Where to find the delete cache option in Internet Explorer

In Internet Explorer, the cache-clearing tool is in the Safety menu at the top of the window. Click Safety, then select Delete Browsing History. A dialog box will open with several checkboxes for different types of stored data.

The option you want is Temporary Internet Files and Website Files — this is Internet Explorer's name for cached data. Check that box, leave the others unchecked if you only want to clear cache, then click Delete. The process takes a few seconds.

If you use Internet Explorer 9 or earlier, the menu location is slightly different. Open the Tools menu (the gear icon in the top right), select Delete Browsing History, and follow the same steps. The dialog looks identical regardless of version.

Key Takeaways

  • Cache clears through Safety menu → Delete Browsing History → check Temporary Internet Files and Website Files → Delete.
  • Clearing cache removes stored images, scripts, and other files websites save to your computer, which can free up disk space and fix loading problems.
  • You can choose to clear cache from a specific time period (last hour, last day, all time) using the dropdown at the bottom of the dialog.
  • Clearing cache does not delete your saved passwords or browsing history unless you check those boxes separately.

What gets deleted when you clear the cache

When you clear Temporary Internet Files and Website Files, Internet Explorer removes all the images, stylesheets, scripts, and other files that websites have stored on your hard drive. These files are meant to load faster the next time you visit — but they can also pile up and take up gigabytes of space.

Clearing cache does not touch your browsing history, saved passwords, cookies, or autofill data unless you check those boxes too. If you only want to free up space without losing login information, uncheck everything except Temporary Internet Files.

Choosing a time range for clearing cache

At the bottom of the Delete Browsing History dialog, you will see a dropdown that says Time range to clear. The default is All, which removes everything cached since you installed Internet Explorer.

You can narrow this to Last Hour, Last Day, Last Week, or Last Month if you only want to clear recent cache. This is useful if a particular website is loading incorrectly and you suspect a corrupted cached file — you can clear just the last few hours without losing older cached data.

Why you might need to clear cache

Websites sometimes store outdated or corrupted files in your cache, which can cause pages to load incorrectly, display old versions of content, or fail to load at all. Clearing cache forces your browser to download fresh copies of everything the next time you visit.

Cache also accumulates over time and can consume hundreds of megabytes or more of disk space. If your computer is running low on storage, clearing cache is one of the fastest ways to reclaim space without deleting files you actually need.

Setting Internet Explorer to clear cache automatically

You can configure Internet Explorer to clear cache every time you close the browser. Open Tools (the gear icon), select Internet Options, and go to the General tab.

Under the Browsing History section, check the box that says Delete browsing history on exit. This will clear Temporary Internet Files, cookies, browsing history, and download history automatically — though you can customize which items get cleared by clicking Settings in that same section.

If you want only cache cleared on exit and not your other browsing data, click Settings, uncheck everything except Temporary Internet Files, then click OK.

Clearing cache when Internet Explorer won't open or is frozen

If Internet Explorer crashes or freezes before you can access the Safety menu, you can clear cache through Windows itself. Open Control Panel, go to Internet Options, click the General tab, and click Delete under Browsing History. This opens the same delete dialog you would see from inside the browser.

Alternatively, you can delete the cache folder directly. Press Windows key + R, type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache, and press Enter. This opens the folder where Internet Explorer stores cached files. You can select all files (Ctrl + A) and delete them, though Windows may prevent deletion of files currently in use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my passwords or bookmarks?

No. Clearing Temporary Internet Files removes only cached website data. Your saved passwords, bookmarks, browsing history, and autofill information stay intact unless you check those boxes separately in the Delete Browsing History dialog.

How much space does cache usually take up?

Cache size varies widely depending on how much you browse and how long you have used Internet Explorer. It can range from 50 megabytes to several gigabytes. You can check your cache size by opening Internet Options from Control Panel, clicking the General tab, and looking at the Browsing History section.

Do I need to clear cache regularly?

Not necessarily. Clearing cache is only needed if you are experiencing loading problems, running low on disk space, or concerned about privacy. For most users, once every few months is sufficient. If you browse heavily, clearing cache monthly may help keep your browser running smoothly.

What if a website still loads incorrectly after clearing cache?

Try clearing cookies for that specific site as well. Open Delete Browsing History, check both Temporary Internet Files and Cookies, and click Delete. If the problem persists, try opening the site in a different browser to determine whether the issue is with Internet Explorer or the website itself.

Can I recover files after clearing cache?

Once deleted, cached files cannot be recovered through Internet Explorer. However, if you deleted them by accident, you may be able to recover them using Windows file recovery tools, though this is not may provide. The safest approach is to close any important browser tabs before clearing cache.