What clearing your cache does and why you might need to

Your browser cache is a folder where Chrome stores copies of web pages, images, and files you have visited. Over time this folder grows large and can slow down your browser, cause pages to load outdated versions, or use up storage space on your device. Clearing the cache removes these stored files and forces Chrome to download fresh copies the next time you visit those sites.

You might clear your cache if a website looks broken or loads incorrectly, if you want to free up storage space, or if you are concerned about the browsing history stored on your device. The process takes less than a minute and does not affect your saved passwords or bookmarks unless you specifically choose to delete those too.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) to jump straight to the cache clearing window.
  • Select "All time" from the time range dropdown to clear everything, or choose a shorter period like "Last hour" or "Last 7 days" to keep older files.
  • Check only "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" unless you want to delete passwords or browsing history as well.
  • Click "Clear data" and Chrome will remove the selected files immediately — you do not need to restart the browser.

How to clear cache on Windows

The fastest way is to use the keyboard shortcut. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete at the same time and Chrome will open the "Clear browsing data" window directly. If the keyboard shortcut does not work, you can also click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of Chrome, select "Settings", then click "Privacy and security" on the left side, then "Clear browsing data".

Once the window opens, you will see a dropdown menu at the top that says "Time range". Click it and select how far back you want to go. "All time" clears everything ever cached. "Last hour", "Last 24 hours", and "Last 7 days" let you keep older files if you want. Below that, make sure the boxes next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are checked. Leave the other boxes unchecked unless you also want to delete your browsing history or saved passwords. Then click the blue "Clear data" button.

How to clear cache on Mac

Use the keyboard shortcut Command+Shift+Delete to open the clearing window immediately. If that does not work, click the three-dot menu in the top right, select "Settings", click "Privacy and security" on the left, then "Clear browsing data".

The window that opens looks the same as on Windows. Select your time range from the dropdown at the top — "All time" clears everything, or pick a shorter period. Check the boxes for "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files". Leave other options unchecked unless you want to remove browsing history or passwords too. Click the blue "Clear data" button to finish.

What happens after you clear the cache

Chrome removes the selected files immediately. You do not need to close or restart the browser. The next time you visit a website, Chrome will download a fresh copy of the page and images instead of using the stored version. This means pages may load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing, but subsequent visits will be normal speed.

Your bookmarks, saved passwords, and browsing history remain untouched unless you checked those boxes in the clearing window. If you did delete your passwords by mistake, you can undo it by pressing Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) immediately after clearing, as long as you have not closed the settings tab yet.

Clearing cache for a single website instead of everything

If only one site is loading incorrectly, you can clear just that site's cache without touching the rest. Visit the website, then click the lock icon or information icon to the left of the web address at the top of the page. Click "Cookies and site data" or "Cookies" depending on what appears. You will see a list of stored data for that site. Click the trash icon next to each item to delete it, or look for a "Remove all" button if one is available.

This method is faster than clearing your entire cache if you only need to fix one problematic site. After you clear that site's data, reload the page and Chrome will fetch a fresh version.

Automatically clearing cache when you close Chrome

If you want Chrome to clear your cache every time you close the browser, you can set that up in settings. Click the three-dot menu, select "Settings", then click "Privacy and security" on the left. Toggle on the switch that says "Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome". From that point forward, your cache will empty automatically each time you close the browser completely.

Note that this setting only clears cache when you fully close Chrome, not when you close individual tabs or windows. If you close a window but Chrome is still running in the background, the cache will not clear until you close Chrome entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing my cache delete my saved passwords?

No, not unless you check the box labeled "Passwords and other sign-in data" in the clearing window. By default, only cached images and files are removed. Your passwords stay saved unless you specifically choose to delete them.

What is the difference between cache and cookies?

Cache stores images and web pages so they load faster next time. Cookies store small pieces of information like login status and site preferences. Both slow down your browser over time, and both are removed when you clear browsing data.

Why does a website still look broken after I cleared the cache?

If the problem persists, try clearing your cache again and then closing Chrome completely and reopening it. If the site still does not work, the problem may be with the website itself or your internet connection, not your cache. Try the site in a different browser to see if the issue is specific to Chrome.

Can I clear cache on my phone the same way?

The steps are similar but slightly different. On Android, open Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, select "Settings", tap "Privacy", then "Clear browsing data". On iPhone, open Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, select "Settings", tap "Privacy", then "Clear browsing data". The options and time ranges are the same as on desktop.