What cache and cookies do, and why you might want to clear them
Cache is a folder on your computer where your browser stores copies of images, videos, and other files from websites you visit. The next time you go to that site, your browser loads the stored copy instead of downloading it again — which makes pages load faster. Cookies are small text files that websites save to remember information about you: your login status, items in your shopping cart, your language preference, or sites you've visited.
Over time, cache builds up and takes up disk space. Cookies accumulate too, and while most are harmless, clearing them can solve login problems, remove tracking from advertisers, or free up space on a slow computer. You don't need to clear them regularly unless you're troubleshooting a specific problem or you share your computer with others and want to remove your browsing history.
Key Takeaways
- Cache stores website files to speed up loading; cookies store information websites remember about you.
- Clearing cache frees up disk space; clearing cookies removes login sessions and tracking data.
- The steps differ by browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge each have their own menu location.
- You can set your browser to clear cache and cookies automatically when you close it.
- Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites, so have your passwords ready if you need to log back in.
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 open with three tabs: Basic, Advanced, and On exit. Stay on the Basic tab. At the top, use the dropdown that says Time range to choose how far back you want to clear — All time clears everything, or you can pick Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or Last 3 months.
Check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. Leave the other boxes unchecked unless you want to clear your entire browsing history. Click the blue Clear data button. Chrome will clear the selected items and close the window.
How to clear cache and cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Click Settings. On the left side, click Privacy & Security.
Scroll down to the section labeled Cookies and Site Data. Click the button that says Clear Data. A small window will appear with two checkboxes: Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content. Check both boxes and click Clear.
If you want to clear only recent data instead of everything, go back to the Privacy & Security page and look for History near the top. Click Clear Recent History, set the time range, check the same two boxes, and click Clear Now.
How to clear cache and cookies in Safari
Open Safari. In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click Safari, then select Clear History. A dropdown menu will appear asking how far back you want to clear — choose all history to clear everything, or pick a specific time range.
This clears your browsing history, cache, and cookies all at once. Safari does not offer a way to clear only cache or only cookies without clearing history as well. Click Clear History to confirm.
How to clear cache and cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services.
Under the Clear browsing data section, click the button that says Choose what to clear. A window will open. Use the dropdown at the top to select your time range — All time, Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or Last 3 months.
Check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. Click the blue Clear now button. Edge will clear the selected items immediately.
Set your browser to clear cache and cookies automatically
If you want your browser to clear cache and cookies every time you close it, you can turn on automatic clearing. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data, then click the On exit tab. Check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then close the window. Chrome will now clear these items when you close the browser.
In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and check the box that says Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed. In Edge, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services, scroll to Clear browsing data, and toggle on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser. Then click Choose what to clear every time you close the browser and check the boxes you want.
Safari does not have an automatic clearing option built in. If you use Safari and want automatic clearing, you can manually clear history each time you close the browser, or consider using a different browser if automatic clearing is important to you.
What happens when you clear cache and cookies
When you clear cookies, you will be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site that required a login, you will need to enter your username and password again. This is normal and expected.
Clearing cache will not affect your login status, but it may cause websites to load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing, because your browser has to download the files again instead of using the stored copies. After that, pages will load at normal speed.
Clearing cache and cookies will not delete your bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history unless you specifically check those boxes during the clearing process. It only removes the temporary files and tracking data that websites store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache and cookies delete my saved passwords?
No. Saved passwords are stored separately from cache and cookies. When you clear cache and cookies, your saved passwords remain on your computer. If you want to delete saved passwords, you have to do that in a different menu — usually under Settings > Passwords or Settings > Autofill.
Can I clear cache and cookies for just one website instead of all of them?
Yes, but the steps vary by browser. In Chrome, right-click on any website and select Delete cookies and site data for [website name]. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data, click Manage Data, search for the site name, and click Remove Selected. In Edge, you can use the same method as Chrome. Safari does not offer per-site clearing without extensions.
How much disk space will I free up by clearing cache?
It depends on how much you browse and how long it has been since you last cleared. Cache can range from a few hundred megabytes to several gigabytes on a computer that has been used for months or years without clearing. If your computer is running slowly or you are low on storage space, clearing cache can help, but it is usually not the main cause of slowness.
Should I clear cache and cookies regularly?
Only if you have a specific reason — you are troubleshooting a website that is not loading correctly, you share your computer with others and want to remove your activity, or you want to remove tracking data. If you use your computer alone and do not have storage problems, clearing cache and cookies is not necessary.
What is the difference between clearing cache and clearing browsing history?
Browsing history is the list of websites you have visited. Cache is the files those websites stored on your computer. Cookies are small data files websites use to remember information about you. You can clear any of these three separately, though some browsers combine them into one menu.