What cache and cookies do, and why you might clear them
Cache is a folder on your computer where your browser stores copies of images, videos, and other files from websites you visit. The next time you return to that site, your browser loads the cached copy instead of downloading it again — this makes pages load faster. Cookies are small text files that websites save to remember information about you: your login status, items in your shopping cart, your language preference, or sites you've visited.
Over time, cache builds up and takes disk space. Cookies can accumulate too, and some people clear them for privacy reasons — to remove the record that you visited certain sites, or to force a website to forget your login so you start fresh. Clearing both is also a standard troubleshooting step when a website looks broken, loads slowly, or won't let you log in.
The steps differ slightly depending on which browser you use. This guide covers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge — the four most common. If you use a different browser, the process is similar: look for Settings or Preferences, then find a section called Privacy, History, or Browsing Data.
Key Takeaways
- Cache stores website files to speed up loading; cookies store information websites remember about you.
- Clearing cache frees up disk space; clearing cookies removes the record of sites you've visited and forces websites to forget your preferences.
- On Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, you clear both from Settings or Preferences under a Privacy or History section.
- You can set your browser to clear cache and cookies automatically every time you close it, so you don't have to do it manually.
How to clear cache and cookies in Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. On the left side, click Privacy and security, then click Clear browsing data.
A window will pop up. At the top, you'll see a dropdown that says All time — this controls how far back to clear. Leave it on All time unless you only want to clear the last hour or day. Below that, make sure the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are both checked. Click the blue Clear data button.
Chrome will clear both when ready. You'll return to the Settings page. You can close the tab now — the cache and cookies are gone.
How to clear cache and cookies in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Click Settings. On the left side, click Privacy & Security.
Scroll down to the section called Cookies and Site Data. You'll see a button that says Clear Data. Click it. A small window appears with two checkboxes: Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content. Make sure both are checked, then click Clear.
Firefox will clear both right away. Close the Settings tab and you're done.
How to clear cache and cookies in Safari
Open Safari. At the top of the screen, click Safari in the menu bar (not inside the browser window — in the very top menu of your Mac). Click Settings (or Preferences on older Macs).
Click the Privacy tab. You'll see a button that says Manage Website Data. Click it. A list of websites appears. Click Remove All at the bottom right. Safari will ask you to confirm — click Remove. This clears cookies.
To clear cache, go back to the menu bar and click Safari again. This time, click Empty Cache. Safari will ask you to confirm — click Empty. Both are now cleared.
How to clear cache and cookies in Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Click Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services.
Under the section Clear browsing data, click the button that says Choose what to clear. A window pops up. At the top, make sure the dropdown says All time. Check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. Click the blue Clear now button.
Edge clears both when ready. Close the Settings tab and you're finished.
Set your browser to clear automatically when you close it
Instead of clearing manually each time, you can tell your browser to clear cache and cookies automatically whenever you close it. This is useful if you want privacy without thinking about it.
In Chrome: Go to Settings, click Privacy and security, then turn on the toggle next to Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome. From now on, every time you close the browser completely, cache and cookies disappear.
In Firefox: Go to Settings, click Privacy & Security, and scroll to Cookies and Site Data. Check the box that says Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed. Firefox will clear both every time you shut it down.
In Safari: Go to Safari menu, click Settings, click the Privacy tab, and check the box that says Remove all website data when quitting Safari. Safari will now clear both automatically.
In Edge: Go to Settings, click Privacy, search, and services, and turn on the toggle next to Clear browsing data. Choose Every time you close the browser from the dropdown. Edge will clear both when you close it.
What to do if clearing cache and cookies doesn't fix the problem
If a website still looks broken or won't load after you clear cache and cookies, try closing the browser completely and opening it again. Sometimes a browser keeps files in memory even after clearing, and a full restart clears those too.
If that doesn't work, try a different browser to see if the problem is specific to one browser or if it happens everywhere. If the website works fine in a different browser, the issue is with your first browser's settings or extensions — not with the website itself. If the problem happens in every browser, the issue is likely with the website or your internet connection.
One more step: if you use browser extensions (add-ons that change how your browser works), try disabling them temporarily. Some extensions interfere with how websites load. Disable them one at a time and reload the website after each one to find the culprit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache and cookies log me out of websites?
Yes. Cookies store your login information, so clearing them logs you out of every site where you were signed in. You'll need to log back in the next time you visit. Cache clearing does not log you out, but cookies do.
Is it safe to clear cache and cookies?
Yes, it's completely safe. Cache and cookies are just files your browser stores — clearing them won't damage your computer or your browser. The only downside is that websites will load slightly slower the first time you visit them after clearing, because your browser has to read files again instead of using the cached copies.
How often should I clear cache and cookies?
There's no set rule. If you're concerned about privacy, clearing them weekly or monthly is reasonable. If disk space is tight on your computer, clearing cache monthly helps free up room. For most people, clearing once or twice a year is fine — or you can set it to clear automatically when you close your browser and never think about it.
What's the difference between clearing cache and clearing browsing history?
Browsing history is a list of website addresses you've visited — it's what appears when you type in the address bar and your browser suggests sites. Cache is the actual files from those sites. Clearing history removes the list; clearing cache removes the files. Most browsers let you clear both at the same time, but they're separate things.
Can I clear cache and cookies for just one website instead of all of them?
Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can right-click on any website and select an option like Delete cookies or Clear storage. In Safari, go to Manage Website Data (in Privacy settings) and click the website name, then click Remove. This clears only that site's data, not everything.