Clear cache and cookies in Edge in three steps

Open Microsoft Edge and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on your keyboard (or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac). This opens the "Clear browsing data" window directly. Select the time range at the top — "All time" removes everything, or pick a specific range like "Last hour" or "Last 7 days". Check the boxes next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files", then click the blue "Clear now" button.

That's the fastest way. If you prefer using the menu instead, click the three-dot icon in the top right corner of Edge, select "Settings", then go to "Privacy, search, and services" on the left side. Scroll down to "Clear browsing data" and click "Choose what to clear". The window that opens works the same way as the keyboard shortcut — pick your time range, check the boxes you want, and click "Clear now".

Edge will also ask you to clear this data automatically when you close the browser if you turn on that setting. Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services, scroll to "Clear browsing data", and toggle on "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser". After that, Edge clears your selected data each time you shut it down completely.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest way to clear cache and cookies is pressing Ctrl + Shift + Delete, which opens the clear data window in one step.
  • You can clear everything at once or pick a specific time range like "Last 24 hours" or "Last 7 days" depending on what you need.
  • Cookies and cached data are separate checkboxes — uncheck either one if you want to keep that type of data.
  • Edge can clear your data automatically every time you close the browser if you enable that setting in Privacy preferences.

What cache and cookies actually do

Cached images and files are copies of pictures, videos, and other content that websites store on your computer so they load faster the next time you visit. Cookies are small text files that websites use to remember information about you — your login status, items in your shopping cart, your language preference, or your browsing history on that site.

Clearing cache frees up disk space and removes data from sites you've visited. Clearing cookies signs you out of most websites and removes the information those sites stored about your visits. Some people clear both regularly for privacy reasons. Others clear only cookies and keep the cache to make websites load faster. Edge lets you choose which one to clear, so you're not forced to do both at once.

Using the Settings menu instead of the keyboard shortcut

If the keyboard shortcut doesn't work on your computer, or if you prefer clicking through menus, the Settings route is reliable. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of any Edge window. Near the top of the menu you'll see "Settings" — click it. On the left sidebar, click "Privacy, search, and services".

Scroll down until you see the section labeled "Clear browsing data". You'll see two options: "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser" (a toggle switch) and "Clear browsing data" (a button). Click the button labeled "Clear browsing data". The same window opens as with the keyboard shortcut, and you proceed from there.

Choosing what time range to clear

At the top of the "Clear browsing data" window, you'll see a dropdown menu that says "Time range". Click it to see your options. "All time" removes everything Edge has stored since you installed it. "Last hour" clears only data from the past 60 minutes. "Last 24 hours", "Last 7 days", and "Last 4 weeks" let you target a specific window.

Pick the range that matches what you're trying to do. If you're about to sell your computer or give it to someone else, use "All time". If you just visited a site you don't want remembered, "Last hour" is enough. If you're clearing data before a job interview and want to remove your recent browsing history, "Last 24 hours" or "Last 7 days" is usually the right choice.

Clearing only cookies or only cache

The "Clear browsing data" window shows several checkboxes. The two you'll use most are "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files". You don't have to check both — uncheck whichever one you want to keep. If you only want to clear cookies and keep your cache, uncheck "Cached images and files". If you only want to clear cache and stay logged into websites, uncheck "Cookies and other site data".

Other checkboxes in that window include "Browsing history" (your list of visited sites), "Download history" (files you've downloaded), and "Autofill form data" (names, addresses, and other information Edge remembers from forms). Check only the boxes for data you actually want removed, then click "Clear now".

Set Edge to clear data automatically when you close it

If you want Edge to clear your cache and cookies every time you shut down the browser, you can turn on automatic clearing. Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services. Scroll to the "Clear browsing data" section and toggle on "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser". A new set of checkboxes appears below it.

Check the boxes next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files", or whichever data types you want cleared automatically. From that point on, Edge will clear those items every time you fully close the browser — not just when you close a tab or window, but when you shut Edge down completely. This happens silently in the background; you won't see a confirmation message.

If you change your mind, go back to the same toggle and turn it off. Edge stops clearing data automatically, and your cache and cookies will start building up again as you browse.

Troubleshooting if the clear button doesn't work

If you click "Clear now" and nothing seems to happen, close the settings window and try again. Sometimes Edge needs a moment to process the request. If the button is grayed out or won't respond, close Edge completely and reopen it, then try the keyboard shortcut again.

If you're using a work or school computer, your organization may have locked down the ability to clear cache and cookies. Contact your IT department or network administrator — they can tell you whether clearing data is restricted on your account. On a personal computer, this is rarely the issue, but it's worth checking if you've tried multiple times and nothing works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cookies sign me out of everything?

Yes, clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites because cookies store your login information. You'll need to log back in to email, social media, banking sites, and other accounts. If you want to stay logged into a specific site, uncheck "Cookies and other site data" before clicking "Clear now".

Does clearing cache make Edge run faster?

Clearing cache frees up disk space on your computer, but it usually doesn't make Edge run noticeably faster. In fact, websites may load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing cache, because Edge has to download all the images and files again instead of using stored copies.

What's the difference between clearing data and using InPrivate browsing?

InPrivate mode prevents Edge from storing cache and cookies while you're browsing — nothing gets saved in the first place. Clearing data removes what's already been stored. InPrivate is useful if you want to browse without leaving a trace; clearing data is what you do after the fact to remove data you've already created.

Can I clear data from just one website?

The built-in clear function removes data from all websites at once. If you want to clear data from a single site, you can visit that site, press F12 to open Developer Tools, go to the "Application" tab, find "Cookies" on the left, click the site name, and delete individual cookies. For most people, clearing all data at once is simpler.

Do I need to clear cache and cookies regularly?

It depends on your privacy preferences. Clearing regularly removes information about your browsing habits, which some people prefer. Others clear only occasionally or never. There's no technical reason you must clear them — Edge will continue working fine with years of accumulated cache and cookies. The choice is yours.