What cache is and why you should clear it

Cache is temporary data your computer stores to load programs and websites faster. When you open a web browser, visit a website, or run an process, your PC saves copies of images, scripts, and files so it does not have to read them again the next time. Over months or years, this cache grows large and can slow your computer down or eat up storage space you need for other things.

Clearing cache does not break anything. Your programs and websites will rebuild their cache automatically the next time you use them. The only downside is that the first time you visit a website after clearing, it may load slightly slower because your browser has to read fresh copies of the files. After that, speed returns to normal.

Most people should clear cache once every few months, or sooner if their computer is running slowly or storage space is running low. If you use your computer for sensitive work, you may want to clear cache more often for privacy reasons.

Key Takeaways

  • Browser cache lives in your web browser settings and can be cleared in under a minute from the History or Settings menu.
  • Windows temporary files and system cache sit in the Temp folder and Disk Cleanup tool, and clearing them frees up gigabytes of space.
  • process cache varies by program — some apps store cache in AppData, while others have their own clear-cache button in settings.
  • Clearing cache is safe and does not delete your passwords, bookmarks, or saved login information unless you specifically choose to.
  • You can set your browser to clear cache automatically every time you close it, so you never have to do it manually.

How to clear browser cache in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge

Browser cache is the easiest type to clear and usually takes less than a minute. The steps are nearly identical across Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.

In Chrome: Click the three-dot menu in the top right corner, select "Settings," then click "Privacy and security" on the left side. Click "Clear browsing data." A window will pop up. Make sure "Cached images and files" is checked. At the top, choose the time range — "All time" clears everything, or you can pick "Last hour," "Last 24 hours," or "Last 7 days." Click "Clear data." Your cache is now gone.

In Firefox: Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right, select "Settings," then click "Privacy & Security" on the left. Under "Cookies and Site Data," click "Clear Data." Check "Cached Web Content" and click "Clear." You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Delete to open the clear history window directly.

In Microsoft Edge: Click the three-dot menu in the top right, select "Settings," then click "Privacy, search, and services" on the left. Under "Clear browsing data," click "Choose what to clear." Check "Cached images and files" and click "Clear now." You can also press Ctrl+Shift+Delete to jump straight to this window.

None of these steps will delete your passwords or bookmarks unless you specifically check those boxes. If you want to keep your login information saved, leave those boxes unchecked.

Clear Windows temporary files and system cache

Windows stores temporary files in a folder called Temp, and these files can add up to several gigabytes over time. The easiest way to clear them is through the Disk Cleanup tool, which is built into Windows.

On Windows 10 or 11: Press the Windows key and type "Disk Cleanup," then click the app when it appears. A window will ask you to choose a drive — select your C: drive (or whichever drive Windows is installed on) and click OK. The tool will scan for temporary files. When the scan finishes, you will see a list of file types you can delete. Check the boxes next to "Temporary files," "Recycle Bin," and "Temporary Internet Files." Click "OK," then click "Delete Files" to confirm. Windows will remove these files.

If Disk Cleanup does not show much to delete, you can also clear the Temp folder manually. Press Windows key + R, type "%temp%" and press Enter. A folder will open showing temporary files. Select all files (Ctrl+A), delete them (Delete key), and confirm. Some files may be in use and will not delete — that is normal, just skip those.

Clearing system cache and temporary files is safe and will not affect how Windows runs. Your computer may even run faster afterward because it has less clutter to manage.

Clear cache in specific applications

Many programs beyond your web browser store their own cache. Spotify, Discord, Steam, and Microsoft Office all keep cached data on your hard drive. Where this cache lives and how to clear it depends on the program.

Spotify: Open Spotify, click your profile name in the top right, select "Settings," scroll down to "Storage," and click "Clear Cache." Spotify will restart.

Discord: Click the gear icon to open User Settings, go to "App Settings" > "Voice & Video," scroll down, and click "Clear Cache." You can also manually delete the cache folder by pressing Windows key + R, typing "%appdata%\Discord\Cache," and deleting the contents.

Steam: Open Steam, click "Steam" in the top left menu, select "Settings," go to "Downloads," and click "Clear read Cache." Steam will restart.

Microsoft Office: Open any Office app, go to "File" > "Options" > "Trust Center" > "Trust Center Settings" > "Privacy Options," and look for a button to clear cache or recent files.

If you use a program not listed here, check its Settings or Preferences menu for a "Clear Cache" or "Clear Temporary Files" option. If you cannot find it, you can also navigate to the AppData folder by pressing Windows key + R, typing "%appdata%," and looking for a folder with the program's name, but this method is riskier because you might delete something important.

Set your browser to clear cache automatically

If you do not want to manually clear cache every few months, you can set your browser to do it automatically every time you close it. This is the most hands-off approach.

In Chrome: Open Settings, go to "Privacy and security," and scroll down to "Clear browsing data." Toggle on "Delete cookies and site data when you quit Chrome." From now on, your cache will clear every time you close the browser.

In Firefox: Open Settings, go to "Privacy & Security," and scroll down to "Cookies and Site Data." Check the box next to "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed." You can click "Manage Exceptions" if there are websites you want to stay logged into.

In Microsoft Edge: Open Settings, go to "Privacy, search, and services," and toggle on "Clear browsing data" under "Clear browsing data." Choose which data types to clear — make sure "Cached images and files" is checked.

The downside of automatic clearing is that you will be logged out of most websites when you close your browser, and websites will load slightly slower the first time you visit them after restarting. The upside is that you never have to think about it, and your cache never builds up.

What not to delete when clearing cache

When you open a cache-clearing tool, you will see checkboxes for different types of data. Some are safe to delete; others should be left alone unless you have a specific reason to remove them.

Safe to delete: Cached images and files, temporary files, temporary internet files, and cookies from websites you do not use anymore. These are purely for speed and convenience.

Be careful with: Passwords and login information — if you delete these, you will have to re-enter your passwords on every website. Bookmarks and saved form data — deleting these means you lose your saved addresses and payment methods. Browsing history — once deleted, you cannot get it back. If you need to remember a website you visited, do not delete history.

Most cache-clearing tools leave passwords and bookmarks unchecked by default, so you have to actively choose to delete them. Read the checkboxes before you click "Clear" to make sure you are only removing what you intend to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my passwords?

No, unless you specifically check the box for "Passwords" or "Saved passwords" before clearing. Browser cache and saved passwords are stored separately. You can clear cache while keeping passwords intact by leaving that checkbox unchecked.

How much storage space will I free up by clearing cache?

Browser cache typically uses 100 MB to 1 GB depending on how long it has been since you last cleared it. Windows temporary files can use several gigabytes. The exact amount varies by how much you use your computer and which programs you have installed. You can see how much space cache is using before you delete it — most tools show the size.

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

Mostly yes, but some files in the Temp folder are in use by running programs. If you try to delete a file that is currently open, Windows will skip it and move to the next one. This is safe — you will not break anything. Using Disk Cleanup is safer because it only deletes files that are definitely not in use.

Why is my computer still slow after clearing cache?

Cache is only one reason a computer slows down. If clearing cache does not help, the problem may be too many startup programs, a full hard drive, malware, or an aging hard drive. Check your Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to see which programs are using the most CPU and memory, and disable startup programs you do not need.

Can I clear cache on my phone the same way?

No, phone cache is cleared differently. On Android, go to Settings > Apps, select your browser, and tap "Storage" > "Clear Cache." On iPhone, go to Settings > [Browser Name] and toggle "Clear History and Website Data." The concept is the same, but the steps are different.