What clearing your cache does, and why you might want to
Your browser cache is a folder on your computer where Chrome stores copies of web pages, images, and files you've visited. When you revisit a site, Chrome loads these stored copies instead of downloading everything fresh — which makes pages load faster. Over time, this cache grows large and can slow your browser down, or hold onto data you'd rather delete.
Clearing your cache removes these stored files. You might do this if a website looks broken or won't load properly (cached files sometimes get corrupted), if you want to free up disk space, or if you're concerned about what data Chrome is holding about your browsing. Clearing cache does not delete your passwords, bookmarks, or browsing history unless you specifically choose those options too.
Key Takeaways
- Open Chrome's Clear Browsing Data window by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac.
- Make sure "Cached images and files" is checked, then choose whether to clear data from all time or just the last hour, day, or week.
- You can clear cache without touching your passwords, bookmarks, or browsing history by unchecking those boxes.
- Chrome can clear your cache automatically each time you close the browser if you turn on the "Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome" setting.
The fastest way: keyboard shortcut
The quickest route is to use your keyboard. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete if you're on Windows, or Command+Shift+Delete if you're on Mac. This opens Chrome's Clear Browsing Data window directly.
At the top, you'll see a dropdown that says "All time" by default. Click it to choose a shorter window — "Last hour", "Last 24 hours", "Last 7 days", or "Last 4 weeks" — if you only want to clear recent cache. Below that, make sure the checkbox next to "Cached images and files" is checked. Then click the blue "Clear data" button at the bottom right.
Using the menu if you prefer clicking
If you don't want to use the keyboard shortcut, you can reach the same window through Chrome's menu. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, then scroll down and click "Settings".
On the left side of the Settings page, click "Privacy and security", then click "Clear browsing data". This opens the same Clear Browsing Data window as the keyboard shortcut. Choose your time range, make sure "Cached images and files" is checked, and click "Clear data".
What the other checkboxes do
The Clear Browsing Data window shows several checkboxes. "Cookies and other site data" removes login information and preferences that websites remember about you — unchecking this keeps you logged into sites. "Browsing history" removes the list of pages you've visited — unchecking this keeps your history intact. "Download history" removes the list of files you've downloaded. "Cached images and files" is the cache itself.
Most people clear only the cache by leaving the other boxes unchecked. But if you want to clear everything at once — cache, cookies, history, and downloads — check all the boxes before clicking "Clear data". Chrome will warn you if you're about to delete something significant, like saved passwords, but it won't prevent you from doing it.
Setting Chrome to clear cache automatically
If you want Chrome to delete your cache every time you close the browser, you can turn on automatic clearing. Open Settings, click "Privacy and security" on the left, then scroll down to "Clear browsing data". Toggle on the switch next to "Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome".
Once this is on, Chrome will erase your cache, cookies, and site data each time you fully close the browser — not just when you close a tab. Your browsing history, passwords, and bookmarks will stay unless you also turn on the toggle for "Include cookies and other site data from extensions". This automatic clearing happens silently in the background.
What happens after you clear cache
After you clear your cache, websites will load slightly slower the next time you visit them, because Chrome has to download all the images and files fresh instead of loading them from storage. This slowdown is usually just a second or two. After that first visit, Chrome builds the cache back up, and subsequent visits load at normal speed again.
If a website was displaying incorrectly or refusing to load, clearing cache often fixes it. If the problem persists after clearing cache, try clearing cookies and site data as well — sometimes a corrupted cookie causes the same symptoms as a corrupted cache file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cache. To delete saved passwords, you would need to go to Settings, click "Autofill" on the left, then "Passwords", and delete them individually. Clearing cache alone does not touch your passwords.
Does clearing cache delete my bookmarks?
No. Bookmarks are stored in a different location. Clearing cache affects only cached images, files, and (if you check that box) cookies and browsing history. Your bookmarks remain untouched.
How much space does cache usually take up?
Cache size varies widely depending on how much you browse and how many large files you visit. It can range from a few hundred megabytes to several gigabytes. If you're running low on disk space, clearing cache can free up noticeable room, though it's usually not the largest space hog on your computer.
What's the difference between cache and cookies?
Cache stores copies of images and files so pages load faster. Cookies store small text files that websites use to remember you — like login information or shopping cart contents. They serve different purposes, and you can clear one without clearing the other by checking or unchecking the appropriate boxes.
If I clear cache, will websites know I've visited them before?
Websites won't know from your cache, but they may still know from cookies or other tracking methods. If you want websites to forget you've visited, you need to clear cookies as well as cache. For more privacy, you can also browse in Incognito mode, which doesn't store cache or cookies at all.