What temporary internet files are and why you might want to clear them

Temporary internet files are copies of web pages, images, videos, and other content that your browser saves to your computer as you browse. Your browser stores these files so that when you revisit a page, it loads faster — the browser can pull the cached version from your hard drive instead of downloading everything again from the internet.

Over time, this cache builds up. Clearing it frees up disk space, can speed up your browser if the cache has grown very large, and removes a record of the sites you've visited. Some people clear their cache regularly for privacy reasons; others do it when their browser feels sluggish or when a website isn't loading correctly.

The steps differ depending on which browser you use. The most common browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge — all have a cache-clearing function, but the menu paths and options are not the same.

Key Takeaways

  • Temporary files are stored copies of web pages and images that make websites load faster on repeat visits.
  • Clearing your cache frees disk space, can improve browser speed if the cache is very large, and removes a record of sites you visited.
  • Each browser has its own cache-clearing menu, usually found under Settings or Preferences, and you can choose what time period to clear.
  • You can set most browsers to clear the cache automatically when you close them, so you do not have to do it manually each time.

How to clear cache in Google 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 options. At the top, you will see a dropdown that says Time range. You can choose All time to clear everything, or pick a specific range like Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or Last 90 days. 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 clear those too. Click the blue Clear data button at the bottom right.

How to clear cache in Mozilla Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left, 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. Make sure Cached Web Content is checked. You can also check Cookies and Site Data if you want to clear those. Click Clear. Firefox will clear the cache immediately.

How to clear cache in Safari

Open Safari. In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click Safari, then select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Privacy tab. Click the button that says Manage Website Data.

A list of websites will appear. To clear all cached data, click Remove All at the bottom right. To remove only specific sites, select them from the list and click Remove. If you want a faster route, you can also click Safari in the menu bar and select Empty Cache — this clears cached files without opening the settings window.

How to clear cache in Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Under the section labeled Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.

A window will open. At the top, use the Time range dropdown to select how far back you want to clear — All time, Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or Last 90 days. Make sure Cached images and files is checked. Click Clear now.

Set your browser to clear cache automatically

If you want your browser to clear the cache every time you close it, you can turn on this setting instead of clearing manually. 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, go to Settings, click the Privacy tab, and check Remove all website data when quitting Safari. In Edge, go to Settings, click Privacy, search, and services, and turn on Clear browsing data under the section Clear browsing data. Once you turn this on, you will not need to clear manually — it happens in the background when you close the browser.

What happens after you clear your cache

After you clear the cache, websites will load slightly slower the first time you visit them, because your browser has to download all the files fresh instead of pulling them from storage. On the second and later visits, they will load at normal speed again as the browser rebuilds the cache.

Clearing the cache does not sign you out of websites or delete your passwords — those are stored separately. It also does not affect your browsing history, which is a different thing. If you want to delete your browsing history as well, you can do that in the same menu where you clear the cache, by checking the Browsing history box before you click Clear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing my cache delete my passwords?

No. Passwords are stored separately from cached files. Clearing the cache will not sign you out of websites or remove saved passwords. If you want to delete passwords, you have to do that in a different menu — usually under Settings, Passwords or Autofill.

How much disk space does cache usually take up?

It varies widely depending on how much you browse and how long since you last cleared it. For most people, cache takes up between 100 megabytes and a few gigabytes. You can check how much space your cache is using in your browser's settings under Storage or Disk usage.

Do I need to clear my cache regularly?

Not unless you are running low on disk space or your browser feels slow. Most people do not need to clear it more than once a month. If you are concerned about privacy, you can set your browser to clear automatically when you close it, so you do not have to think about it.

What is the difference between cache and browsing history?

Cache is the stored copies of files that make websites load faster. Browsing history is the list of websites you visited. They are cleared separately — you can delete one without deleting the other. Most browsers let you choose which one to clear in the same menu.