What clearing your cache does

Clearing your browser cache removes the temporary files Edge has stored on your computer — images, scripts, and partial web pages that websites have downloaded to your device. When you clear the cache, Edge deletes these files so they take up no disk space and cannot be retrieved later.

Most people clear their cache for one of three reasons: to free up storage space on a full drive, to force a website to load fresh instead of showing an outdated cached version, or to remove browsing traces before handing off a computer. The process takes less than a minute and does not affect your passwords or saved payment methods unless you specifically choose to delete those too.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Edge, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac to jump straight to the cache-clearing screen.
  • Choose your time range at the top — "All time" clears everything, while "Last hour" or "Last 24 hours" clears only recent browsing data.
  • Check only the boxes for data you actually want to delete; "Cached images and files" is the cache itself, while cookies and passwords are separate.
  • Click "Clear now" and Edge will delete the selected data when ready — you do not need to restart the browser.

The fastest way: keyboard shortcut

The quickest route is the keyboard shortcut. On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete all at once. On Mac, press Command+Shift+Delete. Edge opens the "Clear browsing data" window when ready.

At the top of that window, you will see a dropdown that says "Time range". Click it and choose how far back you want to clear: "All time" removes everything Edge has cached since you installed it, while "Last hour", "Last 24 hours", "Last 7 days", "Last 4 weeks", and "Last 3 months" let you target a specific window. Most people choose "All time" unless they want to keep older cached files.

Selecting what to delete

Below the time range dropdown, you will see checkboxes for different types of data. Cached images and files is the actual cache — the temporary copies of web pages and images. This is almost always what you want to clear, and it is checked by default.

You will also see options for cookies, browsing history, read history, passwords, and other data types. Leave these unchecked unless you have a specific reason to delete them. Clearing cookies will log you out of websites, and clearing passwords will remove saved login information. If you only want to clear the cache itself, make sure only "Cached images and files" is checked, then click Clear now.

Edge deletes the selected data when ready. You do not need to close the browser or restart your computer — the cache is gone as soon as you see the confirmation.

Clearing cache through the menu

If the keyboard shortcut does not work or you prefer using the menu, open Edge and click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner. Scroll down and click Settings.

On the left side of the Settings window, click Privacy, search, and services. Under "Clear browsing data", you will see a button that says Choose what to clear. Click it and you will see the same window as the keyboard shortcut method. Select your time range, check only the boxes you want, and click "Clear now".

Automatic cache clearing when you close Edge

If you want Edge to clear your cache automatically every time you close the browser, you can set that up in Settings. Open the three-dot menu, click Settings, then Privacy, search, and services.

Scroll down to "Clear browsing data" and toggle on Choose what to clear every time you close the browser. Once this is on, a new option appears below it: Select what to clear every time you close the browser. Click that and check only "Cached images and files" (or whatever else you want cleared automatically). From then on, Edge will delete those items when you close the browser completely.

This setting does not affect your regular browsing — it only clears data when you fully close Edge, not when you close individual tabs or windows.

When to clear your cache

Clear your cache if a website is showing you outdated information or broken images. Sometimes Edge serves a cached version of a page even though the website has updated it. Clearing the cache forces Edge to read the fresh version the next time you visit.

Clear your cache if your hard drive is running low on space. Cached files can add up to several gigabytes over time, especially if you browse heavily. Clearing the cache frees that space when ready.

Clear your cache before sharing your computer with someone else if you want to remove traces of where you have been online. Clearing the cache does not remove your browsing history (that is a separate option), but it does remove the temporary files associated with your visits.

What clearing cache does not do

Clearing your cache does not delete your browsing history. History is a separate record that Edge keeps of the websites you have visited. To remove that, you need to clear browsing history as a separate step in the same "Clear browsing data" window.

Clearing your cache does not log you out of websites unless you also clear cookies. Cookies are small files that websites use to remember who you are. If you want to stay logged in, make sure the "Cookies and other site data" box is unchecked.

Clearing your cache does not remove your saved passwords. Passwords are stored separately and require you to check the "Passwords" box to delete them. If you only want to clear the cache, leave that box unchecked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing my cache make Edge run faster?

Clearing cache usually does not make Edge noticeably faster during normal browsing. A large cache takes up disk space but does not slow down your browser much. However, if your hard drive is nearly full, clearing cache can help your entire computer run better because the operating system has more free space to work with.

How often should I clear my cache?

There is no set schedule. Most people clear cache when they notice a website is not loading correctly, when their hard drive is running low on space, or when they want to remove browsing traces. If you browse very heavily and your drive fills up often, you might clear cache monthly. If you rarely run out of space, clearing it once or twice a year is fine.

What is the difference between cache and cookies?

Cache stores copies of images and web pages so they load faster next time. Cookies are small text files that websites use to remember your preferences and keep you logged in. Clearing cache does not log you out, but clearing cookies does. You can clear one without clearing the other.

Can I recover files after clearing my cache?

No. Once you click "Clear now", the cached files are deleted permanently. Edge does not keep a backup. If you need to recover something, you would have to visit the website again and let Edge read it fresh.

Does clearing cache delete my passwords?

No, not unless you specifically check the "Passwords" box before clearing. By default, only "Cached images and files" is checked, so your saved passwords stay on your computer. You have to actively choose to delete passwords as a separate action.