What clearing your cache does and why you might want to

Cache is temporary data your computer stores to make programs run faster. When you visit a website, your browser saves images, scripts, and page layouts so it doesn't have to read them again. When you use an app, it caches data the same way. Over time, this cache builds up and takes up disk space — sometimes gigabytes of it — and can slow your computer down or cause programs to behave oddly.

Clearing cache is safe. You are only deleting temporary files that your browser or app will rebuild the next time you use it. You will not lose documents, photos, or anything you created yourself. The main trade-off is that websites and apps will load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing, because they have to read everything fresh.

You might clear cache if your computer is running slowly, if a website is not displaying correctly, if you are running low on disk space, or if you want to remove browsing history and cookies for privacy reasons. Different browsers and operating systems store cache in different places, so the steps vary depending on what you use.

Key Takeaways

  • Cache is temporary data your browser and apps store to load faster; clearing it frees up disk space and can fix display problems without deleting anything you created.
  • The steps to clear cache are different for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, and you can choose to clear only recent cache or all of it.
  • You can set your browser to clear cache automatically when you close it, so you do not have to do it manually each time.
  • Windows and Mac both have system-level cache separate from your browser cache; clearing both gives you the most disk space back.

Clearing cache in Chrome

Open Chrome and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows, or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac. This opens the "Clear browsing data" window. At the top, you will see a dropdown that says "All time" — click it to choose how far back to clear. Select "All time" if you want to clear everything, or pick a shorter range like "Last 7 days" or "Last 24 hours" if you only want to remove recent cache.

Make sure the box next to "Cached images and files" is checked. You can also check "Cookies and other site data" if you want to clear login information and tracking data, though this means you will have to log back into websites. Leave "Passwords" unchecked unless you specifically want to delete saved passwords. Click "Clear data" and wait for the process to finish — it usually takes a few seconds to a minute depending on how much cache you have.

Clearing cache in Firefox

Open Firefox and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows, or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac. The "Clear Recent History" window will open. At the top, click the dropdown next to "Time range to clear" and choose how far back you want to go. Select "Everything" to clear all cache, or pick a specific range.

Make sure "Cache" is checked in the list below. You can also check "Cookies" if you want to clear login data and tracking information. Click "Clear Now" and the process will complete. Firefox usually clears cache faster than Chrome because it typically stores less of it.

Clearing cache in Safari and Edge

In Safari on Mac, click "Safari" in the menu bar at the top, then select "Clear History." A dropdown will ask you how far back to clear — choose "all history" to clear everything, or pick a time range. Click "Clear History" to finish. Safari does not have a separate "cache" option like Chrome and Firefox; clearing history clears the cache along with it.

In Edge on Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the clear browsing data window. Choose your time range at the top, make sure "Cached images and files" is checked, and click "Clear now." The process is nearly identical to Chrome because Edge uses the same underlying engine.

Clearing system cache on Windows and Mac

Your operating system also stores cache separate from your browser. On Windows, open File Explorer and type %temp% in the address bar at the top, then press Enter. This opens your Temp folder, which holds temporary files from programs and Windows itself. Select all files in this folder (Ctrl + A), then delete them. Windows may tell you some files are in use and cannot be deleted — that is normal. Delete what you can and move on.

You can also clear the cache for the Windows Store and other built-in apps. Open Settings, go to "System," then "Storage," and click "Temporary files." Check the boxes for "Temporary files," "Recycle Bin," and "Temporary internet files," then click "Remove files." This can free up several gigabytes if you have not done it in a while.

On Mac, clearing system cache is less straightforward because macOS does not expose a single "cache" folder the way Windows does. The easiest approach is to use the built-in Disk Utility. Open Finder, go to Applications, then Utilities, and double-click Disk Utility. Select your hard drive on the left, click the "First Aid" tab, and click "Run." This scans and repairs your disk, which can free up some space, though it is not as direct as clearing a cache folder.

Setting your browser to clear cache automatically

If you want to avoid clearing cache manually, you can set your browser to do it automatically when you close it. In Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top right, go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then "Clear browsing data." Check the box that says "Clear cookies and other site data when you quit Chrome." In Firefox, go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, scroll to "Cookies and Site Data," and check "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed."

In Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, then Preferences, then Privacy. Check the box that says "Remove all website data when quitting Safari." In Edge, click the three-dot menu, go to Settings, then Privacy, search, and services, and toggle on "Clear browsing data." Then scroll down and toggle on "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser." These settings mean your cache will be empty every time you restart your browser, which trades a tiny bit of speed for better privacy.

When to clear cache and what to expect

Clear cache when your computer is running slowly, when a website looks broken or is not loading correctly, or when you are running low on disk space. You might also clear it if you are concerned about privacy and do not want websites tracking your browsing. The first time you visit a website or open an app after clearing cache, it will load a bit slower because everything has to read fresh. After that, it will cache again and load normally.

If clearing cache does not fix a slow computer, the problem is likely something else — too many programs running at startup, a full hard drive, or malware. If a website still looks broken after clearing cache, try a different browser to see if the problem is specific to one browser or the website itself. If you are running out of disk space, clearing cache might free up a few gigabytes, but if you have large video or photo files you do not need, deleting those will free up much more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my passwords or saved credit card information?

Not unless you specifically check the box for "Passwords" or "Payment methods" when clearing. Most browsers separate cache (temporary files) from passwords and payment data (stored information). If you only check "Cached images and files," your passwords stay. If you want to clear passwords too, you can do that separately in your browser settings without touching cache.

How much disk space will I get back by clearing cache?

It depends on how long it has been since you last cleared and how much you browse. Browser cache is usually between 100 megabytes and a few gigabytes. System cache on Windows can be larger. If you have not cleared in months, you might free up 5 to 10 gigabytes. If you clear regularly, each time might only free up a few hundred megabytes.

Do I need to clear cache on my phone too?

Yes, the same principle applies. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Safari, and tap "Clear History and Website Data." On Android, open Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings, then Privacy, and tap "Clear browsing data." Phone cache is usually smaller than computer cache, but clearing it can help if an app is misbehaving or your phone is running slowly.

What is the difference between cache and cookies?

Cache is temporary files like images and scripts that make websites load faster. Cookies are small text files that store information about you — login status, preferences, tracking data. Clearing cache does not log you out of websites, but clearing cookies does. You can clear one without the other, though most people clear both together for privacy.

Is it safe to clear cache while a program is running?

It is safe to clear browser cache while your browser is closed. Do not try to clear cache while the browser is open, because it might cause the browser to crash or behave oddly. Close the browser completely first, then clear cache, then reopen it. For system cache, close all programs before clearing the Temp folder on Windows.