What clearing cache does and why you might need to

Cache is a folder where Safari stores copies of websites you visit — images, text, videos, everything. When you return to a site, Safari loads these copies from your Mac instead of downloading them again, which makes pages load faster. Over time this folder grows large and can slow Safari down, cause pages to display outdated information, or use storage space you need elsewhere.

Clearing cache removes all these stored copies at once. Your Mac will have more free space, Safari may run faster, and the next time you visit a website it will load the current version rather than an old cached copy. The tradeoff is that those sites will load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing, because Safari has to read everything fresh.

You might clear cache if a website looks broken or shows old information, if Safari feels sluggish, or straightforward as regular maintenance. There is no downside to clearing it — you are not deleting passwords, bookmarks, or any information Safari needs to function.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, and select Clear History to remove cached files along with your browsing history.
  • You can choose to clear cache from the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all time — select what fits your situation.
  • Clearing cache does not remove saved passwords, bookmarks, or autofill information.
  • If a website displays incorrectly or shows outdated content, clearing cache is often the fastest fix.

The fastest way: using the Safari menu

Open Safari and look at the menu bar at the top of your screen. Click the word Safari (not the Safari icon in your dock — the actual word in the menu bar). A dropdown menu appears.

Look for the option that says Clear History. Click it. A small window pops up asking how far back you want to clear. The dropdown menu shows four choices: "the last hour", "today", "today and yesterday", or "all time". Select whichever matches what you need. If you are not sure, "all time" clears everything and is the most thorough option.

Click the blue Clear History button in that window. The cache is now gone. You will not see any confirmation message — Safari straightforward closes the window and returns to normal. The process takes a few seconds.

Where Safari stores cache if you want to delete it manually

Cache files live in a hidden folder on your Mac that Safari accesses automatically. You do not need to find this folder to clear cache — the menu method above is simpler and safer. But if you want to see where it is or delete cache files without clearing your browsing history, the folder exists at ~/Library/Caches/Google/Chrome for Chrome users, or ~/Library/Safari for Safari users.

To navigate there, open Finder, click Go in the menu bar, then click Go to Folder. Type the path above and press Enter. The Library folder is hidden by default, so this keyboard shortcut is the easiest way to reach it. Once you are there, you can delete the cache folder contents manually, though the Safari menu method is faster and less error-prone.

Clearing cache when Safari is not responding

If Safari is frozen or crashing, you may not be able to use the menu method. In that case, force-quit Safari first. Press Command + Option + Escape on your keyboard. A window titled "Force Quit Applications" appears. Click Safari in the list, then click the blue Force Quit button.

Once Safari is closed, open Finder and navigate to Applications. Find Safari, right-click it, and select Get Info. Note the version number shown there — this helps you find the right cache folder. Then use the Finder method described in the previous section to navigate to the cache folder and delete its contents manually. Restart Safari afterward.

The difference between clearing cache and clearing history

When you click Clear History in Safari, you are clearing both your browsing history (the list of sites you visited) and the cache (the stored files from those sites) at the same time. Safari does not offer a separate "clear cache only" option in the menu.

If you want to clear cache without removing your browsing history, use the manual folder method described above — navigate to the cache folder and delete only the cache files, leaving the history database untouched. For most people, though, clearing both together is fine and is what the menu option does.

What happens after you clear cache

when ready after clearing, Safari works exactly as before. Websites you visit will load normally, though the very first time you visit each site after clearing, it may take a few extra seconds because Safari has to read all the images and files fresh instead of loading them from cache.

Your bookmarks, saved passwords, and autofill information remain unchanged. You can still log into websites normally because Safari stores login credentials separately from cache. If you were logged into a website before clearing cache, you may need to log in again on your next visit, but this depends on how the website stores login information — some sites remember you anyway.

When to clear cache and when not to

Clear cache if a website looks broken, displays old information, or if Safari feels slow. You can also clear it monthly as routine maintenance. There is no harm in clearing cache frequently — it is a safe operation.

You do not need to clear cache before selling or giving away your Mac, because cache contains only temporary website files, not personal information. If you are concerned about privacy before handing over your Mac, use the Erase Mac option in System Settings instead, which wipes everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my passwords?

No. Safari stores passwords in a separate find location called Keychain. Clearing cache does not touch passwords, so you will still be logged into websites and autofill will still work. If you want to delete a saved password, you must do that separately through Safari Settings.

How often should I clear cache?

There is no set schedule. Clear it whenever Safari feels slow, a website displays incorrectly, or you want to free up storage space. Monthly clearing is reasonable for regular users, but you can also clear it weekly or only when you notice a problem.

Why does a website still look wrong after I clear cache?

If clearing cache does not fix a broken website, the problem is likely on the website's server, not your Mac. Try visiting the site in a different browser, or wait a few hours and try again. You can also contact the website's support team to report the issue.

Can I clear cache for only one website instead of all websites?

Safari's menu option clears cache for all websites at once. If you want to clear cache for a single site, use the manual folder method — navigate to the cache folder, find the folder for that specific website, and delete only that folder. For most people, clearing all cache together is simpler.

Does clearing cache make Safari faster?

It can, especially if your cache folder has grown very large. A smaller cache folder means Safari uses less memory and storage. However, the speed improvement is usually noticeable only if your Mac is running low on storage space or if Safari has been open for weeks without restarting.