What clearing your cache does and why you might need to
Clearing your browser cache removes temporary files your browser has stored from websites you visited. These files — images, scripts, stylesheets — normally speed up loading because your browser doesn't have to download them again. But over time, cached files can cause problems: a website looks broken because your browser is showing you an old version, a page loads slowly because the cache is bloated, or you're seeing outdated information because the site updated but your cache didn't.
Clearing cache is one of the first troubleshooting steps when a website isn't working right. It's also useful if you share a computer and want to remove traces of where you've been, or if you're running low on storage space. The process takes less than a minute and won't delete your passwords or saved usernames — those live in a separate storage area.
Key Takeaways
- Cache clearing works differently in each browser, but all of them let you do it through the Settings or History menu in under a minute.
- You can clear cache from a specific time range (last hour, last day, all time) rather than wiping everything at once.
- Clearing cache will not delete your saved passwords, usernames, or browsing history unless you specifically check those boxes too.
- If a website still looks wrong after clearing cache, try opening it in a private or incognito window to rule out cache as the problem.
Clear cache in Google Chrome
Open Chrome and look at the top right corner. Click the three vertical dots (the menu button), then select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy and security, then click Clear browsing data. A window will pop up.
At the top of that window, you'll see a dropdown that says All time. Click it if you want to change the time range — you can pick Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or All time. Below that, make sure Cached images and files is checked. Leave everything else unchecked unless you want to delete other things too. Then click Clear data. You're done.
If you want a faster route: press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac. This opens the clear browsing data window directly, skipping the Settings menu.
Clear cache in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (the menu button) in the top right. Select Settings, then click Privacy & Security on the left. Scroll down to the section called Cookies and Site Data. Click the button that says Clear Data.
A small window appears. Make sure Cached Web Content is checked — it should be by default. Leave Cookies and Site Data unchecked unless you want to delete those too. Then click Clear. Firefox will clear the cache and close the window.
The keyboard shortcut is Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac, which takes you straight to the Privacy & Security page.
Clear cache in Apple Safari
Open Safari. At the top of your screen, click Safari in the menu bar (not inside the browser window — in the very top menu of your Mac). Click Settings. Go to the Privacy tab. At the bottom, click Manage Website Data.
A list of websites appears. If you want to clear everything, click Remove All at the bottom right. If you want to remove only specific sites, click each one and then click Remove. When you're done, click Done.
Safari doesn't have a keyboard shortcut for this, but you can also go to History in the top menu bar and click Clear History. Choose how far back you want to clear (Last hour, today, today and yesterday, all history), then click Clear History. This clears both history and cache together.
Clear cache in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots (the menu button) in the top right corner. Click Settings. On the left, click Privacy, search, and services. Under the section Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window opens. At the top, select your time range from the dropdown — All time is the default. Make sure Cached images and files is checked. Leave the other boxes unchecked unless you want to delete those items too. Click Clear now.
You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows, which opens the clear browsing data window directly.
What to do if clearing cache doesn't fix the problem
If a website still looks broken or loads slowly after clearing cache, try opening it in a private or incognito window. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Command + Shift + N on Mac. In Safari, press Command + Shift + N. A private window doesn't use any cached files — it downloads everything fresh. If the site works fine in private mode, cache was the problem and you've fixed it. If it still doesn't work, the problem is something else.
You can also try restarting your browser completely — close all windows and open it again. Sometimes a browser gets stuck using old cache even after you've cleared it, and a full restart forces it to reload everything. If you're still having trouble after that, the issue might be with your internet connection, your browser extension, or the website itself rather than your cache.
How often you should clear cache
Most people don't need to clear cache on a schedule. Your browser is designed to manage it automatically — old files get deleted to make room for new ones. You only need to clear it when you notice a problem: a site looks wrong, pages load slowly, or you're running out of storage space on your device.
If you share a computer with other people and want privacy, clearing cache is worth doing regularly — maybe once a week or after each session. If you're the only user and your device has plenty of storage, you can go months without clearing it. The only downside to clearing cache frequently is that websites will load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing, because your browser has to download everything fresh instead of using stored files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my passwords and saved usernames?
No. Passwords and saved usernames are stored separately from cache. When you clear cache, you only remove temporary files like images and scripts. If you want to delete passwords too, you have to check that box separately in the clear browsing data window — it's usually called "Passwords and other sign-in data" or "Cookies and site data".
What's the difference between cache and browsing history?
Browsing history is the list of websites you've visited — the URLs that appear when you type in the address bar. Cache is the temporary files those websites left behind. You can clear one without the other. Most people clear cache to fix website problems, and clear history for privacy.
Can I clear cache for just one website instead of everything?
In Safari, yes — you can select individual websites in the Manage Website Data window and remove only those. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can't target a single site through the settings, but you can open that site in a private or incognito window to see it without any cached files.
Why does my browser keep asking me to clear cache?
Some websites or extensions display notifications suggesting you clear cache. These are usually trying to sell you a "cleaning" tool or get you to download something. You don't need a special tool — your browser's built-in clear cache feature works fine. You can ignore these notifications.
Does clearing cache make my browser faster?
Clearing cache can make your browser faster if the cache has become very large or corrupted. But normally, cache makes your browser faster because it doesn't have to download files again. After you clear cache, websites will load slightly slower the first time you visit them, then speed up again as new cache builds up.