Quick answer: To clear your browser cache, open the browser’s “delete browsing data” or “clear data” option, pick a time range, tick “cached images and files” (and cookies only if you want to be signed out of sites), then confirm. In Chrome the fastest route is typing “Delete browsing data” in the address bar; on iPhone, Safari’s option lives in the Settings app.
Clearing the cache is the tech equivalent of “turn it off and on again” for websites. It fixes pages that look broken, won’t load properly or keep showing old information. It takes under a minute, and you don’t lose bookmarks or saved passwords unless you choose to.
Below are the current steps, as of October 2026, for Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox on computers and phones, taken from each company’s own help pages.
What does clearing the cache actually do?
Your browser saves copies of images, scripts and other bits of the websites you visit so they load faster next time. That saved store is the cache. Occasionally a saved copy goes stale or gets corrupted, and the website ends up half-loading or looking wrong.
Cookies are different. They’re small files that remember you, like the fact that you’re signed in or what’s in your shopping cart. Most browsers let you clear the cache, the cookies or both, and it’s worth knowing the difference before you tick every box.
| What you clear | What happens | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Cached images and files | Pages load a little slower the first time, then normal | Broken layouts, old content, pages not updating |
| Cookies and site data | You’re signed out of most websites and site settings reset | Login loops, privacy clean-up, odd site behaviour |
| Browsing history | The list of sites you’ve visited is deleted | Privacy only; it doesn’t fix site problems |
Google’s Chrome help page spells out the side effects of clearing cookies: you’ll be signed out of websites, site preferences are removed, and some sites may load more slowly at first because images have to download again.
Tip: Start by clearing only the cache. If that doesn’t fix the problem, clear cookies for the affected site next.
How to clear the cache in Google Chrome
On a Windows PC, Mac or Chromebook
- Open Chrome and click the three-dot More menu at the top right.
- Select Delete browsing data.
- Choose a time range, such as Last hour or All time.
- Tick Cached images and files. Tick Cookies and other site data only if you also want to be signed out.
- Click Delete data.
Shortcut: type Delete browsing data into the address bar and click the action button that appears.
On Android
- Open Chrome and tap the three-dot menu next to the address bar.
- Tap Delete browsing data.
- For a quick clean, choose a time range and tap Delete data. The default is the last 15 minutes.
- To choose exactly what goes, tap More options, tick Cached images and files, and then tap Delete data.
On iPhone and iPad
- Open Chrome and tap the three-dot More menu.
- Tap Delete Browsing Data.
- Set the Time Range (it defaults to 15 minutes), then tap Browsing Data to pick what to remove.
- Select cached files (and cookies if you want), tap Confirm, then tap Delete Browsing Data.
Chrome now updates every two weeks, which means more frequent changes to how sites behave. If a page broke right after an update, a cache clear is a good first step. We explain the new schedule in Chrome now updates every two weeks.
How to clear the cache in Safari
On iPhone and iPad
Safari’s options are in the Settings app, not the browser itself. According to Apple Support:
- Open Settings, tap Apps, then Safari.
- Tap Clear History and Website Data.
- Choose a time frame and tap Clear History.
This clears history, cookies and cache together, but doesn’t touch your AutoFill details. If you want to keep your history and only remove cookies and website data, go to Settings, Apps, Safari, Advanced, Website Data, then tap Remove All Website Data and Remove Now.
If the clear button is greyed out, there may be nothing to delete, or Screen Time restrictions may be blocking it.
On a Mac
Apple’s Safari guide for Mac gives these steps for cache and cookies:
- Open Safari and choose Safari, then Settings, from the menu bar.
- Click the Privacy tab.
- Click Manage Website Data.
- Select one or more sites and click Remove, or click Remove All.
Removing data for just the misbehaving site is often the smarter move, because Remove All signs you out of everything. To clear history instead, use History, then Clear History.
How to clear the cache in Microsoft Edge
These steps come from Microsoft Support:
- Click Settings and more (the three dots at the top right), then Settings.
- Go to Privacy, search, and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear next to Clear browsing data now.
- Pick a Time range, tick Cached images and files, and click Clear now.
One catch: if Edge sync is on, Microsoft says clearing data removes it across all your synced devices. Turn sync off first if you only want to clear one computer.
How to clear the cache in Firefox
Mozilla’s help page lists these steps for desktop:
- Click the menu button (three lines) and select Settings.
- Open the Privacy & Security panel.
- In Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data…
- Next to When, choose Everything.
- Make sure only Temporary cached files and pages is ticked, then click Clear.
Alternatively, open the menu, go to History, then Clear Recent History…, and follow the same choices.
Still broken after clearing the cache?
If the site still misbehaves, try these in order:
- Do a hard refresh. On Windows, press Ctrl and F5 together; on a Mac, Command, Shift and R. This reloads the page while skipping the cache.
- Open the site in a private or incognito window. If it works there, an extension or a cookie is likely the cause.
- Turn off extensions one by one. Ad blockers and coupon tools are common culprits.
- Update the browser. Old versions can break with newer sites.
- Try a different browser. If it fails everywhere, the problem is probably the website, not you.
For more fixes like this, browse our Apps and Software guides.
Frequently asked questions
Will clearing the cache delete my saved passwords?
No, not if you only tick cached images and files. Passwords are a separate option in Chrome, Edge and Firefox, so leave that box unticked. Clearing cookies will sign you out of websites, but your saved passwords stay put.
How often should I clear my browser cache?
There’s no need to do it on a schedule. Browsers manage the cache on their own. Clear it when a site looks broken, won’t update, or behaves oddly.
Does clearing the cache make my browser faster?
Usually not. The cache exists to speed things up, so pages may load slightly slower right after you clear it. It helps when a corrupted or outdated file is causing problems.
What’s the difference between cache and cookies?
The cache stores copies of website files, such as images, to speed up loading. Cookies store information about you, such as whether you’re signed in. Clearing cookies signs you out; clearing the cache doesn’t.
Sources
- Google Chrome Help: Clear cache and cookies
- Google Chrome Help: Delete browsing data in Chrome (Android)
- Google Chrome Help: Delete browsing data in Chrome (iPhone and iPad)
- Apple Support: Clear the history, cache and cookies from Safari on iPhone
- Apple Support: Clear your cache and cookies in Safari on Mac
- Microsoft Support: View and delete browser history in Microsoft Edge
- Mozilla Support: How to clear the Firefox cache