> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://knowledge.tracelog.in/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://knowledge.tracelog.in/linux-and-core/linux/clean-buffers-and-cached-on-linux.md).

# Clean buffers and cached on linux

Need root permission

```
# clean buffer and cached
root@appv2-1:~# free -m && sync && echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches && free -m

# step by step
root@appv2-1:~# free -m
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:          3951       3260        691          0         46        121
-/+ buffers/cache:       3092        859
Swap:         4095          0       4095

root@appv2-1:~# sync
root@appv2-1:~# echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches

root@appv2-1:~# free -m
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:          3951       3065        886          0          2         22
-/+ buffers/cache:       3040        911
Swap:         4095          0       4095
```

Before: 

* `buffers = 46 mb`
* `cached = 121 mb`

After

* `buffers = 2 mb`
* `cached = 22 mb`


---

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