What clearing your cache does and why you might need to
Clearing your internet cache removes the temporary files your browser stores from websites you visit — images, scripts, stylesheets, and other data that help pages load faster the next time you visit them. Over time, this cache folder grows large and can slow down your browser, cause pages to display outdated versions, or free up storage space on your device.
You might clear your cache if a website looks broken or loads an old version, if you want to remove your browsing history before sharing your device, or if your browser is running slowly. Some people clear it regularly as routine maintenance; others do it only when something goes wrong.
Clearing cache is different from clearing browsing history. Cache is the temporary files websites leave behind; history is the list of sites you visited. Most browsers let you clear one, the other, or both at the same time.
Key Takeaways
- Cache clearing works differently in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge — each browser has its own menu location and keyboard shortcut.
- On Windows, most browsers use Ctrl+Shift+Delete to open the cache-clearing menu; on Mac, it is usually Command+Shift+Delete or Command+,.
- You can set your browser to clear cache automatically when you close it, which removes the need to do it manually.
- Mobile browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) clear cache through their settings menu, not a keyboard shortcut.
- Clearing cache does not delete your saved passwords or autofill information unless you specifically choose to clear those too.
Clearing cache in Chrome on Windows and Mac
In Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac. This opens the "Clear browsing data" window directly. At the top, select the time range — "All time" clears everything, or you can choose "Last hour", "Last 24 hours", "Last 7 days", "Last 4 weeks", or "Last 90 days".
Make sure the "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" boxes are checked. Uncheck anything you want to keep, such as "Passwords and other sign-in data" or "Autofill form data". Then click "Clear data". The process usually takes a few seconds.
If you want Chrome to clear cache automatically every time you close the browser, go to Settings (the three-line menu in the top right), select Privacy and security, then Cookies and other site data. Turn on "Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome".
Clearing cache in Firefox on Windows and Mac
In Firefox, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac to open the History panel. Click "Clear Recent History" in the top right. A window appears asking what time range to clear — choose "Everything" to clear all cache, or pick a specific range.
Under "Details", make sure "Cache" is checked. You can also check "Cookies", "Browsing & download history", or other items depending on what you want to remove. Click "Clear Now". Firefox clears the data immediately.
To set Firefox to clear cache on exit, go to Settings (the three-line menu in the top right), select Privacy & Security, and scroll to "Cookies and Site Data". Check the box next to "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed".
Clearing cache in Safari on Mac
Safari does not have a keyboard shortcut for clearing cache. Instead, click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select "Clear History". A dropdown menu appears asking how far back to clear — choose "all history" to remove everything, or pick a time range like "the last hour" or "today".
This clears history, cache, and cookies all at once; Safari does not let you clear them separately from this menu. If you want more control over what gets deleted, go to Safari menu, then Preferences, then Privacy. Click "Manage Website Data" to see individual sites and remove cache from specific ones.
To clear cache automatically when you quit Safari, go to Safari menu, then Preferences, then Privacy. Check the box next to "Remove all website data when quitting Safari".
Clearing cache in Edge on Windows and Mac
In Microsoft Edge, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac. The "Clear browsing data" window opens. Select your time range at the top — "All time" clears everything, or choose a specific period.
Check the boxes next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files". Leave unchecked anything you want to keep, like passwords. Click "Clear now". Edge processes the request in a few seconds.
To make Edge clear cache automatically on exit, click the three-dot menu in the top right, go to Settings, then Privacy, search, and services. Scroll to "Clear browsing data" and turn on "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser". You can also turn on "Always clear this when I close the browser" to clear automatically without being asked.
Clearing cache on iPhone and iPad Safari
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, scroll down and tap Safari, then tap "Clear History and Website Data". A popup asks you to confirm — tap it again. This clears history, cache, and cookies from the last hour, the last day, the last week, the last month, or all time depending on what you select before tapping.
Safari on iOS does not let you clear cache without also clearing history and cookies. If you want to clear cache from specific websites only, go to Settings, Safari, "Advanced", then "Website Data", find the site in the list, swipe left on it, and tap "Delete".
Clearing cache on Android Chrome and Firefox
In Chrome on Android, tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner, then tap "Settings". Scroll down and tap "Privacy and security", then "Clear browsing data". At the top, select your time range — "All time" clears everything. Check "Cookies and site data" and "Cached images and files", then tap "Clear data".
In Firefox on Android, tap the three-line menu at the bottom right, then tap "Settings". Scroll to "Privacy" and tap "Delete browsing data". Check the boxes next to "Cache" and any other data you want to remove, then tap "Delete browsing data" at the bottom.
Neither Android browser has a built-in option to clear cache automatically on exit, but you can clear it manually each time you close the app using the steps above.
What happens after you clear cache
After clearing cache, websites will load slightly slower the first time you visit them because your browser has to download all the images and files again instead of using the stored copies. The second and later visits load at normal speed as the cache rebuilds.
Clearing cache does not sign you out of websites or delete your passwords unless you specifically checked those boxes during the clearing process. Your bookmarks, saved passwords, and autofill information stay in place. If you only cleared "Cached images and files" and "Cookies", your login sessions may stay active depending on how the website stores them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my passwords?
No, unless you specifically check the "Passwords" or "Passwords and other sign-in data" box during the clearing process. Most people leave this unchecked so they stay logged in to their accounts. If you want to remove passwords, you have to choose that option separately.
How often should I clear my cache?
There is no set rule. Some people clear it weekly or monthly as routine maintenance; others only clear it when a website looks broken or their browser feels slow. If you notice pages loading outdated versions or your browser is sluggish, clearing cache is worth trying. Setting your browser to clear automatically on exit removes the need to think about it.
Can I clear cache from just one website instead of all of them?
Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, go to Settings, then Privacy or History, then find "Cookies and site data" or "Manage data". Search for or scroll to the specific website and delete it. In Safari on Mac, go to Preferences, Privacy, "Manage Website Data", find the site, and click "Remove". On iPhone, go to Settings, Safari, Advanced, Website Data, find the site, and swipe left to delete.
What is the difference between cache and cookies?
Cache stores images, scripts, and other files that help pages load faster. Cookies store small pieces of information like your login status, preferences, or tracking data. Both are temporary files, but they serve different purposes. Most cache-clearing tools let you delete them separately, though some browsers like Safari delete them together.
Does clearing cache free up storage space on my device?
Yes, especially if your cache folder has grown large over months or years. The amount of space freed depends on how much you browse and how long it has been since you last cleared. On phones with limited storage, clearing cache regularly can help keep your device running smoothly.