What clearing your cache does and why you might want to
Your computer stores temporary copies of web pages, images, and files in a cache — a hidden folder that speeds up loading when you visit the same sites again. Over time, this cache grows large and can slow down your browser, use up disk space, or cause pages to load outdated versions. Clearing it removes these temporary files and forces your browser to fetch fresh copies the next time you visit.
You might clear your cache if your browser feels sluggish, a website is showing you an old version of a page, you are selling or giving away your computer, or you straightforward want to free up storage space. The process takes a few minutes and is safe — you will not lose passwords, bookmarks, or any files you created yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Browser cache lives in your browser settings, not in your main computer folders, and clearing it does not delete your saved passwords or bookmarks.
- Windows and Mac both have built-in cache clearing in every major browser, usually found under Settings or Preferences.
- You can set your browser to clear the cache automatically every time you close it, so you do not have to do it manually.
- If a website looks wrong or loads slowly, clearing the cache and restarting your browser often fixes the problem in seconds.
Clearing cache in Google Chrome on Windows
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 checkboxes. Make sure Cached images and files is checked — this is what you want to delete. You can also check Cookies and other site data if you want to clear login information, though this will log you out of most websites. At the top, choose the time range: All time clears everything, or pick a shorter period like Last 7 days. Click Clear data and wait a few seconds for it to finish.
Clearing cache in Safari on Mac
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Go to the Privacy tab and click Manage Website Data.
You will see a list of websites that have stored data on your computer. Click Remove All to clear everything, or select individual sites and click Remove to delete only those. If you want to clear cache without removing login data, close this window and instead go to History in the menu bar, then click Clear History. Choose all history from the dropdown and click Clear History.
Clearing cache in Firefox on Windows and Mac
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right. Click Settings, then select Privacy & Security on the left. Scroll down to Cookies and Site Data and click Clear Data.
A small window appears. Make sure Cached Web Content is checked. You can also check Cookies and Site Data if you want to log out of websites. Click Clear and the cache will be deleted when ready. Firefox also lets you clear the cache every time you close the browser — scroll up in the same Privacy & Security section and look for History, then choose Firefox will use custom settings for history and check the box next to Clear history when Firefox closes.
Clearing cache in Microsoft Edge on Windows
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy, search, and services. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window opens with checkboxes. Check Cached images and files. At the top, select your time range — All time clears the entire cache, or pick Last 7 days or another period. Click Clear now. Edge also offers a faster option: click the trash icon that appears in the top right corner of the browser itself, and it will clear your cache without opening settings.
Setting your browser to clear cache automatically
Instead of clearing cache manually every few weeks, you can tell your browser to do it automatically when you close it. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security, scroll down to Clear browsing data, and toggle on Clear cookies and other site data when you quit Chrome. In Safari, go to Settings > Privacy and check Remove all website data when quitting Safari. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > History and select Firefox will use custom settings for history, then check Clear history when Firefox closes. In Edge, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services and toggle on Clear browsing data under the Clear browsing data section.
Once you turn this on, your cache will be deleted every single time you close the browser, so you will never have to think about it again. The downside is that your browser will load pages slightly slower the first time you visit them, because it no longer has cached copies to use.
What to do if clearing cache does not fix your problem
If a website still looks broken or loads slowly after you clear the cache and restart your browser, the problem may be elsewhere. Try opening the website in a different browser to see if it works there — if it does, the issue is with your original browser, not the website. You can also try restarting your computer, which clears temporary memory and sometimes fixes display problems.
If only one website is broken, contact that website's support team. If your entire browser is slow, you may have too many extensions installed, or your computer may need more disk space. Check how much free space you have by opening File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and looking at the storage bar. If you are below 10 percent free space, your computer will run slowly — delete old files or programs you no longer use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my passwords and bookmarks?
No. Passwords and bookmarks are stored separately from cache. When you clear cache, you only remove temporary copies of web pages and images. If you want to keep your login information, make sure Cookies and other site data is unchecked when you clear.
How often should I clear my cache?
There is no set schedule. If your browser feels slow or a website looks wrong, clear it when ready. Otherwise, once a month is reasonable, or you can set it to clear automatically when you close your browser. The more often you clear, the slower your browser loads pages for the first time.
What is the difference between cache and cookies?
Cache stores copies of web pages and images to speed up loading. Cookies store small pieces of information like your login details and site preferences. You can clear one without the other — most people clear cache regularly but leave cookies alone so they stay logged in to websites.
Can I clear cache on my phone?
Yes. On iPhone, open Settings > Safari and scroll down to Clear History and Website Data. On Android, open Chrome, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy, and tap Clear browsing data. The steps are similar to desktop browsers.
Is it safe to clear cache?
Completely safe. Clearing cache removes only temporary files that your browser created. It will not damage your computer, delete your files, or cause any problems. The only minor downside is that websites will load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing.