What temporary internet files are and why you might delete them

Temporary internet files are copies of web pages, images, videos, and scripts that your browser stores on your computer while you browse. Your browser keeps these files so that when you revisit a website, it loads faster — the browser can pull the cached version from your hard drive instead of downloading everything again from the internet.

Over time, these files add up and can take gigabytes of disk space. Deleting them frees up storage, can speed up a sluggish computer, and removes browsing history that you may not want on your device. The files themselves are harmless — deleting them will not break anything, and your browser will rebuild the cache as you browse normally.

Key Takeaways

  • Temporary internet files are cached web content stored by your browser to speed up page loading, and deleting them is safe and will not damage your system.
  • On Windows, you can delete these files through Settings > Privacy & security > Clear browsing data, or through your individual browser's settings.
  • On Mac, the process varies by browser — Safari uses History > Clear History, while Chrome and Firefox have their own cache-clearing menus.
  • You can set your browser to automatically delete temporary files when you close it, so you do not have to do this manually.
  • Clearing the cache will log you out of most websites, so you may need to sign back in after deletion.

How to delete temporary files in Windows

The fastest way on Windows is through your browser's built-in clearing tool. Open your browser, then press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on your keyboard. This opens the cache-clearing menu in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.

In the window that appears, make sure Cached images and files is checked. You can also check Cookies and other site data if you want to clear login information and site preferences. Choose the time range — All time will delete everything, while Last hour or Last 24 hours will delete only recent files. Click Clear data or Delete depending on your browser.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work, you can also go through the menu. In Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top right, select Settings, then Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. In Firefox, click the menu button, select Settings, go to Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and click Clear Data. In Edge, click the three-dot menu, select Settings, then Privacy, search, and services, and click Clear browsing data.

How to delete temporary files on Mac

On Safari, click History in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select Clear History. A dropdown will appear asking how far back to clear — choose All history to remove everything, or pick a specific time range. Click Clear History to confirm.

On Chrome for Mac, press Command + Shift + Delete to open the cache-clearing menu. Check Cached images and files, choose your time range, and click Clear data. On Firefox for Mac, click the menu button (three horizontal lines), select Settings, go to Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and click Clear Data.

Setting your browser to clear cache automatically

You can configure most browsers to delete temporary files automatically every time you close the browser, so you never have to do this manually. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data, then check the box that says Clear cookies and other site data when you quit Chrome. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and check Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed.

In Safari on Mac, click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, go to the Privacy tab, and check Remove all website data when quitting Safari. In Edge, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services, scroll to Clear browsing data, and toggle on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser.

What happens after you delete temporary files

After deletion, you will be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site that required a login, you will need to enter your username and password again. This is because login information is typically stored in cookies, which are deleted along with the cache.

Websites will load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing the cache, because your browser has to download all the images and scripts again instead of pulling them from storage. After that first visit, the cache rebuilds and pages load at normal speed again. Some sites may also forget your preferences — for example, a news site might reset your font size or theme choice back to the default.

How much space temporary files actually take up

The amount of space varies widely depending on how much you browse and how long it has been since you last cleared the cache. Light browsing over a few weeks might use 100 to 500 megabytes. Heavy browsing over months or years can accumulate several gigabytes. If your hard drive is nearly full, clearing the cache can free up meaningful space, but it is usually not the biggest storage hog on your computer — video files, photos, and application data typically take up far more.

If you are trying to free up significant space, look at your Downloads folder, old video files, or unused applications first. The cache is worth clearing as part of regular maintenance, but it is rarely the solution to a full hard drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting temporary files slow down my computer?

No. Deleting the cache will not slow down your computer. Websites may load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing, because the browser has to download files again, but this is temporary. After that, pages load normally and the cache rebuilds as you browse.

Is it safe to delete temporary internet files?

Yes, it is completely safe. Temporary files are just copies of content your browser downloaded. Deleting them will not damage your system, break websites, or cause any problems. Your browser will rebuild the cache automatically as you browse.

Can I delete temporary files without logging out of websites?

Not easily. Most browsers delete cookies along with cached files, and cookies are what keep you logged in. If you want to keep login information, look for an option to clear only the cache while preserving cookies — Chrome and Firefox both offer this choice in their clearing menus.

How often should I delete temporary files?

There is no set schedule. If you browse heavily and your hard drive is running low on space, clearing the cache monthly makes sense. If storage is not an issue, clearing it a few times a year is fine. Setting your browser to clear automatically when it closes removes the need to think about it.

What is the difference between clearing cache and clearing browsing history?

Browsing history is the list of websites you have visited — the URLs that appear in your history menu. Cache is the actual files those websites downloaded. Clearing history removes the record that you visited a site. Clearing cache removes the stored files. Most browsers let you clear one, the other, or both.