What clearing your cache does and why you might need to

Clearing your cache removes the temporary files Internet Explorer has stored on your computer — images, scripts, and partial web pages that the browser saved to load websites faster next time. Over time, these files pile up and can take up gigabytes of disk space. Clearing cache also removes cookies and browsing history if you choose, which some people do for privacy reasons or when a website is loading incorrectly.

You might clear cache if a website looks broken or loads the old version of a page, if you are sharing a computer and want to remove your browsing record, or simply to free up storage space. Internet Explorer stores cache in a folder on your hard drive, and the steps to clear it depend on which version you have — the process changed between older and newer versions.

Key Takeaways

  • Internet Explorer stores temporary files called cache that can be cleared through the Safety menu or Internet Options, depending on your version.
  • Clearing cache removes temporary website files but does not delete your saved passwords unless you also clear that option.
  • You can choose to clear only cache, or also remove cookies, browsing history, and download history in the same step.
  • The exact menu location and button names vary between Internet Explorer 9, 10, 11, and older versions.

Clearing cache in Internet Explorer 11 and 10

Open Internet Explorer and look at the top right corner of the window. Click the gear icon (it looks like a settings symbol), then select Internet Options from the dropdown menu. A window will open with several tabs across the top.

Click the General tab if it is not already selected. Under the section labeled Browsing history, you will see a button that says Delete. Click it. A new window appears with checkboxes for different types of data. Make sure Temporary Internet files and website files is checked — this is your cache. You can also check Cookies and website data if you want to remove those, or leave them unchecked to keep them. Click Delete at the bottom of this window. Wait a few seconds while the process completes, then click OK to close the Internet Options window.

Clearing cache in Internet Explorer 9 and earlier versions

Open Internet Explorer and click Tools in the menu bar at the top. If you do not see a menu bar, press the Alt key on your keyboard to make it appear. From the Tools menu, select Internet Options.

The Internet Options window opens. Click the General tab. Under Browsing history, click the Delete button. A window appears with checkboxes. Check Temporary Internet files to clear your cache. You can also check Cookies and History if you want to remove those as well. Click Delete and wait for the process to finish. Click OK when done.

What gets removed and what stays

When you clear cache, Internet Explorer removes only the temporary files it stored — the images, scripts, and partial pages from websites you visited. Your saved passwords and usernames do not get deleted unless you specifically check the box for Passwords in the delete window. Your bookmarks and favorites stay in place no matter what you clear.

If you checked the box for Cookies and website data, those get removed too. This means websites will not remember you the next time you visit — you may have to log in again, and sites will not remember your preferences. Clearing History removes the list of websites you visited, but does not affect cache or cookies unless you clear those separately.

Clearing cache automatically when you close Internet Explorer

If you want Internet Explorer to clear your cache every time you close the browser, you can set this up in Internet Options. Open Internet Explorer, click the gear icon (or Tools menu in older versions), and select Internet Options. Click the General tab.

Under Browsing history, check the box that says Delete browsing history on exit. This tells Internet Explorer to automatically clear cache, cookies, history, and other temporary files whenever you close the browser completely. Click OK to save this setting. From that point forward, you will not need to manually clear cache — it happens automatically.

Troubleshooting when cache will not clear

If you click Delete but the cache does not seem to clear, the most common reason is that Internet Explorer is still running in the background. Close all Internet Explorer windows completely, then try again. On some computers, Internet Explorer continues running even after you close the last window. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, click Task Manager, look for any process named iexplore.exe, click it, and click End Task. Then open Internet Explorer fresh and repeat the delete steps.

Another reason cache may not clear is that another program is using the cache files. This happens rarely, but if it does, restart your computer and try again. If you are still having trouble, you can manually delete the cache folder. The location varies by Windows version, but it is usually in C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files. You will need to show hidden files to see the AppData folder — right-click in the folder window and select Show hidden files.

When to clear cache versus when to leave it alone

Clearing cache regularly is useful if you share a computer and want privacy, or if you are troubleshooting a website that looks wrong. However, clearing cache too often can actually slow down your browsing, because Internet Explorer has to download and store those files again. If you are the only person using your computer and you do not have privacy concerns, clearing cache once a month is usually enough.

Do not clear cache if a website is asking you to do so as a first troubleshooting step and you have not tried anything else — often the real problem is something different, and clearing cache will not help. If a website is loading slowly or looks broken, try refreshing the page first by pressing F5. If that does not work, then clear cache. If clearing cache does not fix the problem, the issue is likely on the website's end or with your internet connection, not with your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my passwords?

No, not unless you specifically check the box for Passwords in the delete window. By default, only temporary files, cookies, and history are removed. Your saved usernames and passwords stay on your computer.

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 has been since you last cleared it. On most computers, clearing cache frees up between 500 megabytes and 2 gigabytes of space.

Do I need to clear cache if I use private browsing mode?

No. Internet Explorer's private browsing mode (called InPrivate) does not store cache, cookies, or history at all. When you close the InPrivate window, nothing is saved. You only need to clear cache from regular browsing sessions.

What if I clear cache by accident and need to recover a website I visited?

If you cleared history along with cache, there is no way to recover the list of websites you visited — that information is gone. If you only cleared cache but kept history, you can still see the website names in your history, but the cached files are not recoverable.

Is it safe to delete the Temporary Internet Files folder manually?

Yes, it is safe to delete the Temporary Internet Files folder directly from your hard drive. However, using the Internet Options delete button is simpler and safer because it closes any files Internet Explorer might be using. If you delete the folder manually while Internet Explorer is running, you might cause problems.