What clearing cache does and why you might want to do it
Cache is temporary data that apps and Safari store on your iPad to load faster next time. When you clear it, you delete those stored files — Safari forgets which websites you visited, apps reload their data fresh, and you free up a small amount of storage space. You won't lose passwords, saved articles, or anything you actively saved. You'll just make your iPad forget the shortcuts it took.
Most people clear cache when an app is acting slow or frozen, when Safari isn't loading pages correctly, or when they want to free up storage before a backup. It's one of the first things to try when something isn't working right, because it often fixes the problem without erasing anything important.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing Safari cache takes three taps: Settings, Safari, Clear History and Website Data — choose the time range you want to clear.
- Individual apps store their own cache in Settings under General, iPhone Storage, then the app name — you can offload or delete the app to clear it.
- Clearing cache does not delete your passwords, bookmarks, or anything you saved on purpose.
- If an app is frozen or slow, clearing its cache often fixes the problem without losing your data.
Clearing Safari cache and browsing history
Open Settings, then tap Safari. Scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data. A menu appears asking what time range you want to clear: the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all time. Choose the range you want, then tap the blue Clear History and Website Data button at the bottom.
Safari will forget which websites you visited, delete stored images and files from those sites, and clear your search history. Your bookmarks, saved passwords, and autofill information stay in place. If you chose "all time," Safari will act like you've never visited any website before — pages may load slightly slower the first time you visit them again.
Clearing cache for individual apps
Most apps store cache in their own folder. Go to Settings, tap General, then tap iPhone Storage. Scroll down and find the app you want to clear. Tap it, and you'll see two options: Offload App or Delete App. Tap Offload App first — this removes the app but keeps your data and login information.
After you offload the app, go back to iPhone Storage, find it again, and tap Reinstall. The app will download fresh, its cache will be empty, and you'll still be logged in. If offloading doesn't fix the problem, you can delete the app entirely and reinstall it, but you may lose saved data inside that app depending on whether it syncs to the cloud.
Clearing cache without losing your data
Clearing cache is safe — it only removes temporary files that the app or browser created automatically. You won't lose photos, messages, documents, or anything you created yourself. Passwords stay saved unless you specifically clear them. Bookmarks in Safari stay in place. Downloaded files stay on your iPad.
The only data you might lose is unsaved work inside an app — for example, if you were typing a note in an app that doesn't auto-save and you haven't sent it yet, clearing that app's cache won't save it. But the cache itself is just the app's working memory, not your personal files.
When to clear cache and when to try something else
Clear cache when an app is slow, freezing, or crashing repeatedly. It's also worth trying if Safari won't load a website or keeps showing an old version of a page. If clearing cache doesn't fix the problem after a few minutes, restart your iPad by holding the power button and swiping to power off, then turning it back on.
If restarting doesn't help either, the problem is usually something else — a network issue, a bug in the app itself, or a problem with your iPad's storage. At that point, clearing cache again won't help. Check whether the app has an update in the App Store, or contact the app's support team if the problem keeps happening.
How much storage space clearing cache actually frees
Clearing cache usually frees up between 100 megabytes and a few gigabytes, depending on how long it's been since you last cleared it and how many apps you use. Safari cache is typically smaller — often under 500 megabytes. If you're trying to free up space for a large backup or update, clearing cache helps, but it's not usually the biggest space-saver on your iPad.
If you need more storage, look at your photos and videos first — they take up far more space than cache. You can also check iPhone Storage in Settings to see which apps are using the most space. Deleting old photos, videos, or large apps will free up much more room than clearing cache alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache log me out of websites and apps?
Clearing Safari cache will log you out of websites because it deletes the login token Safari stored. You'll have to sign back in next time. Clearing an app's cache usually keeps you logged in because most apps store login information separately from cache. If you get logged out, check the app's settings to see whether it has a separate sign-out option.
Can I clear cache for just one app instead of all of Safari?
Yes. Go to Settings, General, iPhone Storage, find the app, and tap Offload App. This clears that app's cache without touching Safari or other apps. If you want to clear only Safari's cache from a specific time period, use the Clear History and Website Data menu and choose the time range you want.
What's the difference between clearing cache and clearing cookies?
Cache is temporary files apps and websites store to load faster. Cookies are small text files that remember your preferences and login status. Clearing Safari's history and website data clears both at once. Some apps have a separate setting to clear cookies only, but most people don't need to worry about the difference.
Do I need to clear cache regularly?
No. Clearing cache is something you do when you notice a problem or when you're running low on storage. You don't need to set a schedule. If your iPad is working fine and you have plenty of storage, there's no reason to clear cache regularly.