Clearing your cache removes temporary copies of websites and files your browser has saved to speed things up
Your browser stores images, scripts, and other pieces of websites on your computer so they load faster the next time you visit. This stored data is called a cache. Clearing it deletes those temporary files and forces your browser to read fresh copies from the internet the next time you visit those sites.
Most people clear their cache when a website looks broken, loads slowly, or behaves strangely. Sometimes a website updates but your browser keeps showing you the old cached version. Clearing the cache fixes that. It also frees up disk space, though usually not much — most caches are measured in hundreds of megabytes, not gigabytes.
Clearing your cache does not delete your passwords, bookmarks, or browsing history unless you specifically tell it to. Those are stored separately.
Key Takeaways
- Clearing your cache removes temporary website files your browser saved, which can fix loading problems and broken page layouts.
- The cache rebuilds automatically as you browse, so clearing it is not a permanent change.
- You can clear just the cache or also delete cookies and browsing history at the same time, depending on what you need.
- Clearing your cache does not delete your saved passwords or bookmarks unless you choose those options separately.
- Most browsers let you set the cache to clear automatically when you close them, which is useful if you share a computer.
How to clear cache in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
The steps are similar across all major browsers, though the menu names differ slightly.
Chrome: Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select "Settings," then "Privacy and security," then "Clear browsing data." A window will open. Make sure "Cached images and files" is checked. Choose your time range at the top — "All time" clears everything, or pick a specific period. Click "Clear data."
Firefox: Click the three horizontal lines in the top right. Select "Settings," then "Privacy & Security." Scroll to "Cookies and Site Data" and click "Clear Data." Make sure "Cached Web Content" is checked. Click "Clear."
Safari: Click "Safari" in the menu bar at the very top of your screen. Select "Settings," then the "Privacy" tab. Click "Manage Website Data," find the sites you want to clear, select them, and click "Remove." To clear all cached data at once, go back to the Privacy tab and click "Remove All Website Data."
Edge: Click the three dots in the top right. Select "Settings," then "Privacy, search, and services." Under "Clear browsing data," click "Choose what to clear." Make sure "Cached images and files" is checked. Click "Clear now."
When you actually need to clear your cache
A website displays incorrectly or shows outdated information. You see a broken layout, missing images, or old text that should have changed. This is the most common reason to clear your cache — the site updated but your browser is still showing you the old cached version.
A website loads very slowly or stops responding. Sometimes a corrupted cached file can slow things down. Clearing the cache forces your browser to read fresh copies, which often fixes the problem.
You are troubleshooting a login problem. If you cannot log into a website even though your password is correct, a stale cached login token might be the culprit. Clear the cache and try again.
You share a computer and want privacy. If someone else uses your computer, clearing your cache removes evidence of which sites you visited and what you looked at. This is different from clearing your browsing history — the cache contains the actual page content, not just a list of URLs.
What clearing your cache does not do
It does not delete your passwords. Passwords are stored separately in your browser's password manager, not in the cache. If you want to remove saved passwords, you have to do that in a different menu.
It does not delete your browsing history. The history is a list of URLs you visited. The cache is the actual files from those sites. You can clear one without clearing the other. Most browsers let you choose which data to delete when you open the clear data window.
It does not make you anonymous online. Clearing your cache does not hide your activity from your internet service provider, your employer, or the websites you visit. It only removes files stored on your own computer.
It does not improve security against hackers. Clearing your cache is not a security measure. It does not protect you from malware, phishing, or stolen passwords. If you think your computer is compromised, clearing the cache alone will not fix it.
How to set your browser to clear cache automatically
You can tell your browser to delete the cache every time you close it. This is useful if you share a computer or if you want to avoid accumulating old cached files.
Chrome: Go to Settings, then "Privacy and security," then "Clear cookies and other site data when you quit Chrome." Toggle this on.
Firefox: Go to Settings, then "Privacy & Security." Under "Cookies and Site Data," check the box that says "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed."
Safari: Go to Settings, then the "Privacy" tab. There is no automatic cache-clearing option in Safari. You have to clear it manually each time.
Edge: Go to Settings, then "Privacy, search, and services." Under "Clear browsing data," toggle on "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser." Then click "Choose what to clear every time you close the browser" and make sure "Cached images and files" is checked.
The difference between cache, cookies, and browsing history
These three things are often confused because browsers clear them all in the same menu, but they are stored and used differently.
Cache: Temporary copies of website files — images, scripts, stylesheets — saved to make sites load faster. Usually measured in hundreds of megabytes. Rebuilt automatically as you browse.
Cookies: Small text files websites place on your computer to remember information about you — your login status, your preferences, items in your shopping cart. Usually measured in kilobytes. Websites can read cookies when you visit them again.
Browsing history: A list of URLs you visited, stored by your browser. Does not include the actual page content, just the addresses. Used to populate your address bar suggestions and your history menu.
You can clear any of these three independently. Most browsers let you choose which ones to delete when you open the clear data window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing my cache make my browser faster?
Not noticeably. Your cache is supposed to make things faster by storing files locally. Clearing it removes that benefit temporarily. Your browser will rebuild the cache as you browse, and sites will load normally again within a few visits. Clear your cache only to fix a specific problem, not as a speed optimization.
How much disk space does cache actually take up?
Usually between 100 and 500 megabytes, depending on how much you browse and how long it has been since you last cleared it. On a modern computer with terabytes of storage, this is negligible. Clearing your cache will not noticeably free up space unless your hard drive is nearly full.
Should I clear my cache before selling my computer?
Yes, along with your browsing history and cookies. Clearing the cache removes temporary website files, but it does not erase data permanently — someone with the right tools could potentially recover it. If you are selling a computer, use your operating system's built-in find erase or wipe tool instead, which overwrites all data on the drive.
What if I clear my cache and a website still does not work?
Try clearing your cookies as well, since some sites use cookies to store login information and preferences. If that does not work, try a different browser to see if the problem is specific to one browser or if it is the website itself. You can also try disabling browser extensions, which sometimes interfere with how websites load.
Can I clear cache for just one website instead of everything?
Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can click on the lock icon or site information icon next to the website address, then find an option to clear data for that site. In Safari, you can select specific sites in the "Manage Website Data" window and click "Remove." This is useful if one site is broken but you want to keep cached files from other sites.