What clearing your cache does and why you might need to
Cache is temporary storage your browser keeps on your computer — old versions of websites, images, login information, and other data meant to make sites load faster the next time you visit. When a website updates but your browser keeps showing you the old cached version, or when a site stops working properly, clearing that cache usually fixes it.
Think of cache like a notebook your browser keeps: it writes down what a website looked like last time so it doesn't have to download everything again. But if the website changed and your notebook still has the old notes, you see outdated information. Clearing cache throws away that notebook and forces your browser to download fresh copies of everything.
You might need to clear cache if a website looks broken, buttons don't work, you can't log in, or a page shows information you know is out of date. It's also worth doing if your computer is running slowly or you want to remove stored passwords and browsing history.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing cache removes temporary website files your browser saved, which fixes most problems with sites that won't load or display correctly.
- The steps differ depending on which browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge each have their own menu location.
- You can clear cache for all time or just the last hour, day, or week, depending on how far back you want to go.
- Clearing cache will log you out of most websites, so have your passwords ready or use a password manager before you start.
Clear cache in Google Chrome
Open Chrome and look at the top right corner for three vertical dots (the menu button). Click it, then scroll down and click "Settings." On the left side, click "Privacy and security," then click "Clear browsing data."
A window will pop up. At the top, you'll see a dropdown that says "All time" — click it to choose how far back you want to clear (last hour, last 24 hours, last 7 days, last 4 weeks, or all time). Make sure the box next to "Cached images and files" is checked. You can also check "Cookies and other site data" if you want to log out of websites. Click the blue "Clear data" button at the bottom right.
Chrome will clear the cache in a few seconds. You may need to refresh the website you were having trouble with by pressing Ctrl+R (or Cmd+R on Mac) or clicking the refresh arrow next to the address bar.
Clear cache in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and look at the top right for three horizontal lines (the menu button). Click it, then click "Settings." On the left side, click "Privacy & Security." Under "Cookies and Site Data," click the button that says "Clear Data."
A small window appears. Make sure both "Cookies and Site Data" and "Cached Web Content" are checked. Click "Clear." Firefox will clear the cache immediately. Refresh the website you were having trouble with by pressing Ctrl+R (or Cmd+R on Mac).
If you want to clear only recent cache instead of everything, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Delete (or Cmd+Shift+Delete on Mac) to open the full clearing window, where you can choose a time range at the top.
Clear cache in Safari
Open Safari. At the top of the screen, click "Safari" in the menu bar, then click "Settings." Click the "Privacy" tab. At the bottom, click "Manage Website Data." A list of websites appears. Click "Remove All" to clear all cached data, or select specific websites and click "Remove" to clear only those.
If you want to clear cache using a keyboard shortcut, press Cmd+Y to open your history, then click "Clear History" at the bottom right. A dropdown menu appears — select how far back you want to clear (the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all history), then click "Clear History."
Clear cache in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and look at the top right for three dots (the menu button). Click it, then click "Settings." On the left side, click "Privacy, search, and services." Under "Clear browsing data," click "Choose what to clear." A window pops up.
At the top, click the dropdown that says "All time" to choose your time range. Make sure "Cached images and files" is checked. You can also check "Cookies and other site data" to log out of websites. Click "Clear now." Edge will clear the cache in a few seconds, and you can refresh the website you were having trouble with.
What to do if clearing cache doesn't fix the problem
If the website still doesn't work after clearing cache, try these next steps. First, close the browser completely and open it again — sometimes a full restart helps. Second, try opening the website in a different browser to see if the problem is specific to one browser or affects all of them.
Third, try opening the website on a different device (phone, tablet, or different computer) to see if the problem is on your end or the website's end. If the site works fine on another device, the issue is with your computer or browser, not the website. If it's broken on every device, the website itself may be down or having problems, and you may just need to wait.
If you're still stuck, restart your computer entirely. This clears temporary files beyond just browser cache and can fix problems that cache clearing alone won't solve.
Clearing cache on your phone or tablet
On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, scroll down and tap "Safari," then tap "Clear History and Website Data." Choose whether to clear the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all history, then tap "Clear History and Data."
On an Android phone, open Chrome and tap the three dots at the top right. Tap "Settings," then "Privacy," then "Clear browsing data." Choose your time range, make sure "Cached images and files" is checked, and tap "Clear data." The process is similar in Firefox for Android: tap the three lines at the bottom right, tap "Settings," then "Delete browsing data," and choose what to clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my passwords?
Only if you specifically check the box for "Cookies and other site data" or "Cookies and Site Data." If you only clear cached images and files, your passwords stay saved. However, you will be logged out of most websites and will need to log back in.
How often should I clear my cache?
There's no set schedule. Clear cache when a website isn't working right, when your browser feels slow, or when you want to remove old login information. Some people clear it weekly, others only when they have a problem. It won't hurt to do it regularly.
What's the difference between clearing cache and clearing cookies?
Cache stores website files like images and code to make sites load faster. Cookies store information like login details and preferences. Clearing cache fixes display problems; clearing cookies logs you out of websites. You can clear one without the other.
Can I clear cache for just one website instead of everything?
In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can clear data for a specific site by right-clicking on the website name in your history and selecting "Delete" or similar. In Safari, use the "Manage Website Data" window to select individual sites. This is useful if only one site is broken.
Does clearing cache make my computer faster?
It can help slightly if your cache folder has grown very large, but usually the difference is small. If your computer feels slow, restarting it or closing unused browser tabs will have a bigger effect than clearing cache alone.