What clearing your cache does and why you might need to
Clearing your browser cache removes the temporary files your browser has stored from websites you've visited. Your browser saves these files — images, scripts, stylesheets — so pages load faster the next time you visit. Over time, this cache can grow large, slow down your browser, or cause a website to display an outdated version of itself.
The most common reason to clear cache is when a website looks broken or won't load properly. Clearing cache forces your browser to download fresh files instead of using old ones. You might also clear it to free up storage space on your device, or before selling or giving away a computer.
The steps differ slightly depending on which browser you use, but the process takes about two minutes in any of them.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing cache removes temporary website files your browser has stored and can fix pages that display incorrectly or load slowly.
- The process is different for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, but each takes less than three minutes.
- You can choose to clear cache from just the last hour, the last day, or all time — clearing all time removes the most data.
- Clearing cache does not delete your passwords, bookmarks, or browsing history unless you specifically select those options.
How to clear cache in Google Chrome
Open Chrome and look at the top right corner. Click the three vertical dots (called the menu button), then select Settings from the dropdown. On the left side, click Privacy and security, then click Clear browsing data.
A window will pop up. At the top, you'll see a dropdown that says Time range. Click it and select All time to remove everything, or pick a shorter period like Last hour or Last 24 hours if you only want to clear recent files. Make sure the box next to Cached images and files is checked. You can leave the other boxes unchecked unless you want to delete more. Click the blue Clear data button at the bottom right.
Chrome will clear the cache in a few seconds. You can close the Settings tab and go back to browsing.
How to clear cache in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (the menu button) in the top right corner. Click Settings, then click Privacy & Security on the left side. Scroll down to the section labeled Cookies and Site Data. Click the button that says Clear Data.
A small window appears. Make sure Cached Web Content is checked. At the top, you can choose your time range — Everything clears all cache, while Last Hour or Last 24 Hours clears only recent files. Click Clear to finish.
Firefox will complete the process immediately. You can close Settings and continue browsing.
How to clear cache in Safari
Open Safari. At the top of your screen, click Safari in the menu bar (not in the browser window — in the very top menu of your Mac). Click Settings or Preferences depending on your macOS version. Click the Privacy tab.
Look for the button labeled Manage Website Data or Remove All Website Data. If you see Manage Website Data, click it, select all the websites listed, and click Remove. If you see Remove All Website Data, click that button directly and confirm.
Safari will clear the cache immediately. Close the Settings window and you're done.
How to clear cache in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Click Settings, then click Privacy, search, and services on the left side. Under the section labeled Clear browsing data, click the button that says Choose what to clear.
A window opens. At the top, select your time range from the dropdown — All time removes everything, or pick Last hour or Last 24 hours for a shorter period. Check the box next to Cached images and files. Leave other boxes unchecked unless you want to delete more data. Click the blue Clear now button.
Edge will finish in a few seconds. Close the window and return to browsing.
What happens after you clear cache
After clearing cache, websites may load slightly slower the first time you visit them because your browser has to download all the files fresh. This slowdown is temporary — after your first visit, the browser will start caching those files again and pages will load at normal speed.
Clearing cache does not sign you out of websites, delete your bookmarks, or remove your browsing history — those are separate things. If you want to delete those as well, you can check additional boxes during the clearing process, but they are not removed by default.
If a website was displaying incorrectly before you cleared cache, it should now show the current version. If the problem continues, try clearing cache again or try opening the page in a private or incognito window.
When you might want to clear cache regularly
You don't need to clear cache on a schedule. Most people only clear it when a website stops working properly or when they notice their browser has slowed down. If you share a computer with other people and want to keep your browsing private, clearing cache before you hand over the computer is a good idea.
Some people clear cache weekly or monthly as routine maintenance, but this is not necessary for most users. If you find yourself clearing cache frequently because websites keep breaking, the problem might be something else — try restarting your browser or your computer first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cache. When you clear cache, you'll see a checkbox for passwords — it's unchecked by default, so your passwords stay safe. Only check that box if you specifically want to delete saved passwords.
What's the difference between clearing cache and clearing browsing history?
Cache is the temporary files websites store on your device to load faster. Browsing history is the list of websites you've visited. They're separate things. You can clear one without clearing the other by unchecking the boxes you don't need during the clearing process.
Why is my browser still slow after I cleared the cache?
Clearing cache helps with some slowness, but not all. If your browser is still slow, try restarting it completely, closing unused tabs, or restarting your computer. If slowness continues, you may have too many extensions installed or your device may be running low on storage space.
Can I clear cache automatically without doing it manually?
Yes. Most browsers have a setting to clear cache automatically when you close the browser. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, go to Settings and search for "clear browsing data" or "on exit" — you'll find an option to clear cache every time you close the browser. In Safari, this option is under Privacy settings.
Does clearing cache free up storage space on my computer?
Yes, but usually not much. Cache files are typically small, so clearing them might free up a few hundred megabytes at most. If your device is running low on storage, clearing cache helps a little, but deleting large files like old videos or photos will free up much more space.