What clearing your cache does, and when you need to do it

Your Chrome cache is a folder on your computer where Chrome stores copies of web pages, images, and files you've visited. When you return to a site, Chrome loads these stored copies instead of downloading everything again — which makes pages load faster. Over time, this cache grows and can take up gigabytes of space. Clearing it frees up storage, removes data from sites you no longer visit, and can fix problems where Chrome shows you an outdated version of a page.

You should clear your cache if a website looks broken or won't load properly, if you're running low on storage space, or if you want to remove the record of sites you've visited from your device. You don't need to clear it regularly unless you're concerned about storage — Chrome manages the cache automatically and deletes old files on its own.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac), and the Clear Browsing Data window opens immediately.
  • Select "Cached images and files" from the dropdown menu, choose your time range, and click "Clear data" to finish.
  • Clearing cache removes stored website files but does not sign you out of accounts or delete your bookmarks and passwords unless you specifically select those options.
  • If a website still looks broken after clearing cache, try opening it in an Incognito window to test whether the problem is cache-related or something else.

Clear cache using the keyboard shortcut

The fastest way to clear your cache is the keyboard shortcut. On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete all at once. On Mac, press Command+Shift+Delete. Chrome opens the "Clear Browsing Data" window immediately.

At the top of the window, you'll see a dropdown menu that says "All time", "Last hour", "Last 24 hours", "Last 7 days", "Last 4 weeks", or "Last 90 days". Choose how far back you want to clear. If you want to remove everything, select "All time".

Below that, you'll see checkboxes for different types of data. Make sure "Cached images and files" is checked — this is what you want to clear. You can leave the other boxes unchecked unless you also want to delete cookies, browsing history, or other data. Click the blue "Clear data" button at the bottom right.

Clear cache through the Chrome menu if the shortcut doesn't work

If the keyboard shortcut doesn't open the window, you can reach the same screen through Chrome's menu. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome. A dropdown menu appears.

Hover over or click "Settings" near the bottom of the menu. A submenu opens. Click "Delete browsing data" or "Clear browsing data" — the exact wording varies by Chrome version. This opens the same "Clear Browsing Data" window as the keyboard shortcut.

From here, follow the same steps: choose your time range from the dropdown at the top, make sure "Cached images and files" is checked, and click "Clear data".

What gets deleted and what stays

Clearing cache removes only the stored copies of web pages, images, and files. It does not sign you out of your accounts, delete your bookmarks, or remove your saved passwords — unless you specifically check those boxes in the "Clear Browsing Data" window.

If you only want to clear cache and nothing else, leave all other checkboxes unchecked. The window defaults to showing several options, but you control which ones actually get deleted by checking or unchecking them.

Clear cache automatically when you close Chrome

If you want Chrome to clear your cache every time you close the browser, you can set this up in Settings. Click the three vertical dots, then click "Settings". On the left side, click "Privacy and security", then click "Clear browsing data".

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 clear only cache with this option. Once you enable it, Chrome clears these items every time you close all Chrome windows.

Test whether cache was the problem

After you clear your cache, reload the website that was giving you trouble. If it now looks correct, the cache was the problem. If it still looks broken or won't load, the issue is something else — either a problem with the website itself, your internet connection, or a Chrome extension.

To test whether an extension is interfering, open the same website in an Incognito window. Press Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows) or Command+Shift+N (Mac) to open a new Incognito window, then visit the site. Incognito windows don't load extensions or cached data. If the site works fine in Incognito but not in your regular Chrome window, an extension is likely the cause.

How much space clearing cache actually frees up

The amount of space your cache uses depends on how long you've been using Chrome and how many sites you visit. For most people, the cache takes up between 100 megabytes and 2 gigabytes. If you've never cleared it and you use Chrome heavily, it could be larger.

You can see how much space your cache is using before you clear it. In the "Clear Browsing Data" window, look at the text just above the "Clear data" button — it shows the amount of data that will be deleted. After you clear it, that space becomes available on your device again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache sign me out of websites?

No. Cache stores only page files and images. Signing you in uses cookies, which are separate. You'll stay logged in unless you specifically check the "Cookies and other site data" box in the Clear Browsing Data window.

Do I need to clear cache regularly?

No. Chrome manages cache automatically and deletes old files on its own. Clear it only when a site looks broken, you're low on storage, or you want to remove your browsing record from your device.

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

Browsing history is the list of sites you've visited — what appears when you press Ctrl+H. Cache is the stored files from those sites. You can clear one without the other by checking only the box you want in the Clear Browsing Data window.

Can I clear cache for just one website?

Not directly through the Clear Browsing Data window — that clears cache for all sites at once. However, you can clear a single site's data by right-clicking on the site's icon in the address bar and selecting "Delete" or "Remove", though this option varies by Chrome version.

Will clearing cache make Chrome faster?

Clearing cache frees up storage space, but it won't make Chrome run faster in daily use. In fact, after clearing cache, pages may load slightly slower the first time you visit them because Chrome has to download files again instead of using stored copies.