What cache and cookies do, and why you might clear them
Cache is a folder on your computer where your browser stores copies of web pages, images, and files you've visited. When you return to a site, your browser loads these stored copies instead of downloading everything fresh — this makes pages load faster. Cookies are small text files that websites save to remember you: your login information, what you put in a shopping cart, your preferences, or tracking data.
Over time, cache builds up and takes disk space. Cookies can become outdated or cause login problems. Clearing both is the first troubleshooting step when a website looks broken, won't let you log in, or loads slowly. It's also worth doing every few months as routine maintenance, and before you sell or give away a device.
The steps differ slightly depending on which browser you use. This guide covers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge — the four most common. If you use a different browser, the menu names are usually similar.
Key Takeaways
- Cache stores copies of pages and images to make websites load faster; cookies remember your login and preferences.
- Clearing both is the standard first step when a website won't load correctly or won't let you sign in.
- You can clear everything at once or choose a specific date range — clearing just the last hour or day is often enough to fix a problem.
- After clearing, you may need to log back into websites and re-enter saved passwords.
- The steps are slightly different for each browser, but all are found in Settings or Preferences under a Privacy or History menu.
How to clear cache and cookies in Chrome
Open Chrome and look at the top right corner. Click the three vertical dots (the menu button). From the dropdown, select Settings.
On the left side, click Privacy and security. Then click Clear browsing data. A window will pop up with options. At the top, you'll see a dropdown that says Time range — this is set to "All time" by default, which clears everything. If you only want to clear the last few hours or days, click the dropdown and choose a shorter range.
Make sure the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are both checked. You can leave the other boxes checked or unchecked depending on what you want to clear. Then click the blue Clear data button. Chrome will clear the data and close the window.
How to clear cache and cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select 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 small window appears. Make sure both Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content are checked, then click Clear.
If you want to clear only recent data instead of everything, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) instead. This opens the History window where you can choose a time range before clearing.
How to clear cache and cookies in Safari
Open Safari. At the top of the screen, click Safari in the menu bar (not the address bar — the actual menu). From the dropdown, select Clear History.
A window will appear asking how far back you want to clear. Choose all history to clear everything, or pick a specific time range like "the last day" or "the last hour". Then click Clear History. This clears both cache and cookies at once.
If you want more control over what gets cleared, go to Safari > Preferences (or Settings on newer Macs), click the Privacy tab, and click Manage Website Data. You can select specific websites and click Remove to clear only those.
How to clear cache and cookies in Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots menu in the top right corner. Select Settings.
On the left, click Privacy, search, and services. Under the section Clear browsing data, click the button that says Choose what to clear. A window pops up. Make sure Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are both checked. At the top, set the time range — "All time" clears everything, or you can choose a shorter window. Click Clear now.
What to expect after clearing cache and cookies
After you clear, websites may load slightly slower the first time you visit them, because your browser has to download fresh copies of pages and images instead of using stored versions. This slowdown is temporary and usually not noticeable.
You'll be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site you normally use, you'll need to enter your username and password again. If you had saved passwords in your browser, you may need to re-enter them — though the browser will usually offer to save them again after you log in.
Shopping carts, saved preferences, and personalized settings on websites will be reset. This is normal and expected. If a website was behaving strangely before the clear, it should work normally now.
When clearing cache and cookies doesn't fix the problem
If a website still won't load or still won't let you log in after clearing, try these next steps. First, restart your browser completely — close it and open it again. Then try the website in a different browser to see if the problem is specific to one browser or affects all of them.
If the problem only happens in one browser, try disabling browser extensions. Many extensions modify how websites work, and sometimes they interfere with login or page loading. Go to your browser's extension or add-on menu, disable them one at a time, and test the website after each one.
If the problem happens in all browsers, the issue is likely with your internet connection or the website itself, not your cache or cookies. Try restarting your router, or contact the website's support team to report the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache and cookies delete my passwords?
Clearing cache and cookies does not delete saved passwords in most browsers. Passwords are stored separately in your browser's password manager. However, you will be logged out of websites, so you'll need to enter your password again the next time you visit.
How often should I clear my cache and cookies?
There's no set schedule. Many people clear them monthly or quarterly as routine maintenance. If a website isn't working right, clear them immediately as a troubleshooting step. You can also set your browser to clear them automatically every time you close it — look for this option in Privacy settings.
What's the difference between clearing cache and clearing cookies?
Cache stores page files and images to make websites load faster. Cookies store login information and preferences. They serve different purposes, but both can cause problems if outdated or corrupted. It's usually best to clear both at the same time.
Can I clear cache and cookies for just one website?
Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can visit a website, right-click anywhere on the page, and select "Inspect" or "Inspect Element." In the developer tools that open, find the "Application" or "Storage" tab and look for that site's cookies and cache. In Safari, go to Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data and select the site from the list, then click Remove.
Does clearing cache and cookies make my browsing more private?
It removes stored data from your computer, but it doesn't hide your activity from your internet provider, the websites you visit, or your employer if you're on a work network. For more privacy while browsing, use your browser's private or incognito mode, which doesn't save cache or cookies at all.