Have you noticed Twitter running slowly or crashing more often lately? Extraneous cached files may be the culprit. As an experienced tech specialist, I recommend clearing this buildup routinely for faster page loading, fewer app errors, and enhanced privacy.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn what exactly Twitter caches, why it eventually bogs things down, and how to clear it out in just a few simple steps. Arm yourself with the tricks of the trade to keep your Twitter account running as efficiently as possible.
What Data Does Twitter Cache?
Whenever you load images, videos, GIFs, external links, and other multimedia content through Twitter, pieces of that media are stored locally on your device in “cache” files for faster loading in the future. Things like:
- Thumbnail previews
- Partial image/video buffers
- Website code and cookies
- Page layout data
This means less re-downloading assets each time you scroll through your feed. But over weeks and months of heavy Twitter use, your cache piles up with unnecessary duplicate fragments.
| File Type | Size Range |
|---|---|
| Images | 5-15MB |
| GIFs | 200KB-5MB |
| Videos | 15-100+MB |
| Web page code | 50KB-1MB |
| Site cookies | 1-20KB |
Why Clear Cache Periodically?
Here are 3 key reasons tech professionals like myself recommend clearing your Twitter cache once a month:
-
Speed Up Performance – Deleting unused cached files frees up storage, RAM, and computing resources causing sluggishness or crashes.
-
Fix App Issues – An overstuffed cache is a common source of frozen screens and error messages. Clearing it fixes most Twitter problems.
-
Enhanced Privacy – Cached browser history and activity logs pose privacy risks if others access your device. Wiping this data gives you a clean slate.
Rest assured clearing your cache does not delete tweets, messages, profile info or any other important Twitter data. Next I‘ll walk you through quick steps to clear this cache for smooth, optimal Twitter performance once again.
Clear Twitter Cache on Mobile
The simplest approach is wiping the cache directly from the Twitter app on your phone or tablet:
Step 1: Open Profile Icon
Tap your profile icon (your avatar in the top left corner).
Step 2: Select “Settings and privacy”
This opens your account menu. Choose “Settings and privacy” from the options.
Step 3: Tap “Data usage”
Scroll down and select the “Data usage” choice under Settings.
Step 4: Clear Cache
Locate the “Media Storage” and “Website Data” sections. Beside Cache in both, tap the “Clear” buttons to wipe cached files.
That‘s all there is to it! Twitter will function normally again but media may take longer to load until cached again.
I suggest setting a monthly calendar reminder to repeat this Twitter cache clearing process. Next, I‘ll explain how to handle clearing cache on iPhones and Androids specifically.
Clear Twitter Cache – iPhone vs Android Steps
Alternatively, you can use your device’s Settings app to wipe the Twitter cache instead. The steps differ slightly between models as outlined below:
Clear iPhone Twitter Cache
- Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage
- Select the Twitter app storage listing
- Tap Offload App then Reinstall App
Offloading removes cached data before reinstalling Twitter cleanly. You may need to log back in but tweets and activity remain intact.
Clear Android Twitter Cache
- Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App info
- Select Twitter and tap Storage
- Tap Clear Cache to wipe
And that’s it! Going forward I strongly recommend periodically clearing out the Twitter cache using the steps above that work best for your device.
FAQs – Clearing Twitter Cache
Still have questions about managing your Twitter cached data and keeping performance optimal? Here are helpful answers the most frequently asked questions:
Will clearing the cache delete my account data?
Nope! Only unnecessary duplicate files get removed. Your profile details, tweets, media uploads, and other important Twitter content will remain intact. You shouldn’t lose anything aside from temporary loading assets.
How often should I clear cache?
I suggest clearing your Twitter cache about every 4 weeks. Set a monthly reminder! An overly stuffed cache can slow things down but allowing some caching helps your feed load faster day-to-day.
What about app updates – do they clear cache automatically?
Unfortunately no; the Twitter app updates itself but leaves existing cached files in place. Only a manual deletion clears out the gunk. Updating does help fix bugs and other issues but won’t address a bulky cache.
Can deleting/reinstalling Twitter also fix cache bloat?
Yes, removing and reinstalling the app works but it may log you out in the process. I only recommend a full delete and reinstall if clearing the cache alone doesn‘t resolve lingering performance issues.
What are some signs I may need to wipe my Twitter cache?
Watch for sluggish scrolling, frequent crashing/freezing, overall slowness, storage space running low, strange app errors, or privacy concerns if others use your phone. Address any of the above ASAP by clearing cache using my guide!
Optimize Twitter Performance
I hope these insider tips for maximizing Twitter speed by regularly clearing unnecessary cached files helps you reclaim app responsiveness and storage space! Please share with other tech-minded friends similarly looking to troubleshoot lackluster app performance too.
Remember to clear Twitter‘s cache about once per month for smooth scrolling with minimal image/video rebuffering. Just don’t forget to save any tweet drafts first!
Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy tweeting!