What cache and cookies are, and why you might want to clear them
Cache is a folder on your computer where Edge stores copies of images, videos, and web pages you have visited. Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device to remember things about you — your login information, what you put in a shopping cart, or your browsing habits. When you clear both, Edge forgets where you have been and websites no longer recognize you automatically.
Clearing cache and cookies is useful if you are trying to remove traces of your browsing, or if a website is behaving strangely because old cached data is conflicting with a new version. It is also a practical step if you share a computer with others and do not want them to see your browsing history or logged-in accounts.
Edge stores this data by default and does not ask permission each time. The process to remove it takes less than two minutes and you can choose to clear everything at once or select specific dates and data types.
Key Takeaways
- Open Edge, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac to jump directly to the clearing screen.
- Choose your time range — "All time" clears everything, while "Last hour" or "Last 24 hours" removes only recent activity.
- Check the boxes next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" to remove both types of data.
- Click "Clear now" and Edge will delete the selected data within seconds; you do not need to restart the browser.
- If you want Edge to clear cache and cookies automatically every time you close the browser, you can turn on that setting in Edge preferences.
The fastest way: use the keyboard shortcut
The quickest path is to use a keyboard shortcut that takes you directly to the clearing screen. On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete all at once. On Mac, press Command+Shift+Delete. Edge will open a new tab labeled "Clear browsing data" with all the options you need.
If the keyboard shortcut does not work on your device, you can reach the same screen by clicking the three-dot menu in the top right corner of Edge, then selecting "Settings," then "Privacy, search, and services," then scrolling down to "Clear browsing data" and clicking "Choose what to clear."
Selecting what to clear and what time period
Once the "Clear browsing data" screen is open, you will see a dropdown menu at the top that says "Time range." Click it and choose one of these options: "All time" removes everything Edge has stored since you started using the browser, "Last 24 hours" removes only the past day, "Last 7 days" removes the past week, "Last 4 weeks" removes the past month, or "Last hour" removes only the most recent activity. For removing traces of your browsing, "All time" is usually the right choice.
Below the time range dropdown, you will see checkboxes for different types of data. Make sure the boxes next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are both checked. You can leave the other options unchecked unless you also want to clear your browsing history, read history, or autofill data — Edge will only delete the categories you select.
Completing the clear and what happens next
After you have selected your time range and checked the boxes for cookies and cache, click the blue "Clear now" button at the bottom right of the screen. Edge will delete the selected data when ready — usually within a few seconds — and the tab will show a message confirming that the data has been cleared.
You do not need to restart Edge or your computer. The browser will continue running normally, and you can start browsing right away. The next time you visit a website you have been to before, Edge will treat it as a fresh visit — you will need to log in again, and the site will not have access to your previous browsing data from that session.
Setting Edge to clear cache and cookies automatically
If you want Edge to clear cache and cookies every time you close the browser without having to do it manually, you can turn on that setting. Click the three-dot menu in the top right, select "Settings," then go to "Privacy, search, and services." Scroll down to the section labeled "Clear browsing data" and toggle on the switch that says "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser."
Once you turn that on, a new option will appear below it that says "Select what to clear every time you close the browser." Click that link and check the boxes for "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files." From that point forward, Edge will automatically delete those two types of data each time you close all your Edge windows. This is useful if you want to keep your browsing private without thinking about it.
Clearing cache and cookies on different devices
The steps above work on Windows and Mac computers. If you use Edge on a phone or tablet, the process is slightly different. On an iPhone or iPad, open Edge, tap the three-dot menu at the bottom right, select "Settings," tap "Privacy," then tap "Clear browsing data." On an Android phone or tablet, open Edge, tap the three-dot menu at the top right, select "Settings," tap "Privacy," then tap "Clear browsing data." The options for selecting time range and data types are the same as on a computer.
If you use Edge on multiple devices and want to clear data across all of them at once, you can sign in to your Microsoft account in Edge. Go to "Settings," then "Profiles," and make sure you are signed in. Then, when you clear browsing data on one device, you can choose to also clear data synced to your Microsoft account — though this is a separate step from clearing local cache and cookies.
Troubleshooting if the clear does not seem to work
If you clear cache and cookies but a website still recognizes you or behaves as though it remembers your activity, the issue may be that Edge has cached data in a different location. Try clearing the cache again but this time also check the box for "Browsing history" — sometimes website behavior is tied to history rather than cookies alone.
Another possibility is that the website is using a different tracking method, such as local storage or site data that is separate from standard cookies. Edge groups these under "Cookies and other site data," so checking that box should remove them. If a website continues to behave unexpectedly after you have cleared all browsing data, try closing Edge completely and reopening it, or try visiting the website in an InPrivate window (Edge's private browsing mode), which does not store any cache or cookies at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache and cookies log me out of websites?
Yes. Websites use cookies to remember that you are logged in, so clearing cookies will log you out of most sites. You will need to log in again the next time you visit. This is normal and expected behavior.
Does clearing cache and cookies delete my saved passwords?
No. Passwords are stored separately from cache and cookies. If you want to delete saved passwords, you need to go to "Settings," then "Passwords," and remove them individually. Clearing browsing data does not affect them.
Can I clear cache and cookies for just one website instead of all websites?
Edge does not have a built-in option to clear data for a single site. Your choices are to clear all data for a selected time period, or to clear nothing. If you need to remove data for one specific site, you can visit that site, right-click, select "Inspect," go to the "process" tab, and manually delete cookies and storage for that domain — but this requires more technical steps.
What is the difference between clearing cache and clearing cookies?
Cache stores copies of images and web pages so websites load faster next time you visit. Cookies store information websites want to remember about you, like login details or preferences. Clearing cache makes sites load slightly slower on your next visit; clearing cookies makes sites forget who you are. Both are useful for privacy, but they do different things.
If I clear cache and cookies, will it slow down my browsing?
Clearing cache might make websites load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing, because Edge no longer has stored copies of images and files. This slowdown is usually not noticeable. After you visit a site once, Edge will rebuild the cache and subsequent visits will be fast again.