Why and when to clear your Safari cache
Safari cache is the collection of images, scripts, and web pages your browser stores on your computer so websites load faster the next time you visit. Over time, this cache grows large and can slow down your Mac or iPad, take up storage space, or cause a website to display outdated information. Clearing it is a straightforward maintenance task that takes under a minute.
You should clear your cache if a website looks broken or shows old content, if you are running low on storage space, or straightforward as part of regular browser upkeep. Some people clear it weekly; others do it monthly. There is no penalty for clearing it frequently — the only downside is that websites will take slightly longer to load the first time you visit them after clearing, because Safari has to read the images and code again.
Key Takeaways
- Safari stores cache in the History menu under "Clear History", where you choose a time range and what types of data to remove.
- You can clear just cache, or also delete cookies, browsing history, and autofill data in the same action.
- Clearing cache does not sign you out of websites, but clearing cookies will.
- On iPhone and iPad, the process is identical but located in Settings rather than the Safari menu.
Clearing cache on Mac
Open Safari and click the History menu at the top of the screen. Near the bottom of that menu, you will see "Clear History". Click it.
A small window will appear asking how far back you want to clear. The dropdown menu at the top shows options: "the last hour", "today", "today and yesterday", or "all history". Choose the time range you want. If you want to clear everything, select "all history".
Below the time range dropdown, you will see a checkbox labeled "Cookies and website data". By default, it is unchecked, which means Safari will clear only the cache (images and scripts). If you also want to delete cookies — which will sign you out of most websites — check that box. Then click "Clear History".
Clearing cache on iPhone and iPad
The process on iOS and iPadOS is nearly identical, but the setting lives in a different place. Open the Settings app and scroll down until you find Safari. Tap it.
Scroll down to the section labeled "Privacy" and tap Clear History and Website Data. A confirmation message will appear asking you to confirm. Tap it again to proceed.
Unlike the Mac version, the iPhone and iPad version does not give you a choice of time range — it clears all history, cache, and cookies at once. If you want to clear only cache and not cookies, you cannot do that on iOS. Your only option is to clear everything together.
The difference between cache, cookies, and history
Cache is the images, videos, and code that websites store on your device so they load faster next time. Clearing it frees up storage but does not affect your login status or browsing history.
Cookies are small files that websites use to remember who you are and your preferences. Clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites. Some people clear cookies regularly for privacy reasons; others only clear them when troubleshooting a broken website.
History is the list of websites you have visited. Clearing it removes that list from your browser, but does not affect cache or cookies. On Mac, you can clear history alone, but on iPhone and iPad, clearing history also clears cache and cookies together.
When clearing cache does not solve the problem
If a website still looks broken after you clear the cache, try clearing cookies as well. Some websites store settings in cookies, and occasionally a corrupted cookie can cause display problems. Clearing both cache and cookies together will fix this.
If the problem persists, try opening the website in a different browser, or on a different device. This tells you whether the problem is with Safari, your device, or the website itself. If the website works fine in a different browser, the issue is with Safari, and you may want to restart Safari or restart your Mac. If the website is broken in every browser, the problem is on the website's end, and you should contact the website's support.
Automating cache clearing
Safari does not have a built-in option to clear cache automatically on a schedule. However, you can set Safari to clear cache every time you close the browser. On Mac, open Safari Preferences (or Settings), click the "Privacy" tab, and check the box that says "Remove all website data when quitting Safari". On iPhone and iPad, open Settings, tap Safari, scroll to Privacy, and toggle on "Clear History and Website Data".
This approach clears everything — cache, cookies, and history — every time you close Safari. It is useful if you value privacy highly, but it means you will be signed out of websites and they will load more slowly, because Safari cannot use cached data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing cache sign me out of websites?
No. Clearing cache alone will not sign you out. You will only be signed out if you also clear cookies. On Mac, you can choose to clear just cache. On iPhone and iPad, clearing cache also clears cookies, so you will be signed out of most websites.
How much storage space does cache usually take up?
Cache typically ranges from 100 megabytes to several gigabytes, depending on how long you have been using Safari and how many websites you visit. If your device is low on storage, clearing cache can free up noticeable space, though it is usually not the largest storage hog on your device.
Can I clear cache for just one website?
Safari does not have a built-in option to clear cache for a single website. You can only clear cache for all websites at once, or for a time range (like the last hour). If you want to clear data for one site, you can clear all cache and then revisit that site to rebuild its cache.
What if I clear cache by accident?
There is no undo button for clearing cache. However, clearing cache does not delete any of your files or passwords. Your bookmarks, saved passwords, and autofill data remain intact unless you specifically checked those boxes when clearing. Websites will straightforward load a bit slower the next time you visit them.
Is clearing cache the same as clearing browsing history?
No. History is the list of websites you visited; cache is the images and code those websites stored on your device. You can clear one without the other on Mac, but on iPhone and iPad, the "Clear History and Website Data" button clears both together, along with cookies.