What clearing your cache does and why you might need to

Clearing your cache removes the temporary files Internet Explorer stores on your computer — images, web pages, login information, and browsing history that the browser saves to load websites faster next time. Over time, this cache can grow large enough to slow down your browser, take up disk space, or cause a website to display an outdated version of itself.

You might clear your cache if a website looks broken or loads incorrectly, if you want to free up storage space, or if you are using a shared computer and want to remove traces of where you have been. Clearing cache does not delete your saved passwords or bookmarks unless you specifically choose those options during the process.

Internet Explorer stores cache differently depending on which version you have — the process for Internet Explorer 11 (the final version released in 2013) differs slightly from earlier versions. The steps below cover Internet Explorer 11, which is what most people still using this browser will have.

Key Takeaways

  • Clearing cache removes temporary files stored by Internet Explorer, which can speed up your browser and free up disk space.
  • You can clear cache alone or alongside browsing history, cookies, and other data using the Delete Browsing History window.
  • Internet Explorer 11 lets you choose a time range — last hour, last day, last week, all time — so you do not have to delete everything at once.
  • Clearing cache does not remove saved passwords or bookmarks unless you check those boxes during the process.

How to clear cache in Internet Explorer 11

Open Internet Explorer and look at the top right corner of the window. Click the gear icon (called Settings), then select Delete Browsing History from the menu that appears. A window titled "Delete Browsing History" will open with several checkboxes.

Make sure the box next to Temporary Internet Files and Website Files is checked — this is your cache. You can leave the other boxes unchecked if you only want to clear cache, or check additional boxes if you want to delete browsing history, cookies, or read history at the same time. At the bottom of the window, you will see a dropdown menu that says "All" or shows a time range like "Last hour" or "Last day" — choose how far back you want to delete.

Click the Delete button. Internet Explorer will process the deletion, which usually takes a few seconds. Once it finishes, close the Delete Browsing History window. Your cache has been cleared.

Clearing cache automatically when you close Internet Explorer

If you want Internet Explorer to clear your cache every time you close the browser, you can set this up in Settings. Click the gear icon and select Internet Options. In the window that opens, go to the General tab (it should be the default).

Under the section labeled "Browsing History," check the box next to Delete Browsing History on Exit. Click explore, then OK. From now on, Internet Explorer will automatically clear your cache, cookies, and browsing history each time you close the browser completely.

If you want to control exactly which items get deleted automatically, click the Settings button in that same section. A smaller window will open where you can check or uncheck specific items like temporary files, cookies, and history. Make your choices and click OK.

What to do if Internet Explorer is running slowly after clearing cache

Clearing cache alone may not solve a slow browser. If Internet Explorer still feels sluggish after you have cleared the cache, the problem might be too many open tabs, too many extensions, or a problem with a website itself. Try closing extra tabs and restarting the browser.

If slowness continues, you can also clear cookies and browsing history using the same Delete Browsing History window — sometimes old cookies cause conflicts. Another option is to reset Internet Explorer to its default settings, which removes all extensions and resets your home page. To do this, go to Settings > Internet Options, click the Advanced tab, and click Reset under the "Reset Internet Explorer settings" section.

Clearing cache on older versions of Internet Explorer

If you are using Internet Explorer 10 or earlier, the process is similar but the menu location differs slightly. Click Tools (the gear icon in the top right), then select Delete Browsing History. The Delete Browsing History window works the same way — check "Temporary Internet Files," choose your time range, and click Delete.

For Internet Explorer 9 and earlier, click Tools in the menu bar at the top of the window (you may need to press Alt to see the menu bar), then select Delete Browsing History. The process from there is identical to Internet Explorer 11.

The difference between cache, cookies, and browsing history

Cache (temporary internet files) stores images, scripts, and web pages so they load faster when you visit again. Cookies are small files that remember your login information, preferences, and what you put in shopping carts. Browsing history is the list of websites you have visited, which appears in your History menu.

You can delete any of these separately or all together. Clearing cache alone will not sign you out of websites or remove your saved passwords. Clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites and remove saved login information. Clearing history removes the list of sites you have visited but does not affect how websites function.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my saved passwords?

No. Clearing cache removes only temporary files. Your saved passwords stay in Internet Explorer unless you specifically check the "Passwords" box in the Delete Browsing History window. If you want to keep your passwords but clear everything else, leave that box unchecked.

How much space does cache usually take up?

Cache size varies widely 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 on a computer used heavily for years. Clearing it typically frees up noticeable space only if your cache has grown very large.

What if a website still looks wrong after I clear the cache?

Try clearing cookies as well — sometimes old cookie data causes display problems. If that does not work, try the website in a different browser to see if the problem is specific to Internet Explorer. You can also try clearing your cache again but selecting a longer time range, in case the outdated file was stored longer ago.

Can I clear cache for just one website instead of everything?

Internet Explorer 11 does not have a built-in option to clear cache for a single website. You can only clear by time range — last hour, last day, all time, and so on. If you need to clear cache for one site only, you would have to clear all cache and then revisit that site to rebuild its cache.

Does clearing cache make Internet Explorer faster?

It can, but usually only if your cache has grown very large. A massive cache uses disk space and can slow down the browser's file management. For most users, the speed improvement is small. If Internet Explorer is slow, the problem is more often too many tabs, too many extensions, or a slow internet connection.