topic Wipe Cache Partition Removed! in Samsung Apps and Services

Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

Pianodude58 — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 11:00:16 GMT

With the new Samsung February Security update you can no longer wipe the system cache in the recovery menu

Based on user reports regarding the February 2026 security update, specifically for the Galaxy S25 Ultra,

the "Wipe cache partition" option has been removed from the Android Recovery menu.

After this update, the recovery menu is reportedly restricted, with only the following options:

-> Reboot system now

-> Wipe data/factory reset

-> Power off

Impacted Devices: Reports indicate this affects the Galaxy S25 series and potentially others receiving the February 2026 patch (One UI 8.5/One UI 8).
Reasoning: While not officially confirmed by Samsung in the patch notes, this move is likely part of a broader shift toward using Android Runtime (ART) for optimizing app files, making the traditional cache partition cleanup obsolete.
Alternatives: If experiencing sluggishness, users are now prompted to use built-in, non-recovery methods to clear temporary files.

Note: Some users still using older updates (prior to February 2026) may still see the option, or may need to connect their device to a PC to access recovery options.

Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

IraqVet04 — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:22:32 GMT

I noticed that when I went to clear the cache partition after installing the update.
Thank you for posting the info,I thought maybe it was just me.

Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

Mujibar — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:26:58 GMT

Interesting move. Other OEMs (who have removed this option from recovery) implemented seamless updates using A/B partitions long ago, something Samsung only started doing with the A55 and then the S25 series. Google introduced seamless updates with Android 7.1 in 2016, but Samsung stubbornly refused to adopt them. Sammy is the *last* of all Android OEMs to implement this update process, and the vast majority of their device lineup is incapable of doing so.

Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

LongHiker — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:50:06 GMT

@Pianodude58 It also hit the Fold 7 in the February security patch.

Re: Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

Robin621k — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:50:25 GMT

I guess less typing for us now to give instructions !

Re: Re: Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

Mujibar — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:59:18 GMT

That's looking on the bright side! 🌞 😎

EDIT: I wonder if the "best practices" guide will be updated?

Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

Robin621k — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:59:24 GMT

Samsung channel logs on the software update page has always been awful. You would think it would be front and center, nope, not Samsung. Now there will be 100's of posts about it.

Ridiculous!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

Robin621k — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:00:19 GMT

What do you think?
It hasn't been removed in Beta yet.

Re: Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

Mujibar — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:05:35 GMT

Yay! More work for the unpaid help!

Re: Re: Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

Robin621k — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:13:16 GMT

Exactly!

There was once a post on a Samsung Facebook post, if you need technical help go to Samsung's Member community where you will find expert advice.
You don't want to know what I wrote on that post.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

Mujibar — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:18:40 GMT

I can imagine! 😂

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

Mujibar — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:20:00 GMT

I made a purposely pointed comment

Re: Re: Re: Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

CEParsons — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:35:33 GMT

Curious about this as well. Hopefully they will update the guide accordingly

Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

RedOregon — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:40:37 GMT

Interesting, and good to know! Thanks for posting, I use this quite a lot. Will be looking for the change when 8.5 makes it to the 24 series.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

Robin621k — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:43:43 GMT

One could hope, so we can link to accurate information!

Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

JRbowling1997 — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:54:36 GMT

Same with fold 6. Now how the heck do you clear system cache?

Re: Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

Robin621k — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:55:02 GMT

I don't think this will be for any phones below the S25 series. Samsung has moved to seamless updates using an A/B partition. What this means, during an update the new software will download alternatively between the A/B one month A the next month B.

The only discernible drawback, it requires more storage usage. It's probably the reason Samsung has dropped the 128gb of storage on the base models.

Re: Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

userlQcCM1wRc8 — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:00:16 GMT

Unless I interpreted incorrectly, the post seems to indicate that the change is the February security patch not only associated with OneUI 8.5.
Either way, it seems concerning, because of the use case and keeping the 24U running smoothly after each update. Sometimes I clear the cache partician when I am noticing accessible battery drain or other issues. It's a deeper dive than just restarting the phone and really works. Hopefully, the new method will be documented and accessible to the user.

Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

userlQcCM1wRc8 — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:00:46 GMT

Thank you for this post!

Re: Re: Wipe Cache Partition Removed!

Mujibar — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:23:47 GMT

You don't