Cache partition wipe - does it really help?

[anon8380037]

Re: Cache partition wipe

If it isn't happening almost instantaneously, something is wrong.

In addition to the size, there's a huge difference as to what is happening between deleting cache data and wiping a cache partition.

"Clear cached data" is going through a folder and deleting things file by file. The partition that folder is in has stuff that you do not want deleted - pictures, applications, user settings, and whatnot. The only way to delete the temp data is to blow it away one file at a time (think of clearing TEMP in Windows - that's basically what you are doing)

"System cache" is a dedicated partition (sorta like a separate disk drive). It doesn't have to wipe any data at all. It just needs to reset the area that tells the system that stuff exists on the partition. That's literally changing a couple of thousand bytes at most. The data is actually still there but the OS doesn't know it exists, so it treats it all as empty space. (think of "Quick Format" in Windows - that's basically it).

That's interesting. I was going to add that both my Samsung's, a Note 3 and ex S2, do indeed 1 or seconds.

So I was surprised that a Moto G I bought to replace the S2 took about 5 minutes or so, being almost vanilla Android and all.

Are you saying the Motorola / Google devices do it properly then, where the Samsung's just put a vacant sign on the System Cache space?

I didn't fully understand the post, but that's probably more me than your explanation.

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On Edit: I misread, thinking clearing cache fast meant something was wrong, I see you say if it doesn't clear quickly something is wrong.

Time for a coffee, donut and Aspirin.

 

[natehoy]

Re: Cache partition wipe

That's interesting. I was going to add that both my Samsung's, a Note 3 and ex S2, do indeed 1 or seconds.

So I was surprised that a Moto G I bought to replace the S2 took about 5 minutes or so, being almost vanilla Android and all.

Are you saying the Motorola / Google devices do it properly then, where the Samsung's just put a vacant sign on the System Cache space?

I didn't fully understand the post, but that's probably more me than your explanation.

------------
On Edit: I misread, thinking clearing cache fast meant something was wrong, I see you say if it doesn't clear quickly something is wrong.

Time for a coffee, donut and Aspirin.

The Moto G might be doing a secure wipe (actually overwriting the partition with a random pattern), though why in the heck they'd bother is beyond me unless you encrypted your device or something.

I know my Moto X (2013 and 2014 both) did a clear cache partition pretty darned fast.

 

[anon8380037]

Re: Cache partition wipe

The Moto G might be doing a secure wipe (actually overwriting the partition with a random pattern), though why in the heck they'd bother is beyond me unless you encrypted your device or something.

I know my Moto X (2013 and 2014 both) did a clear cache partition pretty darned fast.

Naw. Straight up unencrypted XT1039 Moto G 2013.
I have very little on it and rarely use it.

I just timed it at 4 min : 10 secs.
Probably like you said it's being more thorough and overwriting.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Re: Cache partition wipe

It can depend on the kernel on the speed of the Cache wipe. My N5 takes almost 10 minutes.

 

[lukie80de]

Re: Cache partition wipe

For the Archives. In my case wiping the cache partition solved the following problems so far:
1. sluggish UI
2. general delayed-audio file playing
3. delayed or non-functioning google now search voice-recognition
Now I will do a wipe after every new app install.

 

[teejay69]

I learned about this just after my Note 4 upgraded to Lollipop 5.1.1. Lollipop was erratic as far as battery life went, and it tended to heat up. After doing the partition cache thing, everything really settled out nicely. I also changed the transitions to .5. I don't have numbers to back out up, but I really think it's made a difference. My day starts at 0530, and ends near 2300, and I'm still carrying a 15-17% charge. I've done the cache clear on the other phones in the house and everybody feels it makes a difference.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Ntchwaidumela]

Is it just placebo or does this make thing snappier? I was cautious about doing this because it is a bit scary but after doing it, it seems quicker. Maybe it is just me?

It's actually not scary at all. It's very easy to do, as you've probably found out. I do it about every month or so.

 

[Crashdamage]

Clearing cache files has its place, but it's very rare that you need to go there.

The hot new trendy thing lately is clearing the cache partition, supposedly to increase performance. This is not so. It does not increase performance in the vast majority of instances. If anything, it decreases performance, wasting CPU cycles and power needlessly rebuilding caches.

In reality, perceived performance improvement is very likely a placebo effect. You want it to be faster, you did stuff that you heard makes it faster, so it must be faster. You believe, therefore it is so.

Many people are clearing the cache partition often, even daily, treating it as regular maintenance.
See above. This is totally unnecessary and counterproductive.

Cache files are there for a reason, to speed up system operation. Normally, best performance is achieved by just leaving cache files alone to do their job.

In all the years and all the Android devices I've had, I can count the times I've needed to mess with cache files on one hand, with fingers left over.

But there are rare exceptions. If an app is struggling it might help to clear the cache for that app only. Or another exception is after a major system like Lollipop if the device is acting funky. Clearing all caches so they can rebuild with correct files for the new OS can sometimes straighten it out.

Otherwise, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Android since v1.0. Linux since 2001.

 

[muzzy996]

Agree with Crashdamage . I only clear cache when having strange issues, particularly after having done play store updates. Occasionally I've seen strange behavior after applying updates and if a simple reboot doesn't clear them up I'll clear cache. I'd say that I probably clear cache once a month, if that. Otherwise I let cache do it's thing which is supposed to be speeding up app performance as opposed to having to rebuild itself because I keep prematurely clearing it.

 

[sparksd]

Clearing the cache partition does not clear application caches.

 

[muzzy996]

You're right . . and I often take for granted everyone can do what rooted users like I do . . for me when i clear cache i'm clearing both cache and dalvic using custom recovery.

 

[Rukbat]

After an update, if there are strange issues, or if the phone is suddenly slow, wiping the system cache partition may help. If you flash a different ROM you should always wipe the cache partition (before or after doesn't make any difference).

Otherwise, if you close apps when you're done with them, instead of going Home, and you don't use "RAM cleaning" apps, you should never have to clear either the app cache or the system cache. (The app cache should seldom get to 100MB. The system cache partition isn't used for anything else, so clearing it won't give you more space for anything.)

(If you use RAM cleaning apps, uninstall them and you'll see an improvement right away - in phone speed and in battery life.)

@CD - I can count the times on one finger - I FCd apps all over the place to see what would happen to the cache. It went to almost 2GB and I cleared it. Other than ROM changes (and Play Store bugs - there's something strange in there), I've never found a need to clear a cache.

 

[Crashdamage]

Rukbat,
We agree. One thing I don't get you said...what difference does hitting the Home button make? I just don't see how that matters. I do it a lot and never noticed any problem.

Android since v1.0. Linux since 2001.