What cache is and why you might want to clear it
Cache is a folder on your computer where your web browser stores copies of images, videos, and other files from websites you visit. The next time you return to that site, your browser loads these stored copies instead of downloading them again, which makes pages load faster.
Over time, cache builds up and takes up disk space — sometimes gigabytes of it. You might want to clear it if your browser is running slowly, if you want to free up storage space, or if you're concerned about privacy and don't want your browser remembering which sites you've visited. Clearing cache won't delete your passwords or saved usernames unless you specifically tell it to.
Key Takeaways
- Cache is stored website files that make pages load faster, but it accumulates over time and can slow down your browser.
- Clearing cache is different from clearing browsing history — cache is the files themselves, history is the list of sites you visited.
- The steps to clear cache differ depending on whether you use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, but all browsers have this option in their settings.
- You can set your browser to clear cache automatically when you close it, so you don't have to do it manually.
How to clear cache in Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu that appears. On the left side, click Privacy and security, then click Clear browsing data.
A window will pop up. At the top, you'll see a dropdown that says "All time" — this controls how far back you want to clear. Leave it on "All time" unless you only want to clear recent cache. Make sure the box next to Cached images and files is checked. You can leave the other boxes unchecked if you only want to clear cache. Click the blue Clear data button at the bottom right.
Chrome will clear the cache in a few seconds. You'll see a message confirming it's done. Your browser may feel slightly faster after this, especially if the cache was very large.
How to clear cache in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy & Security. Scroll down until you see the section labeled Cookies and Site Data.
Click the button that says Clear Data. A small window will appear. Make sure the box next to Cached Web Content is checked. Leave the other options unchecked if you only want to clear cache. Click Clear. Firefox will remove the cached files within a few seconds.
How to clear cache in Safari
Open Safari. At the top of your screen, click Safari in the menu bar (not in the browser window — in the very top menu). Click Settings or Preferences, depending on your macOS version. Click the Privacy tab.
Click the button that says Manage Website Data. You'll see a list of websites. Click Remove All at the bottom right. Safari will ask you to confirm — click Remove Now. This clears both cache and cookies for all sites at once. If you want to remove cache for only specific websites, you can select them individually from the list and click Remove.
How to clear cache in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Under the section labeled Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window will open. At the top, select how far back you want to clear using the dropdown — "All time" will clear everything. Make sure Cached images and files is checked. Click the blue Clear now button. Edge will remove the cache in a few seconds.
Set your browser to clear cache automatically
Instead of clearing cache manually, you can tell your browser to do it automatically every time you close it. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security and turn on the toggle for Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and check the box for Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed.
In Safari, click Safari > Settings > Privacy, then check Remove all website data when quitting Safari. In Edge, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services and turn on Clear browsing data. Once you turn this on, your browser will automatically delete cache each time you close it completely — not just when you close a tab.
The difference between cache and browsing history
Cache and browsing history are two separate things. Browsing history is the list of website addresses you've visited — it's what appears when you press Ctrl+H (or Cmd+H on Mac) and see a list of sites. Cache is the actual files stored from those sites, like images and videos.
When you clear cache, you're deleting the files themselves. When you clear history, you're deleting the record that you visited those sites. You can clear one without clearing the other. If you want to delete both, make sure both boxes are checked when you open the "Clear browsing data" window in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cache. When you clear cache, your saved passwords stay in your browser. If you want to delete passwords too, you need to check a different box — usually labeled "Passwords" or "Autofill data" — when you clear browsing data.
How much space does cache usually take up?
Cache can range from a few hundred megabytes to several gigabytes, depending on how much you browse and how long it's been since you last cleared it. If you browse heavily every day, cache might grow to 1 or 2 gigabytes over a few months. Clearing it can free up noticeable space on your computer.
Will clearing cache make me log out of websites?
Clearing cache alone usually won't log you out, because login information is typically stored in cookies, not cache. However, if you also clear cookies at the same time, you will be logged out of most sites and will need to log back in the next time you visit them.
Can I clear cache for just one website?
Yes, but the process varies by browser. In Chrome and Edge, you can right-click on any website and select "Delete" to remove just that site's cache. In Firefox and Safari, you can select specific sites from the website data list and remove them individually, rather than clearing everything at once.
How often should I clear my cache?
There's no set rule. If your browser feels slow or you're running low on storage space, clear it. If you want privacy and don't want your browser remembering sites you visit, clear it weekly or monthly. If you set your browser to clear cache automatically when you close it, you don't need to think about it at all.