What clearing cache does and why you might want to

Cache is temporary data your computer stores to load websites, programs, and files faster the next time you use them. Over time, cached files pile up and can slow your system down, use disk space, or cause a website to load an outdated version instead of the current one. Clearing cache is a straightforward maintenance task that takes a few minutes and requires no special tools.

You might clear cache if a website looks broken, if you want to free up storage space, or if you are troubleshooting a program that is not working right. Cache is safe to delete — your computer will rebuild it automatically as you use programs and visit websites again.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows and Mac both have built-in ways to clear cache without downloading anything extra.
  • Browser cache (stored by Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge) is separate from system cache and clears independently.
  • Clearing cache frees disk space and can fix websites that display incorrectly or load old versions.
  • The steps differ between Windows and Mac, and between browsers, so follow the path that matches your setup.

Clearing browser cache in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge

Most cache you will want to clear lives in your web browser. Each browser stores its own cache, so you need to clear each one separately if you use more than one.

Chrome: Open Chrome and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac). A window titled "Clear browsing data" will open. At the top, set the time range to "All time" if you want to clear everything, or pick a specific range. Check the boxes next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files". Click "Clear data". The process takes a few seconds.

Firefox: Open Firefox and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac). The "Clear Recent History" window opens. Set "Time range to clear" to "Everything". Check "Cache" and "Cookies". Click "Clear Now".

Safari: Open Safari and click "Safari" in the menu bar at the top. Select "Clear History". A dropdown menu appears asking how far back to clear — choose "All history" to remove everything. Click "Clear History". Safari does not have a separate "cache" option; clearing history clears the cache along with it.

Edge: Open Edge and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete. The "Clear browsing data" panel opens on the right side. Set the time range to "All time". Check "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files". Click "Clear now".

Clearing system cache on Windows

Windows stores system cache in temporary folders. You can clear these using the built-in Disk Cleanup tool, which is faster and safer than manually deleting files.

Open the Start menu and type "Disk Cleanup" into the search box. Click the Disk Cleanup app when it appears. A window will ask you to select a drive — choose the drive where Windows is installed (usually C:). The app scans for temporary files and displays a list of categories you can delete. Check the boxes next to "Temporary files", "Recycle Bin", and "Temporary Internet Files". Do not check "System error memory dump files" or "System queued Windows Update" unless you are certain you want to remove them. Click "Delete Files" and confirm.

If Disk Cleanup does not appear, you can also clear cache manually. Press Windows Key + R, type %temp% and press Enter. A folder opens showing temporary files. Select all files (Ctrl+A), then delete them (Delete key). Windows will skip any files that are currently in use. You can repeat this step with %windir%\temp to clear another temporary folder.

Clearing system cache on Mac

Mac does not have a built-in cache-clearing tool like Windows Disk Cleanup, but you can clear cache through System Settings or by deleting cache folders manually.

Using System Settings: Click the Apple menu and select "System Settings". Go to "General" and click "Storage". Mac displays a breakdown of what is using space. Click "Empty Trash" if the Trash bin is full. You can also click on categories like "Documents" or "Applications" to see what is taking up the most room, though this does not directly clear cache.

Clearing cache folders manually: Open Finder and press Command+Shift+G to open "Go to Folder". Type ~/Library/Caches and press Enter. A folder opens showing cache files from various programs. You can delete individual folders (for example, the Chrome cache folder is named "Google/Chrome") or select multiple folders and delete them. Be cautious — only delete cache folders for programs you recognize. Do not delete the entire Caches folder itself, only the subfolders inside it.

Clearing cache for specific programs

Some programs store their own cache separate from the browser or system cache. If a program is running slowly or displaying outdated information, clearing its cache can help.

Microsoft Office: Open any Office program (Word, Excel, Outlook). Click "File" in the menu, then "Options". Go to "Trust Center" and click "Trust Center Settings". Select "Privacy Options" and click "Clear All" under "Cached Files". Restart the program.

Adobe Creative Cloud programs: Open the program and go to Edit (Windows) or the program name (Mac) in the menu bar. Select "Preferences" and look for "Cache" or "Performance". Click "Clear Cache" or "Empty Cache". The program will restart automatically.

Spotify, Discord, and other apps: Most modern apps store cache in the system cache folders mentioned above (Windows %temp% or Mac ~/Library/Caches). You can also uninstall and reinstall the app to clear its cache completely, though this is usually not necessary.

What to expect after clearing cache

After you clear cache, websites and programs may load slightly slower the first time you use them, because your computer has to read and store the data again. This slowdown is temporary and usually not noticeable. Once the cache rebuilds, performance returns to normal or improves if the old cache was causing problems.

Clearing cache does not delete your passwords, bookmarks, or browsing history unless you specifically check those boxes during the clearing process. If you only want to clear cache and not other data, make sure to uncheck "Cookies and site data" or "Browsing history" before you confirm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my passwords or saved login information?

Not unless you check the box for "Cookies" or "Cookies and site data" during the clearing process. Passwords are stored separately from cache. If you want to clear only cache and keep your passwords, uncheck the cookies option.

How often should I clear my cache?

There is no set schedule. Clear cache when you notice a website loading incorrectly, when your computer is running slowly, or when you want to free up disk space. Most people clear cache once a month or once every few months.

Can I clear cache automatically on a schedule?

Most browsers have a setting to clear cache when you close the browser. In Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, go to Settings or Preferences, find the Privacy section, and look for an option like "Clear cookies and cache on exit" or "Clear browsing data when closing". Turn it on if you want automatic clearing.

Is it safe to delete files in the temp folder manually?

Yes, as long as no programs are currently running. Windows and Mac will skip any files that are in use. If you get an error saying a file cannot be deleted, it means a program is using it — close that program and try again.

What is the difference between cache and cookies?

Cache stores images, scripts, and other files to make websites load faster. Cookies store small pieces of information like your login status or preferences. Both are temporary and safe to delete, but clearing cookies will log you out of websites.