What clearing cache does and why you might want to

Cache is a folder where Edge stores copies of images, scripts, and other files from websites you visit. The next time you go to that site, Edge loads these copies from your computer instead of downloading them again — which makes pages load faster. Over time, this cache folder grows and can take up gigabytes of space.

Clearing cache is useful when a website looks broken or loads an old version of a page, when you want to free up disk space, or when you're selling or giving away your computer and want to remove traces of where you've been. It won't delete your passwords or saved payment methods unless you specifically tell it to.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Edge, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (or go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data) to open the cache-clearing window.
  • Choose what to delete: cache alone, or cache plus cookies, history, and other data depending on what you need.
  • Select the time range — "All time" clears everything, while "Last hour" or "Last 24 hours" clears only recent activity.
  • Passwords and payment methods stay unless you check the box for "Passwords and other sign-in data" or "Payment info".
  • You can set Edge to clear cache automatically every time you close the browser if you want hands-off privacy.

The fastest way: keyboard shortcut

Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on your keyboard. This opens the "Clear browsing data" window directly, skipping the Settings menu. This works on Windows and most Linux systems.

On a Mac, the shortcut is Command+Shift+Delete.

Clearing cache through the Settings menu

If the keyboard shortcut doesn't work or you prefer using the menu, open Edge and look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner. Click it, then select Settings.

In the left sidebar, click Privacy, search, and services. Under the "Clear browsing data" section, click the button that says Clear browsing data. This opens the same window as the keyboard shortcut.

Choosing what to delete

The "Clear browsing data" window shows checkboxes for different types of data. By default, Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked. These are the main things taking up space.

If you only want to clear cache and nothing else, uncheck "Cookies and other site data" and leave "Cached images and files" checked. If you want to remove your browsing history too, check Browsing history. Passwords and payment methods are unchecked by default — they only delete if you check those boxes yourself.

The other options — Downloads, Autofill form data, Site permissions — are less commonly needed. Leave them unchecked unless you have a specific reason to clear them.

Selecting the time range

At the top of the window, you'll see a dropdown menu that says Time range. The default is usually "All time", which clears everything. You can change this to:

  • Last hour — clears only cache from the past 60 minutes
  • Last 24 hours — clears cache from the past day
  • Last 7 days — clears cache from the past week
  • Last 4 weeks — clears cache from the past month
  • All time — clears everything Edge has stored

Choose "All time" if you're troubleshooting a broken website or freeing up space. Choose a shorter range if you only want to clear recent activity.

Finishing the clear and what happens next

Once you've selected what to delete and the time range, click the blue Clear now button. Edge will delete the selected data immediately. You'll see a brief notification confirming the action is complete.

After clearing cache, websites may load slightly slower the first time you visit them, because Edge has to download all the images and files again instead of using stored copies. This slowdown is temporary and only happens once per site.

Setting up automatic cache clearing

If you want Edge to clear cache every time you close the browser without asking, go back to Settings > Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to "Clear browsing data" and toggle on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser.

Once this is on, a new option appears below it: Select what to clear every time you close the browser. Click this to choose which data types Edge should automatically delete. Check "Cached images and files" and any others you want removed on exit, then close the Settings tab. From that point on, Edge will clear those items automatically when you close it completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my passwords?

No. Passwords stay in Edge unless you specifically check the box for "Passwords and other sign-in data" before clicking Clear now. By default, that box is unchecked, so your saved passwords are safe.

Does clearing cache delete my browsing history?

Only if you check the "Browsing history" box. Cache and history are separate. You can clear one without touching the other. If you want to delete history but keep cache, uncheck "Cached images and files" and check "Browsing history" instead.

How much space does cache usually take up?

It varies widely depending on how much you browse and how many large websites you visit. Cache can range from a few hundred megabytes to several gigabytes. Clearing it usually frees up between 500 MB and 2 GB on most computers, though some users see more.

Why is a website still showing an old version after I cleared cache?

Clearing Edge's cache removes files stored on your computer, but the website's server might also be caching content. Try clearing cache again, then hold Ctrl and press F5 to do a "hard refresh" — this tells the website to send you the newest version instead of a cached copy.

Can I clear cache for just one website instead of everything?

Not through the standard clear cache window. Edge clears all cache at once or by time range. If you want to clear data for a single site, you can visit that site, press F12 to open Developer Tools, right-click the refresh button, and select "Empty cache and hard refresh" — but this is more technical and most people don't need it.