What clearing your cache does and why you might want to
Cache is temporary data that your browser or apps store on your device to load websites and programs faster the next time you visit them. When you clear your cache, you delete these stored files — which can free up storage space, fix loading problems, or remove data from sites you no longer want to visit.
Most people clear cache to solve a specific problem: a website looks broken, a page won't load properly, or you want to remove browsing history before selling or sharing a device. Clearing cache does not delete your passwords, saved payment methods, or login information unless you specifically choose those options during the process.
The steps differ depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android, and which browser you use. The most common browsers — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge — all have cache-clearing built in, though the menu locations vary.
Key Takeaways
- Cache is temporary data stored by your browser or apps to speed up loading; clearing it frees space and can fix display problems on websites.
- Clearing cache does not remove passwords, payment methods, or login information unless you check those boxes during the process.
- Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge all have cache-clearing options in their settings, accessible in under one minute.
- On phones, clearing cache through the browser settings works the same way as on a computer, but some apps also store their own cache that you can clear separately.
How to clear cache in Chrome on Windows and Mac
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 with options. At the top, choose the time range — All time will clear everything, or you can pick Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or Last 3 months. Make sure the box next to Cached images and files is checked. You can leave the other boxes unchecked unless you also want to delete browsing history, cookies, or other data. Click Clear data and you are done.
If you want Chrome to clear cache automatically every time you close the browser, go back to Settings, click Privacy and security, and toggle on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome.
How to clear cache in Safari on Mac and iPhone
On a Mac, open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top. Click Clear History. A dropdown menu appears asking how far back you want to clear — choose All history to remove everything, or pick a specific time range. Click Clear History again to confirm.
On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, scroll down and tap Safari, then scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data. Confirm by tapping Clear History and Data. This clears cache, history, and cookies all at once; Safari does not offer separate options for each.
Safari does not have a built-in option to clear cache automatically, so you will need to do this manually each time.
How to clear cache in Firefox on Windows and Mac
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Click Settings, then click Privacy & Security on the left side. Under Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data.
A window appears with two checkboxes: Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content. Make sure Cached Web Content is checked. You can uncheck Cookies and Site Data if you want to keep login information. Click Clear to finish.
To clear cache automatically when you close Firefox, go back to Settings, click Privacy & Security, and scroll down to Cookies and Site Data. Check the box next to Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed.
How to clear cache in Microsoft Edge on Windows
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Click Settings, then click Privacy, search, and services on the left. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window pops up. At the top, select your time range — All time clears everything. Make sure Cached images and files is checked. Leave other boxes unchecked unless you want to remove history or cookies too. Click Clear now.
If you want Edge to clear cache every time you close the browser, stay in Privacy, search, and services and toggle on Clear browsing data under the Clear browsing data section. Then toggle on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser.
How to clear cache on Android phones and tablets
Open Chrome and tap the three vertical dots in the bottom right corner (or top right, depending on your phone). Tap Settings, then tap Privacy. Tap Clear browsing data.
At the top, select the time range — All time removes everything. Make sure Cookies and site data and Cached images and files are both checked. Tap Clear data to finish.
If you use a different browser like Firefox or Samsung Internet, the steps are similar: look for Settings, then Privacy or Browsing Data, then Clear. You can also clear cache for individual apps by going to Settings > Apps, selecting the app, tapping Storage, and tapping Clear Cache. This does not delete the app itself or your login information within it.
What to do if a website still looks broken after clearing cache
If clearing cache does not fix a broken website, try these steps in order. First, close the browser completely and open it again — sometimes a full restart helps. Second, try opening the website in a different browser to see if the problem is specific to one browser. Third, try opening the website on a different device or network to see if it is a problem with your connection.
If the website works fine in a different browser but not in your usual one, the issue may be an extension or plugin. Try disabling extensions one at a time and reloading the page to find the culprit. If the website is broken for everyone, contact the website owner — the problem is on their end, not yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my passwords and saved payment information?
No. Cache is only temporary files that speed up loading. Passwords and payment methods are stored separately. If you want to delete those too, you can check additional boxes during the clearing process, but they are not removed by default when you clear cache alone.
How much storage space does cache actually 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 on a device you use heavily. On phones with limited storage, clearing cache can free up noticeable space, but on computers with large hard drives, the difference is usually small.
Should I clear cache regularly, or only when something breaks?
You only need to clear cache when you notice a problem or want to free up space. Clearing it too often can actually slow down browsing because your browser has to rebuild the cache from scratch. Most people clear cache once every few months or when a website stops loading correctly.
What is the difference between cache and cookies?
Cache stores images, scripts, and other files to make pages load faster. Cookies store information like login details and site preferences. Both are temporary, but cookies are usually smaller and more personal. You can clear them separately in most browsers, though many people clear both at once.
Can I clear cache for just one website instead of everything?
Most browsers do not offer this option in their main settings. However, you can open the website, right-click on the page, select Inspect or Inspect Element, click the Application or Storage tab, and manually delete that site's cache. This is more technical and usually not necessary — clearing all cache takes the same amount of time and is simpler.