What clearing cache does and when you need to do it

Clearing your Facebook cache removes temporary files your browser or app has stored — old images, login data, page layouts, and fragments of posts you've already seen. Facebook stores these files so the site loads faster the next time you visit. Over time, a full cache can slow down Facebook, cause pages to load incorrectly, or show you outdated information.

You should clear your cache if Facebook is running slowly, if posts or images aren't loading, if you're seeing old versions of pages, or if you've recently changed your password and want to make sure old login sessions are removed. Clearing cache won't delete your messages, photos, or account data — it only removes the temporary files your device uses to speed up loading.

Key Takeaways

  • Clearing cache removes temporary files stored by your browser or app, which can speed up Facebook and fix loading problems.
  • The steps differ depending on whether you use Facebook in a web browser, the mobile app, or both.
  • On a computer, you clear cache through your browser settings, not through Facebook itself.
  • On a phone or tablet, you can clear cache through your device settings or through the Facebook app itself.
  • Clearing cache will not delete your messages, photos, or any data stored in your Facebook account.

Clearing cache in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge on a computer

Your web browser stores Facebook's cache, so you clear it from your browser settings, not from Facebook. The exact steps depend on which browser you use.

In Chrome: Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner, select Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Clear Browsing Data. A window will open. Make sure "Cached images and files" is checked, set the time range to "All time" (or choose a specific range), and click Clear Data. If you want to clear only Facebook's cache, you can instead click the three dots, go to Settings, then Site Settings, then Cookies and Site Data, search for facebook.com, and delete just that entry.

In Firefox: Click the three horizontal lines in the top right, select Settings, then Privacy & Security. Under Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data. Check "Cookies and Site Data" and "Cached Web Content," make sure the time range is set to "Everything," and click Clear. Alternatively, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) to open the Clear Recent History window directly.

In Safari: Click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, then the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data, search for facebook.com, select it, and click Remove. Alternatively, go to Safari menu, select Clear History, choose "all history" from the dropdown, and click Clear History.

In Microsoft Edge: Click the three dots in the top right, select Settings, then Privacy, Search, and Services. Under Clear Browsing Data, click Choose What to Clear. Check "Cached Images and Files," set the time range to "All Time," and click Clear Now.

Clearing cache in the Facebook mobile app on iOS and Android

If you use Facebook on your phone or tablet, you can clear the app's cache through your device settings. This removes temporary files the app has stored without deleting your account data or messages.

On an iPhone or iPad: Open Settings, scroll down and tap Facebook, then tap Offload App. A popup will ask if you want to offload the app — tap Offload App again. This removes the app but keeps your data. Then go back to the App Store, search for Facebook, and tap Get to reinstall it. The cache will be cleared. Alternatively, if you want to keep the app installed, you can go to Settings, tap General, then iPhone Storage, find Facebook, tap it, and tap Offload App without reinstalling.

On an Android phone or tablet: Open Settings, tap Apps (or Application Manager, depending on your device), find and tap Facebook, then tap Storage, and tap Clear Cache. Do not tap Clear Data, which would delete your login information and settings. If you don't see a Storage option, tap Permissions or Details first.

After clearing cache on either device, close the Facebook app completely and reopen it. The app will rebuild its cache as you use it, which may take a few minutes.

Clearing cache through Facebook's own settings

Facebook itself does not have a built-in cache-clearing tool in your account settings. However, you can log out of all active sessions, which will clear login data stored on your devices and force you to log back in.

To log out of all sessions on a computer, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Security and Login. Scroll down to Where You're Logged In and click See All. You'll see a list of devices and browsers where you're currently logged into Facebook. Click Log Out on each one, or click Log Out of All Sessions at the bottom to remove all at once. On a phone, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Security and Login, then tap Where You're Logged In, and tap Log Out next to each device.

When to clear cache versus when to clear cookies

Cache and cookies are related but different. Cache stores images, scripts, and page layouts to make sites load faster. Cookies store login information, preferences, and tracking data. Clearing cache speeds up Facebook and fixes display problems. Clearing cookies will log you out of Facebook and reset your preferences, but it also removes tracking cookies that follow you across websites.

If Facebook is slow or pages look wrong, clear cache first. If you want to remove login sessions or tracking data, clear cookies. Most browsers let you clear both at the same time. When you clear browsing data in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, you can check both "Cached Images and Files" and "Cookies and Site Data" to clear both at once.

What to do if clearing cache doesn't fix the problem

If Facebook is still slow or pages still won't load after clearing cache, try these steps: First, make sure you're using the latest version of your browser or app — outdated versions can cause loading problems. Second, restart your device completely. Third, try accessing Facebook in a different browser or on a different device to see if the problem follows you or stays with one browser.

If the problem only happens in one browser, try disabling browser extensions, which can interfere with Facebook. In Chrome, click the three dots, go to More Tools, then Extensions, and toggle off each extension one at a time to see if one is causing the issue. If the problem happens everywhere, contact Facebook through the Help Center or check Facebook's status page to see if there's a widespread outage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my Facebook messages or photos?

No. Cache is only temporary files stored on your device to make Facebook load faster. Your messages, photos, and all account data stay on Facebook's servers and in your account. Clearing cache only removes what your browser or app has stored locally.

How often should I clear my Facebook cache?

There's no set schedule. Clear cache when Facebook is running slowly, when pages don't load correctly, or when you notice performance problems. Some people clear it monthly as routine maintenance. If Facebook works fine, you don't need to clear it.

Does clearing cache log me out of Facebook?

Clearing cache alone usually does not log you out, because login information is stored in cookies, not cache. However, if you clear both cache and cookies at the same time, you will be logged out and will need to enter your password again.

Can I clear cache for just Facebook, or do I have to clear my entire browser cache?

Most browsers let you clear cache for a single website. In Chrome, go to Settings, then Site Settings, then Cookies and Site Data, search for facebook.com, and delete just that entry. In Firefox and Safari, you can search for facebook.com in the site data window and remove only that site. This is faster if you only want to clear Facebook's cache.

What's the difference between clearing cache and clearing browsing history?

Browsing history is a list of websites you've visited. Cache is the temporary files those websites stored. Clearing history removes the list but leaves the cached files. Clearing cache removes the files but doesn't erase the list of sites you visited. Most browsers let you clear both at the same time.