What clearing cache actually does

Your cache is a folder on your computer where Firefox stores copies of websites you visit — images, text, videos, everything. When you revisit a site, Firefox loads these copies from your hard drive instead of downloading them again, which makes pages load faster. Clearing cache means deleting all those stored copies.

You might clear cache if a website looks broken or won't load properly (the old copy is corrupted), if you want to free up disk space, or if you're concerned about what Firefox has recorded about your browsing. Clearing cache does not log you out of websites or delete your passwords — those are stored separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Cache is a folder of website copies Firefox stores to make pages load faster, and clearing it removes those copies but not your passwords or login information.
  • You can clear cache through Firefox settings in under one minute using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac).
  • The "Time range" dropdown lets you clear only recent cache instead of everything, which is useful if one website is broken but you want to keep faster loading on others.
  • If a website still looks broken after clearing cache, try opening it in a private window, which does not use cache at all.

Clear cache using the keyboard shortcut

The fastest way is to use your keyboard. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete if you are on Windows, or Command+Shift+Delete if you are on Mac. A window titled "Clear Recent History" will open when ready.

At the top, you will see a dropdown that says "Time range for clearing". Leave it set to "Everything" unless you only want to clear cache from the last hour or day. Below that, make sure the box next to "Cache" is checked — it usually is by default. Uncheck anything else you do not want to delete. Then click the blue "Clear Now" button.

Firefox will clear the cache in a few seconds. You can close the window and continue browsing. The next time you visit a website, Firefox will read fresh copies of everything.

Clear cache through Firefox settings

If the keyboard shortcut does not work, you can reach the same window through the menu. Click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner of Firefox. Select "Settings" from the dropdown.

On the left side, click "Privacy & Security". Scroll down until you see a section called "Cookies and Site Data". Click the button that says "Clear Data". The same "Clear Recent History" window will open. Follow the same steps: check "Cache", set the time range, and click "Clear Now".

Clear cache for just one website

If only one website is broken, you do not need to clear all your cache. Visit that website, then press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) to open the clear history window. Change the "Time range" dropdown to "Last Hour" or "Last 2 Hours" depending on when you last visited that site. Make sure only "Cache" is checked, then click "Clear Now".

This removes only the recent cache for that site without touching cache from other websites you visit regularly. If the site still looks broken, try opening it in a private window instead — Firefox will not use any cache in private mode, so you will see the live version of the website.

Understand what gets deleted and what stays

When you clear cache, Firefox removes stored images, videos, and text from websites. It does not delete your saved passwords, bookmarks, browsing history, or login cookies — you will stay logged into your accounts. If you want to delete those things too, you can check the boxes next to them in the clear history window, but that is separate from cache.

If you are worried about what Firefox remembers, you can also turn on "Private Browsing" mode for future sessions. Open the hamburger menu and click "New Private Window". Firefox will not store cache, history, or cookies from private windows once you close them.

Prevent cache problems before they happen

You can set Firefox to clear cache automatically when you close the browser. Open the hamburger menu and go to "Settings". Click "Privacy & Security" on the left. Scroll to "Cookies and Site Data" and check the box that says "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed". This will clear cache every time you shut down Firefox, though it will slow down page loading slightly since Firefox cannot reuse stored copies.

You can also limit how much space cache takes up. In the same "Cookies and Site Data" section, you will see "Manage Data". Click it to see which websites are using the most cache space, and delete cache for specific sites without clearing everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache log me out of websites?

No. Cache stores images and text, not login information. Your passwords and login cookies are stored separately and will not be deleted when you clear cache. You will stay logged into your accounts.

Why is a website still broken after I cleared cache?

If clearing cache did not fix the problem, the issue is not a corrupted copy on your computer. Try opening the website in a private window, which does not use cache at all. If it works in private mode, the problem is with your regular cache or cookies. If it is still broken in private mode, the problem is with the website itself or your internet connection.

How much space does cache take up?

It varies depending on how much you browse and which websites you visit. Cache can range from a few hundred megabytes to several gigabytes. If you are running low on disk space, clearing cache can free up room, though it will make websites load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing.

Can I clear cache without clearing cookies?

Yes. When you open the clear history window, you will see checkboxes for different types of data. Make sure only "Cache" is checked and uncheck "Cookies and Site Data". Click "Clear Now" and only cache will be deleted.

What is the difference between cache and cookies?

Cache stores copies of website files like images and videos to make pages load faster. Cookies store small pieces of information websites use to remember you — like login status or shopping cart contents. They are separate and can be cleared independently.