The fastest way to clear your cache in Internet Explorer
Open Internet Explorer and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on your keyboard. This opens the Delete Browsing History window. Check the box next to "Temporary Internet files and website files," make sure "All time" is selected in the time range dropdown, then click Delete. Your cache is now cleared.
If the keyboard shortcut does not work on your version, you can reach the same window through the menu: click the gear icon in the top right, select "Internet options," go to the General tab, and under Browsing history click "Delete." The Delete Browsing History window will open with the same options.
The cache is where Internet Explorer stores copies of web pages, images, and other files you have visited. Clearing it frees up disk space and can sometimes fix problems with pages loading incorrectly or showing outdated content.
Key Takeaways
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the Delete Browsing History window in one step.
- Check "Temporary Internet files and website files" and select "All time" to clear your entire cache at once.
- You can also reach the same window through the gear icon menu and Internet options if the keyboard shortcut does not work.
- Clearing your cache removes stored copies of pages and images but does not delete your saved passwords or browsing history unless you check those boxes too.
What gets deleted when you clear the cache
When you check "Temporary Internet files and website files" and delete, Internet Explorer removes the copies of web pages, images, stylesheets, and scripts that it stored on your computer. These are the files that let pages load faster the second time you visit them.
Other items in the Delete Browsing History window are separate. If you want to keep your saved passwords but clear the cache, uncheck "Passwords." If you want to keep your browsing history but clear the cache, uncheck "Browsing history." You control each one independently.
Clearing cache automatically when you close Internet Explorer
You can set Internet Explorer to clear your cache every time you close the browser. Click the gear icon, select "Internet options," then go to the General tab. Under Browsing history, check the box that says "Delete browsing history on exit."
When this setting is on, Internet Explorer will clear temporary files, cookies, and browsing history each time you close the program. You can still choose which items to delete by clicking "Settings" next to that checkbox. This is useful if you use a shared computer or want to keep your disk space free without thinking about it.
Clearing cache for a specific website only
Internet Explorer does not have a built-in way to clear the cache for just one website. Your options are to clear all cached files at once using the method above, or to clear the cache for a specific time period if you remember roughly when you visited that site.
If you want to remove cached files from a particular website without clearing everything, open the Delete Browsing History window (Ctrl + Shift + Delete), select a specific time range like "Last hour" or "Last day" instead of "All time," and delete. This removes cached files from that time period across all sites you visited.
Why your pages might still load slowly after clearing cache
Clearing the cache removes stored files, but it does not speed up your internet connection itself. If pages still load slowly after clearing the cache, the issue is likely your connection speed, the website's server, or too many browser extensions running at once.
Try closing other programs that use the internet, disabling browser extensions temporarily to see if one is slowing things down, or restarting your router. If pages load faster in a different browser, the problem is specific to Internet Explorer rather than your connection.
The difference between cache, cookies, and browsing history
Cache is the stored copies of web pages and images. Cookies are small files that websites use to remember you — they store login information, preferences, and tracking data. Browsing history is the list of websites you have visited, which appears in your back button dropdown and history menu.
When you clear the cache, websites will load from scratch the next time you visit, which takes longer but gives you the newest version. When you clear cookies, you will be logged out of most websites and they will not remember your preferences. When you clear browsing history, the back button will not show recent sites. The Delete Browsing History window lets you clear any combination of these three.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing my cache delete my saved passwords?
No, unless you check the "Passwords" box in the Delete Browsing History window. By default, only "Temporary Internet files and website files" is checked. Your saved passwords stay on your computer until you specifically delete them.
How often should I clear my cache?
There is no set schedule. Clear it when pages start loading slowly, when you notice a website is showing outdated content, or when you want to free up disk space. If you use a shared computer, clearing it regularly protects your privacy. For most people, clearing it once a month is enough.
What if I want to keep cached files from one website but delete everything else?
Internet Explorer does not let you exclude specific websites from the cache deletion. If you need to keep cached files from one site, clear the cache using a time range (like "Last hour") instead of "All time," so you only delete files from a specific period.
Does clearing the cache make Internet Explorer faster?
It can help if your cache has grown very large and is taking up significant disk space. For most users, the difference is small. If pages are loading slowly, the problem is usually your internet connection or a slow website, not the cache itself.