How to clear cache
Quick answer
In Chrome, Edge or Firefox, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Command + Shift + Delete on Mac), choose a time range, tick Cached images and files, and click Clear. Tick Cookies too if you also want to sign out of sites and reset their saved settings.
Browsers save parts of every site you visit so pages load faster next time. Sometimes those saved files go stale and a site looks broken or won’t update. Clearing the cache forces the browser to download a fresh copy.
How to clear cache in Chrome
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete, or go to ⋮ > Delete browsing data.
- Pick a time range. “All time” clears everything.
- Tick Cached images and files.
- Click Delete data.
How to clear cache in Edge
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete, or go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data.
- Choose a time range.
- Tick Cached images and files.
- Click Clear now.
Firefox and Safari
- Firefox: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete, tick Temporary cached files and pages, and click Clear.
- Safari on Mac: Go to Safari > Settings > Advanced and turn on Show features for web developers, then choose Develop > Empty Caches. To clear everything at once, use Safari > Clear History.
How to clear cookies
Cookies are small files sites use to remember you: your login, your cart, your language. They’re in the same menu as the cache. Tick Cookies and other site data before clearing.
Expect to be signed out of most websites afterward. If only one site is misbehaving, you can clear its cookies alone: click the icon to the left of the web address and open Cookies and site data or Site settings.
How to clear cache on iPhone and Android
- iPhone (Safari): Open Settings, find Safari (under Apps on newer iOS versions), and tap Clear History and Website Data.
- Android (Chrome): In Chrome, tap ⋮ > Delete browsing data, tick Cached images and files, and tap Delete data.
Lost your tabs after clearing? Here’s how to restore closed tabs.
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