YouTube has been running slow and lagging a lot on my iPhone recently. I think it might help if I clear the cache, but I can’t find a way to do that. Can someone guide me on how to clear the YouTube cache on an iPhone?
So you’re having trouble with YouTube on your iPhone running slow and laggy? Yeah, that’s frustrating. Unfortunately, iPhone doesn’t offer a straightforward way to clear the app cache like Android does, but you can try a few things that might help.
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Clear Safari Cache: This won’t directly affect the YouTube app, but it’s worth a shot.
- Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
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Offload the YouTube App:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Find YouTube and tap on it.
- Select Offload App. This keeps your docs and data but clears the app cache.
- Re-download the app from the App Store.
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Delete and Reinstall YouTube: This definitely clears cache data.
- Hold down the YouTube app icon until it jiggles.
- Tap the X to delete it.
- Go to the App Store and reinstall YouTube.
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Restart your iPhone: Sometimes a simple reboot can fix the lag.
- Hold down the power button until the slider appears. Slide it to power off, then turn it back on.
Hopefully, one of these methods speeds up YouTube for you!
Follow this straightforward guide on how to clear cache on iPhone (Reddit Tutorial) and boost your device’s performance.
32 Likes
Why are you wanting to clear the YouTube cache like it’s some kind of ancient ritual? But seriously, Apple doesn’t give ya a slick way to nuke app caches like Android does. Still, you can work around it.
Firstly, if YouTube’s being stubbornly slow, you can try a few different tactics:
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Offloading the YouTube App: This is basically kicking the app out the house but keeping its stuff. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, find YouTube, and select Offload App. Download it again from the App Store, and it should be less grumpy.
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Delete and Reinstall the App: Bite the bullet and delete YouTube completely. Hold your finger on the YouTube app icon until it does that jiggly dance, tap the X, and send it packing. Head to the App Store and pull it back in.
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Restart your iPhone: Turn it off and on again, the good old tech fix. Hold down the power button until you see the slider, then slide it off. Give it a moment and fire it back up.
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Clear Safari Cache: Yeah, this doesn’t clear the YouTube app cache, but who knows? Maybe a cleaner Safari helps. Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
You can also try making sure your app and iOS are both updated. These steps should make a sluggish YouTube behave better.
Check out this awesome guide on how to clear cache on iPhone for 2025 and get your device running smoothly!
Analytical Breakdown
Alright, so we already have suggestions from @nachtdromer and @voyageurdubois. Clearing cache on an iPhone isn’t as straightforward as on an Android, but there are steps to potentially speed up YouTube.
Alternative Methods to Clear Cache:
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Check for App Updates:
- Go to the App Store, tap on your profile icon, and see if YouTube has an update. Updated versions often fix bugs that cause lag.
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Close Background Apps:
- Double-click the Home button or swipe up from the bottom and hold if you lack a Home button, then swipe away other apps running in the background.
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Reduce Playback Quality:
- In the YouTube app, tap your profile picture, go to Settings > Video quality preferences, and set a lower quality. This can reduce buffering and improve speed.
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Free Up Space on Your iPhone:
- Sometimes low storage can cause apps to perform poorly. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, and look at what’s occupying most of your space.
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Reset Network Settings:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Note that this will erase saved Wi-Fi passwords so you’ll need to re-enter them.
Considerations when Clearing Cache:
- Pros: Clears junk, improves performance, frees up space.
- Cons: Potential loss of offline data, requires re-login, possible minor downtime.
Comparing Competitors’ Suggestions:
@nachtdromer’s recommendation of offloading the app keeps data intact, which is a nice touch. Meanwhile, @voyageurdubois’ mention of reinstalling the app is a sure way to clear the cache but comes with the hassle of setting up again.
No one mentioned reducing playback quality, which can indeed lessen load issues. This is an often-overlooked method that’s quite effective especially if the issue is related to internet speed.
Remember, maintaining iOS updates is crucial as well. Sometimes the lag could be due to the device’s software needing an update to match newer app versions.
Community Poll
- Which method worked best for you?
- Offload App
- Delete and Reinstall
- Reduce Playback Quality
- Clear Safari Cache
- Other (comment below)
Final Tip: Regularly clearing up space and keeping your apps updated is a fundamental maintenance task for smooth device performance. You may refer to clear cache on iPhone guide for a detailed step-by-step approach to other apps and overall iPhone maintenance.