What clearing cache and cookies actually does
Cache is a folder on your computer where your browser stores images, videos, and other files from websites you visit. Cookies are small text files that websites save to remember you — your login information, what you put in a shopping cart, your preferences. Clearing both removes these stored files and resets your browser's memory of those sites.
You might clear cache and cookies to free up storage space, speed up a slow browser, fix a website that is not loading correctly, or remove tracking data before you close the browser. Some websites will not work properly until you clear old cookies, especially if you changed your password or the site updated its code.
The process is different depending on whether you use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, but the principle is the same on all of them: you go into settings, find the privacy or history section, and delete the data from a specific time period.
Key Takeaways
- Cache stores website images and files to make pages load faster; cookies store login information and site preferences.
- Clearing both will log you out of websites and may slow down page loading temporarily while the browser rebuilds its cache.
- The steps differ by browser, but all of them have a "Clear browsing data" or "Clear history" option in settings.
- You can set your browser to clear cache and cookies automatically every time you close it.
How to clear cache and cookies in Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. On the left side, click Privacy and security, then click Clear browsing data.
A window will pop up. At the top, you will see a dropdown that says Time range. Choose how far back you want to delete: Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or All time. Make sure the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are both checked. Then click Clear data.
Chrome will delete the files and close the window. You may need to log back into websites you use regularly. If a website is acting strange, try clearing All time instead of a shorter period.
How to clear cache and cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Click Settings. On the left, click Privacy & Security. Scroll down to the section called Cookies and Site Data.
Click the button that says Clear Data. A box will appear with two checkboxes: Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content. Make sure both are checked, then click Clear. Firefox will remove both immediately.
If you want to clear only cookies from a specific website instead of everything, you can do that from the same Cookies and Site Data section. Click Manage Data, search for the website name, and click Remove Selected.
How to clear cache and cookies in Safari
Open Safari. At the top of the screen, click Safari in the menu bar (not in the address bar — in the very top menu). Click Clear History. A dropdown will appear asking how far back you want to clear: The last hour, Today, Today and yesterday, or All history. Select your choice and click Clear History.
This clears your browsing history, but Safari also stores cookies separately. To clear those, go back to the top menu, click Safari, then Settings. Click the Privacy tab. Click Manage Website Data, then click Remove All to delete all cookies at once, or select specific websites and click Remove.
How to clear cache and cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Click Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Under Clear browsing data, click the button that says Choose what to clear.
A window will open. At the top, select your time range from the dropdown. Check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. Click Clear now. Edge will delete the files and you will be logged out of most websites.
Set your browser to clear cache automatically
Instead of clearing cache and cookies by hand every time, you can tell your browser to do it automatically when you close it. In Chrome, go to Settings, click Privacy and security, then turn on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. In Firefox, go to Settings, click Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and check the box next to Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed.
In Safari, click Safari in the top menu, then Settings. Click the Privacy tab and check Remove all website data when quitting Safari. In Edge, click the three dots, go to Settings, click Privacy, search, and services, and turn on Clear browsing data under Clear browsing data. After you turn this on, your browser will wipe cache and cookies every time you close it completely.
What happens after you clear cache and cookies
You will be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site you use regularly, you will need to enter your username and password again. Websites will also load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing, because your browser has to download images and files again instead of pulling them from storage.
Some websites may look different or not work the way you expect until you clear your browser cache a second time or wait a few minutes. If a website is still broken after clearing, try closing the browser completely and opening it again. If the problem continues, the issue may be with the website itself, not your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache and cookies delete my passwords?
No. Passwords stored in your browser's password manager are separate from cookies. If you want to delete saved passwords, you have to do that in a different section of your browser settings. Clearing cache and cookies will only log you out of websites, so you will need to type your password in again the next time you visit.
How much storage space will I free up?
It depends on how long you have been using the browser and how many websites you visit. Cache can range from a few hundred megabytes to several gigabytes. For most people, clearing cache and cookies frees up between 100 megabytes and 1 gigabyte of space. You can see how much space your browser is using before you clear by checking the storage information in your browser settings.
Can I clear cache and cookies for just one website?
Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can right-click on any website and select an option like Delete cookies for this site or Clear data for this site. In Safari, go to Privacy settings, click Manage Website Data, find the website in the list, and click Remove. This is useful if one website is broken but you do not want to log out of everything else.
Do I need to clear cache and cookies regularly?
Not unless you are having problems with a website or you want to free up storage space. If your browser is running slowly or a site is not working right, clearing cache is worth trying. If you are concerned about tracking, you can set your browser to clear automatically when you close it, which takes care of the problem without you having to think about it.