What cache and cookies do, and why you might clear them
Cache is temporary data your browser stores on your hard drive — images, scripts, and page layouts from websites you visit. Cookies are small text files that remember your login information, shopping cart contents, and browsing preferences. Both speed up your browsing by letting websites load faster the second time you visit them.
You might clear them if a website is loading incorrectly, if you want to remove your browsing history before selling or lending your PC, or if you're troubleshooting login problems. Clearing them won't damage your computer — they rebuild automatically as you browse.
The steps differ depending on which browser you use. Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari each have their own menu path and options. This guide covers the most common browsers on Windows and how to do it in each one.
Key Takeaways
- Cache stores images and page data to speed up loading; cookies remember your login and preferences — both are safe to delete.
- In Chrome and Edge, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data and select the time range and data types you want removed.
- In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data and click Clear Data.
- You can set your browser to clear cache and cookies automatically every time you close it.
- Clearing them will log you out of most websites, so have your passwords ready if you need to log back in.
Clearing cache and cookies in Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. On the left sidebar, click Privacy and Security, then click Clear Browsing Data.
A window will pop up with options. At the top, choose your time range — All Time will clear everything, while Last Hour, Last 24 Hours, or Last 7 Days let you be more selective. Make sure the boxes next to Cookies and Other Site Data and Cached Images and Files are checked. Click Clear Data and you're done.
Clearing cache and cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left sidebar, click Privacy, Search, and Services. Under Clear Browsing Data, click Choose What to Clear.
Select your time range at the top — All Time clears everything. Check the boxes for Cookies and Other Site Data and Cached Images and Files. Click Clear Now. If you want Edge to clear these automatically when you close the browser, scroll down to Clear Browsing Data and toggle on Choose What to Clear Every Time You Close the Browser.
Clearing cache and cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings. Click Privacy & Security on the left sidebar. Under Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data.
A small window appears. Make sure both Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content are checked. Click Clear. To set Firefox to clear these automatically, stay in the Privacy & Security section and find History. In the dropdown next to Firefox Will, select Use Custom Settings for History. Check the box for Clear History When Firefox Closes, then click the Settings button next to it and check Cookies & Site Data and Cache.
Setting your browser to clear automatically
Most browsers let you clear cache and cookies every time you close them, which is useful if you share your PC or want to keep your browsing private. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data and toggle on Clear Cookies and Site Data When You Quit Chrome. In Edge, the option is in Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services under Clear Browsing Data. In Firefox, follow the steps above under History.
If you turn on automatic clearing, you'll be logged out of most websites when you close your browser. You can add exceptions — websites you want to stay logged into — by going to your browser's site settings or cookie management page. In Chrome, that's Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Cookies. In Edge, it's Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services > Manage Exceptions under Cookies and Other Site Data.
What happens after you clear cache and cookies
Websites will load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing, because your browser has to read all the images and scripts again instead of using the stored copies. This slowdown is usually not noticeable. After a few visits, your cache will rebuild and pages will load at normal speed again.
You'll be logged out of most websites. If you visit a site that remembered your login, you'll need to enter your username and password again. Sites that use cookies to remember your preferences — like language or dark mode settings — will reset to their defaults. These preferences rebuild as you browse and log back in.
Troubleshooting if clearing doesn't fix the problem
If a website is still loading incorrectly after clearing cache and cookies, try closing and reopening your browser completely. Sometimes a page stays in memory even after you clear the disk cache. If the problem persists, try a different browser to see if it's specific to Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, or if it's a problem with the website itself.
If you're having trouble logging into a website after clearing cookies, make sure you're using the correct password. If you've forgotten it, use the website's Forgot Password link to reset it. Some websites require you to clear your browser cache separately from cookies — if one site still isn't working, go back to your browser's cache-clearing menu and make sure you checked both options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache and cookies delete my passwords?
No. Passwords saved in your browser are stored separately from cookies. If you want to remove saved passwords, you have to do that in a different menu — in Chrome and Edge, it's Settings > Passwords; in Firefox, it's Settings > Privacy & Security > Passwords. Clearing cache and cookies alone will not touch them.
Can I clear cache and cookies for just one website?
Yes. In Chrome, right-click on any website and select Delete to remove just that site's data. In Edge, go to Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services > Manage Site Permissions > Cookies and Site Data and find the site in the list. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Data and search for the site name.
What's the difference between clearing cache and clearing cookies?
Cache stores images and page layouts so websites load faster. Cookies store login information and preferences. You can clear one without the other — most browsers let you uncheck either option in the clear data menu — but clearing both is usually faster and solves more problems.
Does clearing cache free up hard drive space?
Yes, but usually not much. Cache typically takes up between 100 megabytes and a few gigabytes depending on how much you browse. If your hard drive is nearly full, clearing cache can help, but you'll usually need to delete larger files like old downloads or videos to make a real difference.
Is it safe to clear cache and cookies?
Yes, it's completely safe. Cache and cookies are temporary files your browser can rebuild. Clearing them won't damage your PC or any of your files. The only inconvenience is that you'll need to log back into websites and pages may load slightly slower until your cache rebuilds.