What cache and cookies actually do
Cache is a folder on your computer where your browser stores copies of images, videos, and code from websites you visit. The next time you return to that site, your browser loads these stored copies instead of downloading them again — which makes the page load faster. Without cache, every visit to a website would mean downloading everything from scratch.
Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device to remember information about you. A cookie might store your login details so you don't have to type your password every time, or it might track which items you looked at so a store can show you similar products later. Some cookies are useful; others follow you across the internet to build a profile of your browsing habits.
Both cache and cookies take up storage space on your device. More importantly, they can create privacy and security problems if they contain outdated information, track your activity across sites, or hold login details you no longer want saved. Clearing them is a straightforward way to free up space and reset how websites see you.
Key Takeaways
- Cache stores website images and code to make pages load faster; cookies store login details and tracking information that websites use to remember you.
- You can clear cache and cookies from your browser settings in under a minute, and the process is the same basic steps across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
- Clearing cache and cookies will log you out of most websites and may slow down page loading temporarily until new cache builds up again.
- You can set your browser to clear cache and cookies automatically when you close it, or to block third-party cookies that track you across sites.
How to clear cache and cookies in Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu, then click Privacy and security on the left side. Choose Clear browsing data.
A window will pop up with options. Make sure the time range at the top is set to All time if you want to clear everything, or choose 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. Leave the other options unchecked unless you have a specific reason to clear them. Click Clear data.
Chrome will clear the selected items and close the window. You will be logged out of most websites, and you may notice pages load slightly slower the next time you visit them — this is normal and temporary.
How to clear cache and cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy & Security on the left. Scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section and click Clear Data.
A small window will appear. Make sure both Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content are checked. Click Clear. Firefox will remove these items when ready.
If you want to clear only data from a specific time period, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Delete (or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac) instead. This opens the full history clearing tool where you can choose a time range before clearing.
How to clear cache and cookies in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Clear History from the dropdown menu.
A window will appear asking how far back you want to clear. Choose All history to remove everything, or pick a specific time range. Click Clear History. This action clears both cache and cookies at once in Safari.
Safari does not offer a separate option to clear only cookies or only cache through the main menu, so this method clears both together. If you want more control, you can go to Safari > Preferences > Privacy and click Manage Website Data to see and remove individual sites.
How to clear cache and cookies in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy, search, and services on the left. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
A window will open. Set the time range to All time or your preferred range. Check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. Click Clear now.
Edge will remove the selected data. You can also set Edge to clear this data automatically every time you close the browser by toggling on Clear browsing data at the top of the Privacy settings page.
Set your browser to clear automatically
Instead of clearing cache and cookies manually each time, you can tell your browser to do it for you. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data, and toggle on Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security and set Cookies and Site Data to Clear when Firefox closes.
Safari does not have a built-in automatic clearing option, but you can use the Develop menu (enable it in Preferences > Advanced) to manually clear cache. Edge offers the same toggle as Chrome: Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data > toggle on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser.
Automatic clearing means you start fresh each session, but it also means you will be logged out of websites every time you close your browser. This is a trade-off between convenience and privacy — choose based on your own preference.
What happens after you clear cache and cookies
After clearing, you will be logged out of most websites. The next time you visit a site that required a login, you will need to enter your username and password again. Websites will not remember your preferences — things like dark mode settings or language choices may reset to defaults.
Pages may load slightly slower for a few days while your browser rebuilds its cache. This is temporary and not a sign that something went wrong. Your browsing speed will return to normal as you visit sites again and cache accumulates.
Clearing cookies does not hide your activity from your internet service provider, your employer if you are on a work network, or the websites themselves — it only removes the stored data on your device. If you want more privacy while browsing, consider using your browser's private or incognito mode, which does not save cache or cookies at all during that session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache and cookies delete my saved passwords?
No. Passwords stored in your browser's password manager are separate from cookies and cache. Clearing cache and cookies will not affect them. If you want to remove saved passwords, you must do that through your browser's password settings separately.
What is the difference between clearing cache and clearing cookies?
Cache stores website files like images and videos to make pages load faster. Cookies store login information and tracking data. You can clear one without the other, but most people clear both at once. Clearing cache frees up storage; clearing cookies removes tracking and login data.
Do I need to clear cache and cookies regularly?
Not necessarily. Clearing them is useful if you are concerned about privacy, if a website is not working properly, or if you are running low on storage space. If none of these explore, you can go months without clearing them. Many people set their browser to clear automatically and never think about it.
Will clearing cookies log me out of everything?
Yes, clearing cookies will log you out of most websites because cookies store your login session. You will need to log back in the next time you visit. Some sites may remember you if they use other methods to track sessions, but most will require a fresh login.
Can I clear cache and cookies from just one website?
Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can right-click on any website and select an option to clear data for that site only. In Safari, go to Develop > Empty Caches or use the Manage Website Data option in Privacy settings. This is useful if one site is misbehaving but you want to stay logged into others.