What clearing your cache does

Cache is a folder on your computer where your web browser stores copies of images, videos, and web pages you have visited. When you revisit a site, your browser loads these stored copies instead of downloading them again, which makes pages load faster. Over time, this cache folder grows and can slow down your browser or use up storage space on your device.

Clearing your cache deletes these stored files and forces your browser to download fresh copies the next time you visit those sites. This takes a few extra seconds on your first visit, but it frees up gigabytes of space and can fix problems where a page looks broken or shows outdated information.

You should clear your cache if your browser feels slow, if a website is not displaying correctly, or if you want to reclaim storage space. You can also clear it regularly — many people do it monthly or when they notice their device running sluggish.

Key Takeaways

  • Cache is a storage folder where your browser keeps copies of websites and images to make pages load faster next time.
  • Clearing cache removes these stored files and frees up storage space, though pages will take slightly longer to load on your first visit afterward.
  • The steps to clear cache are different in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, but all take less than a minute.
  • You can set your browser to clear cache automatically when you close it, so you do not have to remember to do it manually.

Clear cache in Google Chrome

Open Chrome and look at the top right corner of the window. Click the three vertical dots (called the menu button) and select Settings from the dropdown. On the left side of the Settings page, 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 the cache you want to delete. You can leave the other boxes checked or unchecked depending on what else you want to remove. At the top, you will see a dropdown that says All time — this means it will delete cache from your entire browsing history. If you only want to clear recent cache, you can change this to Last 24 hours or Last 7 days. Click the blue Clear data button at the bottom right.

Chrome will delete the cache in a few seconds. You can close the Settings tab and go back to browsing.

Clear cache in Mozilla Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (the menu button) in the top right corner. Click Settings, then click Privacy & Security on the left side. Scroll down until you see the section labeled Cookies and Site Data. Click the button that says Clear Data.

A small window will appear. Make sure the checkbox next to Cached Web Content is checked. You can leave Cookies and Site Data checked or unchecked depending on whether you want to log out of websites. Click the blue Clear button.

Firefox will delete the cache immediately. If you want to clear cache faster in the future, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac — this opens the clearing window directly without going through Settings.

Clear cache in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the very top of your screen (not inside the browser window). Click Clear History from the dropdown menu.

A window will pop up asking how far back you want to clear. Choose All history if you want to delete all cache, or pick a shorter time period like the last day if you only want to clear recent cache. Click the Clear History button.

Safari will delete the cache in a few seconds. Note that Safari does not have a separate "cache only" option like Chrome and Firefox — clearing history in Safari removes both your browsing history and your cache at the same time.

Clear cache in Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Click Settings, then click Privacy, search, and services on the left side. Under the section labeled Clear browsing data, click the button that says Choose what to clear.

A window will appear with checkboxes. Make sure Cached images and files is checked. At the top, you can choose the time range — All time will clear everything, or you can pick Last hour, Last 24 hours, or Last 7 days. Click the blue Clear now button.

Edge will delete the cache in a few seconds. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows to open this window directly.

Set your browser to clear cache automatically

Instead of clearing cache manually, you can tell your browser to delete it every time you close the browser. This way you never have to think about it.

In Chrome: Go to Settings, click Privacy and security, then turn on the toggle next to Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. From now on, cache will delete automatically when you close the browser completely.

In Firefox: Go to Settings, click Privacy & Security, and scroll to Cookies and Site Data. Check the box next to Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed. Firefox will now clear cache every time you close it.

In Safari: Click Safari in the menu bar, then Settings. Click the Privacy tab and check the box next to Remove history items. Choose after one day or manually from the dropdown. This will clear your cache on a schedule or only when you ask.

In Edge: Go to Settings, click Privacy, search, and services, and scroll down to Clear browsing data. Turn on the toggle next to Choose what to clear every time you close the browser. Then click Choose what to clear every time you close the browser and make sure Cached images and files is checked.

What to do if clearing cache does not fix your problem

If a website still looks broken or loads slowly after you clear cache, try closing your browser completely and opening it again. Sometimes a full restart fixes issues that clearing cache alone does not solve.

If the problem continues, try opening the website in a different browser — for example, if Chrome is having trouble, try Firefox or Edge. This tells you whether the problem is with your browser or with the website itself. If the site works fine in a different browser, the issue is likely a browser extension or setting in your main browser, not your cache.

You can also try clearing your browser's cookies in addition to cache. Cookies are small files that store your login information and preferences. Some websites behave strangely if their cookies get corrupted. When you clear browsing data, you can check both Cached images and files and Cookies and site data to remove both at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache log me out of websites?

Clearing cache alone will not log you out. Cache stores images and page layouts, not login information. Login information is stored in cookies, which are separate. If you clear both cache and cookies together, you will be logged out of most sites. To stay logged in, clear only cache and leave cookies unchecked.

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. If you browse heavily every day and have not cleared cache in months, it could be using 2 to 5 gigabytes or more. Clearing it usually frees up noticeable space on your device.

Is it safe to clear cache?

Yes, it is completely safe. Cache is just a copy of files your browser has already downloaded. Clearing it does not delete anything important or break your browser. The only downside is that websites will take a few extra seconds to load the first time you visit them after clearing cache, because your browser has to download fresh copies.

Can I clear cache for only one website instead of everything?

Most browsers do not have a built-in way to clear cache for a single site. Your best option is to use your browser's private or incognito mode when visiting a site you do not want cached. In private mode, your browser does not store cache, cookies, or history at all — everything is deleted when you close the window.

What is the difference between cache and cookies?

Cache stores images, videos, and page layouts to make websites load faster. Cookies store small pieces of information like your login details and preferences. Both are stored on your computer, but they serve different purposes. You can clear them separately or together depending on what you need.