"Automated Maintenance // No Third-Party Overhead"
REQUISITION: This script clears the cache of every user-installed app on your Android device in one shot — no third-party app, no permissions, no subscription. This is what those $4.99/month apps wish they could do.
"The command-line tool Android ships with for exactly this kind of work."
ADB is a tool built and distributed by Google as part of the Android SDK Platform Tools. It creates a communication channel between your computer and your Android device over USB, allowing you to run shell commands directly on the phone.
It does not require root. It does not modify your phone's OS. It is the same tool developers use to test apps. When you disconnect the cable, the channel closes.
| Action | Touched? | Technical Context |
|---|---|---|
| App cache directories | YES | Temporary files only. Rebuilt automatically on launch. |
| App data (Logins/Settings) | NO | Script uses --cache-only or trim-caches. |
| System apps | NO | User-installed apps only (package list -3). |
| Personal Media | NO | Does not access storage/DCIM. |
| Network access | NONE | Script runs 100% offline. |
"Verify the code before running."
Linux/Mac: Use chmod +x clear_caches.sh before running.
Settings → About Phone → Build Number (Tap 7 times).
Settings → Developer Options → USB Debugging → ON.
apt install adb or download platform-tools from Google.
Run the script and follow terminal prompts.
| Android Version | API Level | Method Used |
|---|---|---|
| Android 8.0+ | API 26+ | pm clear --cache-only |
| Android 7.0-7.1 | API 24-25 | cmd package trim-caches |
| Android 6.0 and below | API 23- | Exit (No safe ADB method) |