To clear your browser cache, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows or Command + Shift + Delete on a Mac in Chrome, Edge or Firefox. Choose a time range such as All time, check only the box for cached images and files, and confirm. Phones work differently. On iPhone, Safari’s cache is in the Settings app. On Android, Chrome’s cache is in the browser’s History menu.
A cache is a stored copy of website files, such as images, scripts and page layouts, that your browser keeps so pages load faster the next time you visit. Clearing it forces the browser to download fresh copies. That can fix pages that look broken, won’t update or keep showing an error. If you only check the cache box, you won’t lose your passwords, history or logins.
How to clear your cache on a computer
Clearing the cache on a computer takes under a minute in any major browser. Each browser keeps its own cache, so if you use two browsers, clear each one separately.
Google Chrome (Windows, Mac, Chromebook)
- Open the menu. Click the three dots in the top-right corner of Chrome.
- Choose Delete browsing data. You can also go to Settings > Privacy and security > Delete browsing data.
- Pick a time range. Choose All time to clear everything, or Last hour if a problem just started.
- Check only Cached images and files. Uncheck the other boxes unless you want to remove them too.
- Click Delete data.
Microsoft Edge
- Open Settings. Click the three dots at the top right, then Settings.
- Go to Privacy, search, and services. Find the Clear browsing data section and click Choose what to clear.
- Select Cached images and files. Set the time range you want.
- Click Clear now.
The shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete opens the same window directly.
Mozilla Firefox
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Command + Shift + Delete on a Mac). This opens Firefox’s clear-data window.
- Choose a time range. Pick Everything for a full reset.
- Check only the cache box. It’s labeled as cached or temporary web files.
- Confirm. Click the Clear button.
Safari on a Mac
- Open Safari Settings. Click Safari in the menu bar, then Settings. Older versions call it Preferences.
- Select the Privacy tab. Then click Manage Website Data.
- Remove stored data. Select a single site and click Remove, or click Remove All.
To empty only the cache and keep your site logins, turn on Safari’s developer features in Safari Settings > Advanced. Then choose Develop > Empty Caches, or press Option + Command + E.
How do I clear my iPhone cache?
Safari’s cache on an iPhone or iPad is cleared from the Settings app, not from inside the browser.
- Open Settings. Tap Apps, then Safari. On older iOS versions, Safari is listed directly in Settings.
- Tap Clear History and Website Data. This removes cache, cookies and browsing history together.
- Confirm your choice. If you’re signed in to iCloud with Safari syncing on, history is also removed from your other Apple devices.
To keep your history, go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced > Website Data and tap Remove All Website Data instead.
Most iPhone apps have no clear-cache button. To shrink an app’s stored data, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and select the app. Offload App deletes the app but keeps your documents and data. Deleting and reinstalling the app clears its cache completely.
How to clear your cache on Android
Chrome on Android clears its cache from the browser’s History menu.
- Open Chrome. Tap the three-dot menu, then History.
- Tap Clear browsing data. Wording can vary slightly between Chrome versions.
- Check Cached images and files. Choose a time range.
- Confirm. Tap the clear or delete button.
Android also lets you clear the cache for any single app. The exact path differs by phone maker.
- Open Settings > Apps. Find and tap the app.
- Open Storage. On some phones this is called Storage & cache.
- Tap Clear cache.
Don’t tap Clear storage or Clear data unless you mean to. That button wipes the app’s settings, logins and any downloads saved inside the app.
How to clear the cache for one website
Clearing the cache for one website fixes a single misbehaving page without signing you out everywhere else. You can do this in three ways.
- Hard refresh. Press Ctrl + Shift + R on Windows or Command + Shift + R on a Mac in Chrome, Edge or Firefox. This reloads the page and skips the cached copy.
- Delete that site’s data in Chrome. Click the icon at the left end of the address bar and open the cookies or site data options. From there you can delete what that one site has stored.
- Empty Cache and Hard Reload. In Chrome, press F12 to open developer tools. Then right-click the reload button and choose Empty Cache and Hard Reload.
Cache vs. cookies vs. history: what clearing actually removes
Cache, cookies and history are three different kinds of stored data. Clearing each one has a different side effect. Cookies are small files that websites use to remember you, including your login and your shopping cart.
| Data type | What it stores | What happens when you clear it |
|---|---|---|
| Cached images and files | Copies of images, scripts and page layouts | Pages load a bit slower the first time you return; nothing personal is lost |
| Cookies and site data | Logins, preferences, shopping carts, tracking IDs | You’re signed out of most websites and must log in again |
| Browsing history | The list of pages you’ve visited | Address-bar suggestions and your history list are erased |
| Saved passwords and autofill | Passwords, addresses and payment details | Stored entries are deleted; leave these boxes unchecked unless you want that |
Should you clear out your cache?
It depends. Clearing your cache isn’t routine maintenance. A full cache makes your regular sites load faster, and the browser manages its own size. Clearing it makes sense in a few situations:
- A page looks broken or out of date. Old cached files can clash with a site’s new version.
- You’re running low on storage. App and browser caches can grow large on phones.
- You used a shared or public computer. Clear cache, cookies and history before you walk away.
- A support agent asks you to. It’s a standard first step for website problems.
Use this table to match a problem to the right fix.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Page shows old content or broken layout | Stale cached files | Hard refresh, then clear cached images and files |
| Login loops or “session expired” errors | Corrupted cookies for that site | Delete cookies and site data for that one website |
| Phone says storage is almost full | Large app caches | Clear cache per app on Android; offload the app on iPhone |
| Problem happens in every browser | Not the cache: network, device or the site itself | Restart your router and device, or try another network |
What to do if clearing the cache doesn’t fix it
If the problem remains after clearing the cache, work through these steps in order.
- Close and reopen the browser. Some files stay in memory until you restart it.
- Try a private window. Use Incognito in Chrome or a Private window in Safari, Firefox and Edge. If the site works there, a browser extension or cookie is the culprit.
- Turn off extensions one at a time. Ad blockers and privacy tools can break some sites.
- Update the browser. Check the About section in the browser’s menu.
- Try another browser or device. If the site fails everywhere, it may be down for everyone. Check the company’s official status page or social media accounts.
- Reset the browser’s settings. Sync or export your bookmarks and passwords first.
How can I clear my system cache?
On Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files, check the categories you want, and click Remove files. Storage Sense, found on the same Storage page, can delete temporary files automatically. On a Mac, restarting clears many system caches. Avoid deleting folders by hand inside the Library folder, because removing the wrong files can break apps.
FAQ
– Does clearing your cache delete passwords?
No, clearing the cache alone does not delete saved passwords. Passwords are only removed if you also check the saved passwords box in the clear-data window. Leave that box unchecked to keep them.
– How do I clear the cache and cookies in all my browsers?
You have to clear each browser one at a time, because Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari each keep their own cache. The Ctrl + Shift + Delete shortcut (Command + Shift + Delete on a Mac) opens the clear-data window in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Safari uses its Settings menu instead.
– Will clearing my cache sign me out of websites?
Clearing only the cache usually keeps you signed in. Logging you out is the job of cookies. If you clear cookies and site data, plan to sign back in to email, banking and shopping sites.
– Does clearing an app’s cache delete my photos or messages on Android?
No, Clear cache on Android removes only temporary files. The separate Clear storage or Clear data button is the one that erases an app’s settings and saved content. Back up anything important before using Clear storage.