Clear your cache in Chrome in three steps
Open Chrome and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac. This opens the "Clear browsing data" window directly. Select the time range you want to clear — "All time" removes everything, or pick a specific period like "Last hour" or "Last 7 days". Check the box next to "Cached images and files", then click "Clear data".
That's the fastest way. If you prefer using the menu, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, go to Settings, select "Privacy and security" on the left, then "Clear browsing data". The same window opens, and you follow the same steps.
Your cache is now cleared. Websites will load slightly slower the next time you visit them because Chrome has to download fresh copies of images and files instead of using stored versions.
Key Takeaways
- The keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) opens the cache-clearing window instantly.
- You can clear all cached data or choose a specific time period like the last hour, day, or week.
- Clearing cache frees up storage space on your computer and removes data that websites have stored about your browsing.
- After clearing cache, websites will load slower on your first visit because Chrome must download fresh copies of images and files.
What gets stored in your cache and why
Your browser cache stores copies of images, scripts, stylesheets, and other files from websites you visit. When you return to a site, Chrome loads these stored files from your computer instead of downloading them again, which makes pages load faster. Over time, this cache can grow to hundreds of megabytes or even gigabytes.
Clearing cache is useful when a website looks broken or loads incorrectly — the stored version might be outdated. It also frees up disk space and removes data that websites have stored about your browsing habits. Some people clear cache regularly for privacy reasons, though this does not prevent websites from tracking you if you are logged into an account.
Clearing cache for a single website instead of everything
If you only want to clear cache for one website, you do not need to clear everything. Open Chrome's Developer Tools by pressing F12 or Ctrl+Shift+I on Windows (or Command+Option+I on Mac). Click the "Application" tab at the top, then expand "Cache Storage" on the left side. You will see a list of websites. Right-click the one you want to clear and select "Delete".
This method is slower than clearing all cache at once, but it is useful when one site is misbehaving and you want to keep cached data from other sites. Most people do not need to do this — clearing everything is simpler and faster.
The difference between cache, cookies, and browsing history
Cache, cookies, and browsing history are three separate things that Chrome stores. Cache holds images and files that make websites load faster. Cookies are small text files that remember your login information, preferences, and what you put in shopping carts. Browsing history is the list of websites you have visited.
When you open the "Clear browsing data" window, you can choose which of these to delete. The "Cached images and files" checkbox controls cache. "Cookies and other site data" controls cookies. "Browsing history" controls your history. You can clear one, two, or all three. Most people clear cache and cookies together but keep history if they want to remember where they have been.
Automatic cache clearing when you close Chrome
You can set Chrome to clear cache automatically every time you close the browser. Click the three dots in the top right, go to Settings, then select "Privacy and security" on the left. Click "Clear browsing data". At the bottom of the window, check the box that says "Clear cookies and other site data when you quit Chrome".
This setting clears cookies and site data automatically but does not clear cache by default. If you want cache cleared too, you need to do it manually or use a different method. Some people use this setting for privacy, but it means you will have to log back into websites every time you restart Chrome.
What to do if Chrome is using too much storage space
If your computer is running low on disk space, clearing cache is one way to free up room. Open the "Clear browsing data" window with Ctrl+Shift+Delete, set the time range to "All time", check "Cached images and files", and click "Clear data". This removes all stored website files.
You can also check how much space Chrome is using. Go to Settings, click "Privacy and security", then "Clear browsing data". At the top of the window, Chrome shows how much space your browsing data is taking up. If cache is the main culprit, clearing it will help. If cookies and site data are using more space, clearing those will free up more room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache log me out of websites?
Clearing cache alone will not log you out. Cache stores images and files, not login information. Logging out happens when you clear cookies, which is a separate checkbox. If you only check "Cached images and files" and leave "Cookies and other site data" unchecked, you will stay logged in.
Does clearing cache delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately in Chrome's password manager, not in cache or cookies. Clearing cache, cookies, and browsing history will not affect your saved passwords. If you want to delete passwords, you have to do that in Settings under "Passwords and autofill".
How often should I clear my cache?
There is no set schedule. Most people clear cache when a website is broken, when they are running low on storage, or when they want to remove browsing data for privacy. If you do not have storage problems and websites are working fine, you do not need to clear cache regularly.
What is the difference between clearing cache and clearing browsing history?
Cache stores website files to make pages load faster. Browsing history is the list of websites you have visited. Clearing history removes the list but keeps the cached files. Clearing cache removes the files but does not affect your history list. You can clear one without the other.
Can I recover files after clearing cache?
No. Once you clear cache, those files are deleted and cannot be recovered through Chrome. If you need the files again, websites will download fresh copies the next time you visit them. If you deleted something important by mistake, you cannot get it back from cache.