What browser cache is and why you might want to clear it

Browser cache is a folder on your computer where Chrome stores copies of web pages, images, and files you've visited. When you return to a site, Chrome loads these saved copies instead of downloading everything again — which makes pages load faster. The trade-off is that your cache also holds a record of where you've been, and sometimes old cached versions of pages can cause problems if a site has updated.

You might clear your cache if a page looks broken or won't load properly, if you want to remove the record of sites you've visited on a shared computer, or if you're running low on storage space. Chrome's cache typically takes up a few hundred megabytes to a few gigabytes, depending on how long it's been since you last cleared it and how much you browse.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome stores copies of pages and images you visit in a cache folder to make sites load faster next time.
  • You can clear your cache in Chrome's settings in about 30 seconds using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac).
  • You can choose to clear only the last hour, day, week, or all time — you don't have to delete everything.
  • Clearing cache removes the record of sites you've visited from that time period, but does not sign you out of accounts or delete saved passwords unless you specifically check those boxes.

The fastest way: use the keyboard shortcut

The quickest route is to press three keys at once. On Windows, hold Ctrl+Shift+Delete. On Mac, hold Command+Shift+Delete. This opens Chrome's "Clear browsing data" window directly, skipping the settings menu.

A dialog box will appear with options for what to delete and how far back to go. By default, Chrome is set to clear "All time" — meaning your entire cache history. If you only want to clear the last day or week, click the dropdown that says "All time" and choose a shorter period.

What to check and uncheck before you clear

The "Clear browsing data" window shows several checkboxes. Cookies and other site data is checked by default. If you uncheck this box, you'll keep your login information for sites you visit regularly — so you won't have to sign back into Gmail, your bank, or other accounts. If you leave it checked, you'll be signed out of most sites and will need to log back in.

Cached images and files is also checked by default — this is the actual cache that makes pages load faster. Unchecking it means pages will load more slowly the next time you visit them, because Chrome has to read everything fresh. Browsing history is checked by default and removes the list of sites you've visited from the address bar and history menu. The other options — passwords, autofill, and read history — are usually unchecked, and you can leave them that way unless you have a specific reason to delete them.

For most people, the default settings (everything checked) are fine. Just make sure you're clearing only the time period you want — don't accidentally clear "All time" if you only meant to clear today.

Clearing cache through Chrome's settings menu

If the keyboard shortcut doesn't work for you, you can reach the same window through the menu. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, then select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy and security, then click Clear browsing data.

This opens the same dialog box as the keyboard shortcut. The steps from here are identical — choose your time period, check or uncheck the boxes you want, and click the blue "Clear data" button at the bottom right.

What happens after you clear cache

Once you click "Clear data," Chrome removes the selected items when ready. You'll notice that the next time you visit a site you cleared, the page may load slightly more slowly than usual — Chrome has to read the images and files again instead of using the saved copies. After a few visits, your cache will rebuild and pages will speed up again.

If you unchecked "Cookies and other site data," you'll stay logged into your accounts. If you left it checked, you'll be signed out of most sites and will see login screens the next time you visit them. This is normal and not a sign that anything went wrong.

Setting Chrome to clear cache automatically

If you want Chrome to clear your cache every time you close the browser, you can turn on automatic clearing. Click the three vertical dots, go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. At the top of the window, toggle on Clear cookies and other site data when you quit Chrome.

With this setting on, your cache and cookies will be deleted every time you fully close Chrome — not just when you close a tab. This means you'll be signed out of accounts when you reopen the browser, and pages will load more slowly until your cache rebuilds. It's useful if you share a computer or want to leave no browsing record behind, but it does make browsing slightly less convenient.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my saved passwords?

No, unless you specifically check the "Passwords and other sign-in data" box. By default, this box is unchecked, so your saved passwords stay in Chrome even after you clear cache. Your login information for websites is stored separately from your cache.

Does clearing cache sign me out of Gmail and other accounts?

Only if you check "Cookies and other site data" — which is checked by default. If you want to stay logged in, uncheck that box before you clear. If you've already cleared and got signed out, just log back in normally; nothing is broken.

How often should I clear my cache?

There's no set rule. Most people clear cache once a month or when a page stops loading correctly. If you're on a shared computer or concerned about privacy, you might clear it weekly. If you're the only user and have plenty of storage space, you could go months without clearing it.

Will clearing cache make Chrome run faster?

Clearing cache might free up a few gigabytes of storage space, but it won't make Chrome itself run faster — in fact, pages may load slightly slower at first because Chrome has to read everything fresh. Cache is meant to speed things up, not slow them down.

What's the difference between clearing cache and clearing browsing history?

Browsing history is the list of sites you've visited that appears in your history menu and address bar. Cache is the actual files and images from those sites stored on your computer. You can clear one without the other — uncheck "Browsing history" if you want to keep your history but delete the cached files.