Internet Explorer cache is the temporary files your browser stored from websites you visited
When you visit a website in Internet Explorer, the browser saves images, scripts, and other files to your computer so the page loads faster the next time you visit. This collection of saved files is your cache. Clearing it removes those temporary files and frees up disk space, though websites will load slightly slower on your first visit after clearing because the browser has to read everything fresh.
Most people clear their cache to free up storage, remove browsing history, or troubleshoot when a website looks broken or loads incorrectly. If a page displays wrong or a button does not work, the cached version might be outdated — clearing the cache forces Internet Explorer to read the current version.
Key Takeaways
- Internet Explorer stores cached files in a folder on your hard drive, and clearing them removes temporary website data but does not delete your saved passwords or bookmarks.
- The fastest way to clear cache in Internet Explorer is to use the Delete Browsing History window, which you can open with Ctrl+Shift+Delete or through the Settings menu.
- You can choose to clear only cache files, or clear cache along with cookies, browsing history, and other temporary data in the same action.
- Clearing cache in Internet Explorer does not affect other browsers on your computer — each browser stores its own separate cache.
How to open the Delete Browsing History window
The fastest route is the keyboard shortcut. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete at the same time, and the Delete Browsing History window opens when ready. This works in any version of Internet Explorer from version 8 onward.
If the keyboard shortcut does not work, you can open it through the menu. Click the gear icon in the top right corner of Internet Explorer, select Safety, then click Delete Browsing History. The window that appears is the same either way.
What to check before you delete
When the Delete Browsing History window opens, you see a list of checkboxes for different types of data. By default, most boxes are already checked. The box labeled Temporary Internet Files and Website Files is the one that clears your cache — this is the one you want checked if your only goal is to free up space or fix a broken webpage.
If you also want to remove your browsing history (the list of sites you visited), check Browsing History. If you want to clear cookies (small files websites use to remember you), check Cookies. You can uncheck any box you do not want to clear. For example, if you want to keep your saved passwords, leave Passwords unchecked.
At the top of the window, you see a dropdown that says Time Range. By default it is set to All, which clears everything. You can change this to Last Hour, Last Day, Last Week, or Last Month if you only want to clear recent cache. Most of the time you want All.
Complete the deletion
Once you have checked the boxes you want and set the time range, click the Delete button. Internet Explorer processes the deletion in a few seconds. You see no confirmation message — the window straightforward closes and you are back to your browser.
The cache is now cleared. If you were troubleshooting a broken webpage, refresh the page by pressing F5 or clicking the refresh button, and Internet Explorer will read the current version from the website.
Where Internet Explorer stores cache files
If you want to see where these files are stored before you delete them, Internet Explorer keeps temporary files in a folder buried in your Windows system. The exact path depends on your Windows version, but it is usually something like C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache. You do not need to navigate here to clear cache — the Delete Browsing History window does it for you — but knowing the location helps you understand what is happening when you delete.
You can also manually delete files from this folder if you want, but using the Delete Browsing History window is safer because it does not risk deleting something you need.
Cache clearing does not affect other browsers
If you use Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or another browser on the same computer, clearing Internet Explorer cache does not touch those browsers. Each one stores its cache in a separate location and has its own delete function. If you want to clear cache in multiple browsers, you have to do each one separately.
Internet Explorer is also no longer the default browser in modern Windows — Microsoft replaced it with Edge in Windows 10 and later. If you are using a newer version of Windows and still have Internet Explorer installed, it is usually for compatibility with older websites or programs that require it.
What happens after you clear cache
After clearing, websites load slightly slower on your first visit because Internet Explorer has to read all the images and files again instead of using the stored versions. On your second visit to the same site, it caches those files again and loads faster. This is normal and expected.
Clearing cache does not log you out of websites automatically, though some sites may ask you to log in again on your next visit if cookies were also cleared. Your bookmarks, saved passwords (if you did not clear them), and browsing settings stay exactly as they were.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache delete my saved passwords?
No, unless you specifically check the box for Passwords in the Delete Browsing History window. By default that box is unchecked, so your saved passwords remain. If you want to keep passwords but clear everything else, make sure only the cache and history boxes are checked.
How much space does Internet Explorer cache usually take up?
Cache size varies depending on how much you browse and how long it has been since you last cleared it. It can range from a few hundred megabytes to several gigabytes. If your hard drive is running low on space, clearing cache can free up noticeable room, though it is usually not the biggest space-saver compared to deleting old files or programs.
Should I clear cache regularly?
There is no requirement to clear cache regularly. Most people only clear it when they notice a website is broken, when they want to free up space, or when they are selling or giving away their computer. Clearing it too often means websites load slower more often, so there is a trade-off between privacy and speed.
What if the Delete Browsing History window does not open?
If Ctrl+Shift+Delete does not work, try the menu route: click the gear icon, select Safety, then Delete Browsing History. If that does not work either, your version of Internet Explorer may be very old. Update to the latest version through Windows Update, or consider switching to a newer browser like Edge or Chrome.
Can I schedule cache to clear automatically?
Internet Explorer does not have a built-in option to clear cache on a schedule. You have to clear it manually each time. If you want automatic clearing, some third-party tools can do this, but the safest approach is to clear it yourself when you need to using the Delete Browsing History window.