work for me, I'm able to empty cache from CCleaner but wanted to know if your way made a difference. I'm with AT&T if that matters but originally my phone came from Samsung as part of a Beta Test. Any ideas?


  • 1
    Marcus S. Jan 13, 2016 Link to comment

    Definitely worked for me......thanks a million!!!


  • 1
    Keegan Staker Dec 29, 2015 Link to comment

    My apps were constantly crashing (system ui and chrome) and my audio and calls weren't working. This appeared to fix everything and speed everything up. This was even after a factory reset. There is no downside to deleting your cache.

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