What clearing cache does and why you might need to
Cache is temporary data that Chrome stores on your computer — old web pages, images, login information, and other files that websites have sent you. When you visit a site again, Chrome loads these files from your hard drive instead of downloading them fresh, which makes pages load faster.
Over time, cache builds up and can take up gigabytes of space. More importantly, cached data sometimes causes problems: a website might look broken because Chrome is showing you an outdated version, you might see old information, or you might want to remove login details before you hand your computer to someone else. Clearing cache fixes all of these.
The process takes about one minute and doesn't delete your passwords, bookmarks, or browsing history unless you specifically tell it to. You can clear everything at once or just the last hour, day, or week.
Key Takeaways
- Open Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac), and the cache-clearing window opens directly.
- Set the time range at the top — "All time" clears everything, while "Last hour" or "Last day" clears only recent cache.
- Make sure only "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are checked before you click Clear data.
- Clearing cache does not remove your saved passwords or bookmarks unless you check those boxes yourself.
The fastest way: keyboard shortcut
The quickest route is a keyboard shortcut that opens the cache-clearing window directly. On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete all at once. On Mac, press Command+Shift+Delete.
The "Clear browsing data" window appears immediately. You do not need to go through the menu — this shortcut takes you straight there every time.
Using the Chrome menu if the shortcut doesn't work
If the keyboard shortcut does not work on your computer, you can reach the same window through the menu. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, then select Settings.
On the left side, click Privacy and security, then click Clear browsing data. The same window opens as the shortcut would have.
Choosing what to clear and how far back
At the top of the "Clear browsing data" window, you see a dropdown that says Time range. Click it and choose how far back you want to go: "All time" clears everything ever cached, "Last 24 hours" clears only today's cache, "Last 7 days" clears a week, and so on. Pick whichever matches what you need.
Below that, you see checkboxes for different types of data. For a standard cache clear, make sure Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked. Leave everything else unchecked unless you have a specific reason to remove it — unchecking these boxes means Chrome will not touch your passwords, bookmarks, or history.
If you want to remove login information from specific websites, check Cookies and other site data but leave Cached images and files unchecked. If you only want to free up disk space, you can check only Cached images and files.
Completing the clear and what happens next
Once you have set the time range and chosen what to clear, click the blue Clear data button. Chrome removes the selected data immediately — usually within a few seconds.
After clearing, you might notice websites load slightly slower the next time you visit them, because Chrome no longer has cached versions and has to download everything fresh. This slowdown is temporary and only happens once per site. After that first visit, Chrome builds up new cache and pages load normally again.
You can close the settings window and go back to browsing. Your passwords remain saved, your bookmarks are still there, and your browsing history is untouched unless you checked those boxes.
Clearing cache automatically on exit
If you want Chrome to clear cache every time you close the browser, you can set that up so you do not have to do it manually. Click the three dots, go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data.
Check the box that says Clear cookies and other site data when you quit Chrome. From now on, cache clears automatically whenever you close the browser completely. This does not affect your passwords or bookmarks — only temporary cache data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my passwords?
No, not unless you check the "Passwords and other sign-in data" box. By default, only cache and cookies are cleared, and passwords stay saved. If you want to remove login information from a specific site, check that box before clearing.
Why is a website still showing the old version after I cleared cache?
Sometimes the website's server is also caching the page. Try clearing cache again, then hold Ctrl (or Command on Mac) and press F5 to do a "hard refresh" that forces the browser to download everything fresh from the server instead of using any stored version.
How much space does cache usually take up?
It varies widely depending on how much you browse and which sites you visit. Cache can range from a few hundred megabytes to several gigabytes. Clearing it frees up whatever space it was using, though Chrome will start building new cache immediately as you browse.
Can I clear cache for just one website?
Not through the standard clear-cache window. You can clear cookies for a single site by right-clicking on it in your browser, selecting "Site settings," then clearing storage for that site. For a full cache clear, you have to clear everything or nothing.
Does clearing cache slow down Chrome?
No. Clearing cache actually frees up disk space and can make Chrome run slightly faster if cache had grown very large. The only slowdown you might notice is that websites load a bit slower the first time you visit them after clearing, because Chrome has to download fresh copies.