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 All time from the dropdown at the top, check the box next to Cached images and files, then click Clear data. That's it — your cache is gone.

If you prefer using the menu instead, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, go to Settings, select Privacy and security from the left sidebar, then click Clear browsing data. You'll see the same window and follow the same steps.

The cache is the collection of images, scripts, and other files that Chrome stores on your computer so websites load faster the next time you visit them. Clearing it removes all those stored files, which can free up disk space and sometimes fix loading problems on websites that aren't displaying correctly.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) to open the cache-clearing window instantly.
  • Select All time from the dropdown and check Cached images and files before clicking Clear data.
  • Clearing cache removes stored website files but does not delete your passwords, bookmarks, or browsing history unless you specifically check those boxes.
  • You can set Chrome to clear cache automatically every time you close the browser if you prefer not to do it manually.

What gets deleted when you clear the cache

When you clear cached images and files, Chrome removes the temporary copies of web pages, images, and scripts that websites have stored on your computer. These are the files that make websites load faster on repeat visits because Chrome doesn't have to download them again.

The Clear Browsing Data window shows several checkboxes. By default, only Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked. If you want to delete only the cache, uncheck Cookies and other site data — that checkbox controls login information and site preferences, which you usually want to keep. Your passwords, bookmarks, and browsing history stay on your computer unless you specifically check those separate boxes.

Why you might need to clear the cache

A website might display incorrectly because Chrome is loading an old version of the page from cache instead of the current version. Clearing the cache forces Chrome to download the fresh version the next time you visit. This fixes most display problems, broken buttons, or missing images that persist even after refreshing the page.

Clearing cache also frees up disk space, though usually not much — most caches are between 100 MB and 500 MB depending on how long you've been using Chrome and how many sites you visit. If your computer is running low on storage, clearing cache is one of several things you can do, but it won't solve a serious space shortage on its own.

Set Chrome to clear cache automatically

If you want Chrome to clear your cache every time you close the browser, open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right. Go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. At the bottom of that window, check the box that says Clear cookies and other site data when you quit Chrome.

This setting clears cache, cookies, and site data automatically — you can't choose to keep cookies while clearing cache with this option. If you want more control over what gets deleted, you'll need to clear manually using the keyboard shortcut or menu each time.

Clear cache for a single website

Chrome doesn't have a built-in way to clear cache for just one website. If a specific site is displaying incorrectly, your best options are to clear your entire cache, or to open the site in an Incognito window (press Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows or Command+Shift+N on Mac). Incognito windows don't use cached files — they download everything fresh — so you'll see the current version of the site.

If the problem goes away in Incognito, you know it's a cache issue. Close the Incognito window, clear your full cache, and the site should work normally in your regular Chrome window.

Clearing cache on different devices

On a phone or tablet, the steps are slightly different. Open Chrome, tap the three vertical dots in the bottom right (Android) or top right (iPhone), tap Settings, then Privacy, then Clear browsing data. Select All time, check Cached images and files, and tap Clear browsing data.

If you use Chrome on multiple devices and want to clear cache on all of them at once, you can't do that directly. You'll need to clear cache on each device separately. However, if you're signed into the same Google account on all your devices, you can turn on Chrome sync, which keeps some settings consistent — though cache itself doesn't sync across devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my passwords?

No. Passwords are stored separately from cache. When you clear browsing data, passwords stay on your computer unless you specifically check the Passwords and other sign-in data box in the Clear Browsing Data window. Cache and passwords are two different things.

How often should I clear my cache?

There's no set schedule. Most people clear cache when a website isn't working right, or once every few months if they're concerned about disk space. If you browse privately or visit sites with sensitive information, clearing cache after each session is reasonable. For everyday use, clearing it monthly or when problems occur is fine.

What's the difference between clearing cache and clearing cookies?

Cache stores images and scripts to make pages load faster. Cookies store login information and site preferences. Clearing cache won't log you out of websites, but clearing cookies will. The Clear Browsing Data window lets you clear them separately — uncheck one box if you want to keep it.

Does clearing cache speed up Chrome?

Slightly, and only if your cache has grown very large. A full cache uses disk space and takes a moment to search through. For most people, the difference is unnoticeable. If Chrome feels slow, clearing cache is worth trying, but the real cause is usually too many open tabs or browser extensions.

Can I recover files after clearing the cache?

No. Once you clear cache, those files are deleted and can't be recovered through Chrome. If you need to keep a copy of something from a website, download it directly to your computer before clearing cache.