To clear TikTok’s general cache, use the Cache control inside the mobile app rather than uninstalling TikTok or clearing all app data. The current route reported on recent iPhone and Android versions is Profile > Menu > Settings and privacy > Free up space > Clear beside Cache. Menu names and placement can vary by app release, region, or account.
If you have important drafts, do not treat reinstalling the app as an alternative. TikTok says drafts may be removed after the app is uninstalled and reinstalled or when an account is moved to another device.
How to clear TikTok’s cache on iPhone and Android
The same general in-app route is currently reported for TikTok on iPhone and Android, although TikTok does not provide a reviewed consumer support page documenting this general cache path.
- Open the TikTok app and select Profile.
- Open the menu, then select Settings and privacy.
- Look for Free up space.
- Find the row labeled Cache and select Clear beside it.
- If TikTok asks for confirmation, proceed only when the prompt identifies the action as clearing the cache.
Select only Cache. If the screen also lists Downloads or Drafts, those are separate categories and should not be selected for this task. Stop if the prompt refers to deleting app data, drafts, downloads, or other content.
Clearing the cache may reduce TikTok’s temporary storage or help the app run more smoothly, but neither result is guaranteed.
What clearing the TikTok cache does—and what remains unconfirmed
A cache generally contains temporary data that an app can recreate. TikTok does not currently provide reviewed official consumer documentation defining every item included in its general app cache, so it is not possible to state exactly which TikTok files the control removes.
No reviewed official source guarantees that TikTok’s general Cache control preserves drafts, downloads, login state, favorites, messages, or settings. This does not mean those items are deleted; it means a categorical preservation claim is not supported by the available official documentation. The safest boundary is to use only the in-app control specifically labeled Cache.
This general cache control is also different from TikTok’s separate in-app-browser control. The browser control concerns website cookies and cached website data, and using it may sign you out of websites opened within TikTok. That behavior should not be assumed to apply to the general app cache.
What to check if clearing the cache does not free enough space
First, return to the Free up space screen and check whether the displayed cache amount changed. You can then compare that figure with TikTok’s total storage use in your iPhone or Android storage settings. Total app storage can include more than the cache, so the two figures may not match.
| Storage action or category | How it differs from TikTok’s cache control | Safety boundary |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok Cache | The narrowly scoped in-app control for temporary cache data. | Use only the control labeled Cache for this task. |
| Downloads | A separately displayed content category when present. | Do not select it when your goal is only to clear cache. |
| Drafts | Locally stored, unpublished work rather than general cache. | Do not select a Drafts control when clearing cache. |
| Android Clear storage or Clear data | A device-level action that deletes app data, unlike Clear cache. | Do not use it as a substitute for TikTok’s in-app Cache control. |
| iPhone Offload App | A device-level action that removes the app while retaining documents and data. | It is not the same as clearing TikTok’s in-app cache; avoid changing app installation state when important drafts exist. |
| Delete App | Removes the app and its related data from the iPhone. | Do not use it as a cache-clearing shortcut when drafts matter. |
| Uninstall and reinstall | Removes and installs the app again rather than clearing only its cache. | TikTok warns that drafts may be removed after reinstalling. |
On Android, follow Android’s distinction between cache and app storage: Clear cache removes temporary data, while Clear storage deletes app data. Do not proceed if the device warns that all app data will be deleted.
Reinstalling is not a draft-safe shortcut. See TikTok’s warning about losing drafts and our guide to how TikTok drafts are stored and lost before considering any action that removes the app or moves the account to another device.
Does clearing the TikTok cache delete drafts?
No reviewed official TikTok source guarantees that drafts are preserved when the general in-app Cache control is used. To minimize risk, select only Cache under Free up space and do not select Drafts, clear all app data, delete the app, or reinstall it. TikTok explicitly warns that drafts may be removed after uninstalling and reinstalling the app or moving an account to another device.