What clearing a cache does
A cache is temporary storage your device uses to load things faster. When you visit a website, your browser saves images, text, and code so it does not have to download them again. Apps do the same thing. Over time, caches grow large and can slow down your device, cause login problems, or display outdated information.
Clearing a cache removes these temporary files. It does not delete your passwords, saved logins, or personal files — it only removes the copies your device stored to speed things up. After you clear a cache, websites and apps will load slightly slower the first time you use them, then return to normal speed as new cache builds up.
You might clear a cache to fix a website that looks broken, free up storage space, or troubleshoot an app that is not working correctly. Most people do not need to clear caches regularly — once every few months is typical.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing a cache removes temporary files your device stored to load websites and apps faster, but does not delete passwords or personal data.
- Browser caches are cleared through your browser settings, and the steps differ between Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge.
- On Windows, you can also clear temporary files through Settings, and on Mac through the Finder and Library folder.
- Phone caches are cleared through Settings on both Android and iPhone, usually under Storage or General.
- If a website or app is broken or slow, clearing its cache is often the first troubleshooting step to try.
Clearing cache in Chrome
Open Chrome and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows, or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac. A window titled "Clear browsing data" will open. At the top, choose the time range — "All time" removes everything, "Last 24 hours" removes only recent cache, and "Last 7 days" or "Last 4 weeks" are middle options.
Make sure the checkbox next to "Cookies and other site data" is checked. You can also check "Cached images and files" to remove image cache. Leave "Passwords" unchecked unless you want to delete saved passwords. Click the blue "Clear data" button at the bottom right.
Chrome will clear the cache in a few seconds. You can close the window and continue browsing. The next time you visit a website, it will load from scratch, then cache again for future visits.
Clearing cache in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar, then select Clear History. A dropdown menu appears asking how far back to clear — choose "all history" to remove all cache, or pick a specific time range like "the last hour" or "today".
Click the blue "Clear History" button. Safari will remove cached images, files, and browsing history for the time period you chose. Passwords and saved logins remain in place.
If you want more control over what gets cleared, go to Safari > Settings, click the Privacy tab, and check the box next to "Remove history items" — then choose how often Safari should automatically clear cache (daily, weekly, or monthly).
Clearing cache in Firefox and Edge
In Firefox, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac. The "Clear Recent History" window opens. Choose your time range at the top, make sure "Cache" is checked, and click "Clear Now".
In Microsoft Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows. The clearing window opens with options for time range and what to delete. Check "Cached images and files", choose your time range, and click "Clear now".
Both browsers will clear cache in seconds. You can also set either browser to clear cache automatically every time you close it — look for this option in Settings under Privacy or History.
Clearing cache on Windows
Beyond your browser, Windows stores temporary files in a system folder. Open Settings and go to System > Storage. Click Temporary files on the left side. Windows will show you how much space temporary files are using.
Check the boxes next to the types of files you want to remove — "Temporary files", "Recycle Bin", and "Downloads" are safe to clear. Leave system cache and other technical items unchecked unless you know what they are. Click the blue "Remove files" button.
Windows will delete the selected temporary files. This can free up several gigabytes of space if you have not cleared temporary files in a long time. Your computer will continue to work normally — these are not system files your computer needs to run.
Clearing cache on Mac
Mac does not have a built-in settings panel for temporary files the way Windows does. Instead, open Finder and press Command + Shift + G to open "Go to Folder". Type ~/Library/Caches and press Enter.
A folder will open showing cache files from your apps and browser. You can select individual folders (like "Google/Chrome" for Chrome cache) or select all and delete them. Be cautious — only delete cache folders you recognize. System cache folders are usually safe to remove, but deleting the wrong folder can cause problems.
If you are not comfortable navigating folders, use your browser's built-in cache clearing instead. Most Mac users do not need to manually clear system cache — browser cache clearing is usually enough.
Clearing cache on Android phones
Open Settings and go to Apps or Application Manager (the name varies by phone brand). Find the app whose cache you want to clear — for example, Chrome or your email app. Tap the app name, then tap Storage or Storage and cache.
You will see two buttons: "Clear cache" and "Clear storage" or "Clear data". Tap Clear cache only — this removes temporary files without deleting your logins or data. If you tap "Clear storage" or "Clear data", you will lose saved passwords and settings for that app.
To clear cache for all apps at once, go to Settings > Storage > Cached data and tap "Clear cached data". This removes cache from every app on your phone without affecting your data or logins.
Clearing cache on iPhone
iPhone does not give you a simple "clear cache" button for individual apps. Instead, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Scroll through the list of apps and tap any app you want to clear cache for.
Tap Offload App to remove the app but keep its data, or Delete App to remove it completely. If you choose "Offload App", reinstall the app from the App Store — this clears its cache while keeping your login information. This is slower than Android's method but achieves the same result.
For Safari cache specifically, go to Settings > Safari and tap Clear History and Website Data. Choose the time range and tap "Clear History and Data". This removes Safari's cache without affecting other apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my passwords?
No. Cache and passwords are stored separately. When you clear cache, your saved passwords, logins, and payment information stay in place. If you want to delete passwords, you have to check that box separately during the clearing process.
How often should I clear my cache?
Most people do not need to clear cache regularly. Clear it when a website looks broken, an app is not working right, or your device is running low on storage. If you notice slowness, try clearing cache once and see if it helps — if not, the problem is something else.
What is the difference between clearing cache and clearing browsing history?
Cache is temporary files (images, code, data) stored to load things faster. Browsing history is the list of websites you visited. Clearing cache does not erase your history, and clearing history does not erase cache — they are separate. Most browsers let you clear both at once.
Can I clear cache for just one website?
Not easily in most browsers. You can clear all cache for a time period, or you can clear all cache for a specific app on your phone. If you need to clear cache for one website, try logging out and logging back in, or open the website in an incognito or private window, which does not use cache.
Will clearing cache speed up my device?
Possibly, but usually only if your cache has grown very large. Clearing cache frees up storage space, which can help if your device is almost full. If your device is slow for other reasons — too many apps running, low memory, or a full hard drive — clearing cache alone will not fix it.