What cache is and why you might clear it

Cache is temporary data that apps and Safari store on your iPad to load faster next time. When you visit a website, Safari saves images, text, and login information. When you use an app, it stores pieces of data so it doesn't have to read everything from scratch each time you open it. This speeds things up — but over time, cache can take up storage space or cause an app to behave oddly.

You might clear cache if an app is freezing, if Safari is loading pages slowly, or if you want to free up storage space on your iPad. Clearing cache does not delete your passwords or saved credit cards — those are stored separately. It also does not sign you out of apps or websites, though you may need to log back in once if you clear website data.

Cache clears automatically when your iPad runs low on storage, but you can clear it manually whenever you want. The steps differ depending on whether you want to clear Safari cache, app cache, or both.

Key Takeaways

  • Cache is temporary data apps and Safari store to load faster, and clearing it frees storage space without deleting your passwords or photos.
  • To clear Safari cache, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data and choose a time range.
  • To clear an individual app's cache, go to Settings > General > iPad Storage, tap the app, and tap Offload App (which keeps your data) or Delete App (which removes everything).
  • Clearing cache may temporarily slow down apps and websites the first time you use them after clearing, because they have to reload data from the internet.

Clearing Safari cache and browsing history

Open the Settings app on your iPad. Scroll down and tap Safari. Scroll to the bottom of the Safari settings page and tap Clear History and Website Data. A popup will appear asking you to choose a time range: the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all time. Select the range you want and tap Clear History and Data.

If you choose "all time," Safari will clear all cached website data, browsing history, and cookies from every site you have visited. If you choose a shorter range like "the last hour," only data from that period is removed. Clearing Safari cache does not affect your saved passwords or autofill information — those remain on your iPad.

Clearing cache for individual apps

Open the Settings app and tap General. Tap iPad Storage (or iPhone Storage if you are using an iPhone). You will see a list of all your apps, sorted by how much space they use. Find the app whose cache you want to clear and tap it.

You have two options. Tap Offload App to remove the app temporarily while keeping your data — the next time you open the app, it will reinstall and your login information and saved data will still be there. Tap Delete App to remove it completely, which also removes all its data and cache. For most people, Offload App is the safer choice because it clears cache without losing anything important.

After you tap either option, the app will be removed from your home screen. If you chose Offload App, you can reinstall it by going to the App Store, searching for the app, and tapping the cloud icon with a read arrow. If you chose Delete App, you will need to sign back in when you reinstall.

Clearing all app cache at once

If you want to clear cache for many apps without offloading each one individually, you can clear temporary files through Settings. Open Settings, tap General, and tap iPad Storage. At the top, you will see how much storage your iPad is using. Scroll down past the app list and look for Recommendations — this section sometimes shows an option to "Review Large Documents and Data" or similar suggestions for freeing space.

A faster method is to go to Settings > General > Reset and tap Erase All Content and Settings. This removes everything from your iPad, including all cache, apps, photos, and files — so only use this if you are selling your iPad or starting completely fresh. For most people, clearing Safari cache and offloading individual problem apps is enough.

What happens after you clear cache

After clearing cache, apps and websites may load slightly slower the first time you use them, because they have to read data from the internet instead of pulling it from storage. This slowdown is usually brief — a few extra seconds. After that first load, cache rebuilds and things return to normal speed.

If an app was freezing or crashing, clearing its cache often fixes the problem. If clearing cache does not solve the issue, try restarting your iPad: hold the top button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, drag it to turn off your iPad, wait 10 seconds, then hold the top button again until the Apple logo appears.

When not to clear cache

Do not clear cache if you are about to use your iPad offline — cache is what allows apps and websites to work without an internet connection. If you clear cache right before a flight or a trip with no wifi, you will not be able to access saved website data or app content until you reconnect to the internet.

If you are trying to fix a specific app problem, clear only that app's cache rather than clearing everything. Clearing all cache at once can temporarily slow down your entire iPad as apps rebuild their stored data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my photos or documents?

No. Cache is separate from your photos, documents, and files. Clearing cache only removes temporary data that apps and Safari use to load faster. Your photos, documents, and personal files remain on your iPad.

Does clearing cache delete my passwords?

No. Passwords and saved credit card information are stored separately from cache. When you clear Safari cache, you can choose whether to also clear cookies and website data — if you do, you may need to log back in to websites, but your saved passwords in Settings remain intact.

How often should I clear cache?

Most people do not need to clear cache regularly. Clear it only if an app is misbehaving, if Safari is slow, or if you are running low on storage space. Your iPad automatically clears cache when storage gets very full, so manual clearing is optional.

Can I clear cache without losing my login information?

Yes. When you clear Safari cache, uncheck the "Cookies and Site Data" option if you want to keep your logins. For apps, use Offload App instead of Delete App — this removes cache while keeping your account information.

What is the difference between clearing cache and clearing cookies?

Cache is images, text, and files that load pages faster. Cookies are small files websites use to remember you — they store login information and preferences. Clearing both is more thorough, but clearing only cache is usually enough to fix performance problems.