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

Your Chrome browser cache is a folder on your computer where Chrome stores copies of web pages, images, and files you have visited. When you return to a website, Chrome loads these stored copies instead of downloading them again, which makes pages load faster. Over time, this cache folder grows large and can slow your computer down, or it may contain data you prefer not to keep.

Clearing your cache is straightforward and takes less than a minute. You will not lose your passwords, bookmarks, or browsing history unless you specifically choose to delete those too — the cache is separate from those items.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome cache is stored copies of websites and images that help pages load faster, but it takes up disk space over time.
  • You can clear cache without losing passwords, bookmarks, or history — they are stored separately.
  • The fastest method is to use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on Mac, which opens the clearing window directly.
  • You can set Chrome to clear cache automatically every time you close the browser if you prefer not to do it manually.
  • Clearing cache may temporarily slow down page loading because Chrome has to read fresh copies of websites again.

How to clear cache on Windows using the keyboard shortcut

The fastest way to clear cache on a Windows computer is to press Ctrl+Shift+Delete while Chrome is open. This opens the "Clear browsing data" window directly, skipping the menu steps.

Once the window opens, you will see a dropdown menu at the top that says "Time range." Make sure it is set to All time if you want to clear everything, or choose a shorter period like "Last hour" or "Last 7 days" if you only want to clear recent cache. Below that, check the box next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. Leave the other boxes unchecked unless you specifically want to delete passwords or history. Then click the blue Clear data button.

Chrome will clear the cache in a few seconds and the window will close automatically. You can now close Chrome and reopen it — the cache has been removed.

How to clear cache on Mac using the keyboard shortcut

On a Mac, press Command+Shift+Delete to open the same "Clear browsing data" window. The steps are identical to Windows from this point: set the time range to All time, check Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then click Clear data.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work, you can also reach this window through the menu. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, select Settings, then click Privacy and security on the left side. Click Clear browsing data and follow the same steps above.

Using the Chrome menu if the keyboard shortcut does not work

If the keyboard shortcut does not open the clearing window, you can reach the same place through Chrome's menu. Click the three vertical dots (called the menu button) in the top right corner of the Chrome window. A dropdown menu will appear.

Look for Settings in that menu and click it. On the left side of the Settings page, click Privacy and security. You will see a section called "Clear browsing data" — click that button. The same window will open, and you can proceed with selecting All time, checking the cache boxes, and clicking Clear data.

Setting Chrome to clear cache automatically when you close it

If you want Chrome to delete cache every time you close the browser, you can turn on automatic clearing. Open Chrome's menu (three vertical dots), click Settings, then click Privacy and security on the left.

Look for the section labeled Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome and toggle it on. From now on, every time you fully close Chrome, it will automatically delete cache, cookies, and site data. Your passwords and bookmarks will remain because they are stored separately. This is useful if you share a computer or prefer not to store browsing data.

What happens after you clear cache

After clearing cache, websites may load slightly slower the first time you visit them because Chrome has to read fresh copies instead of using stored ones. This slowdown is usually not noticeable — most pages load in under a second even without cache. On your second visit to the same website, it will load at normal speed again as Chrome rebuilds the cache.

If you clear cache and then notice a website is not displaying correctly, try refreshing the page by pressing F5 or Ctrl+R (Windows) or Command+R (Mac). This forces Chrome to read a fresh copy of the page, which often fixes display problems that happen after clearing cache.

How much space cache actually takes up

The amount of space Chrome cache uses depends on how much you browse and how long it has been since you last cleared it. For most people, cache takes up between 100 megabytes and 2 gigabytes. If you browse heavily or have not cleared cache in years, it can be larger.

You can see how much space cache is using by opening Chrome's Settings, clicking Privacy and security, then clicking Cookies and other site data. Chrome will show you the total size. If your computer is running low on storage space, clearing cache is one of the quickest ways to free up several hundred megabytes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my saved passwords?

No. Passwords are stored separately from cache. When you clear cache, you can choose whether to delete passwords by checking or unchecking the "Passwords and other sign-in data" box. If you do not check that box, your passwords stay saved.

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

Chrome does not have a built-in way to clear cache for a single website. You can only clear all cache or cache from a specific time period. If you need to clear cache for one site, you can clear all cache and then revisit the sites you want to keep cached.

What is the difference between cache and cookies?

Cache stores copies of images and web pages to make them load faster. Cookies are small files that websites use to remember information about you, like login status or shopping cart contents. Both are cleared together in the "Clear browsing data" window, but they serve different purposes.

Does clearing cache speed up my computer?

Clearing a very large cache can free up several gigabytes of storage space, which may help if your hard drive is nearly full. For most people with normal storage space, the speed improvement is not noticeable. The main reason to clear cache is to free up disk space or remove stored browsing data.

Why does Chrome ask me to clear cache sometimes?

Chrome may suggest clearing cache if a website is not displaying correctly or if you are having trouble signing into an account. Clearing cache forces Chrome to read fresh copies of websites, which often fixes these problems. You can ignore the suggestion if the website is working fine.