How to Clear Cache on Chrome, Safari, Edge, iPhone, Android

Last updated: November 10, 2026

To clear cache, open your browser’s delete browsing data menu, choose a time range such as All time, check Cached images and files, and confirm. In Chrome and Edge this sits under the three-dot menu; on iPhone, go to Settings, Apps, Safari. Leave Cookies unchecked if you want to stay signed in.

This guide shows how to clear cache on every major browser and device, what clearing it actually deletes, and when it helps.

Contents

What is cache, and what does clearing it do?
How to clear cache in Chrome on a computer
How to clear cache on iPhone and iPad
How to clear cache on Android
How to clear cache in Safari on Mac
How to clear cache in Microsoft Edge
Where to find clear cache on each browser
When should you clear your cache?
Frequently asked questions

What is cache, and what does clearing it do?

Microsoft describes cached images and files as copies of pages, images and other media content stored on your device, which the browser uses to load content faster the next time you visit those sites (Microsoft). Clearing the cache deletes those copies, and the browser downloads fresh ones on your next visit.

Cache is not the same as cookies. Cookies hold information websites store to remember your preferences, such as sign-in info and location (Microsoft). That is why clearing cache and cookies together signs you out of most sites, while clearing only the cache does not.

How to clear cache in Chrome on a computer

Open Chrome.
At the top right, select More (the three dots), then Delete browsing data.
Choose a time range, such as Last hour or All time.
Check Cached images and files. Check Cookies and other site data only if you also want to clear cookies.
Select Delete data.

Google also lets you type “Delete browsing data” in the address bar and select the Action chip to open the same dialog. If you are signed in to Chrome with sync, deleting synced data such as history removes it from your other devices too (Google Chrome Help).

How to clear cache on iPhone and iPad

Safari on iPhone

Apple gives two options (Apple Support):

Clear history, cache and cookies: go to Settings, tap Apps, then Safari. Tap Clear History and Website Data, confirm the timeframe, then tap Clear History. AutoFill information is not changed.
Clear cookies and cache but keep history: go to Settings, Apps, Safari, then Advanced, Website Data. Tap Remove All Website Data, then Remove Now.

If the button is gray, there is no data to clear or Screen Time content restrictions are turned on. Moving to a new phone soon? Our guide on how to transfer data to a new iPhone covers the setup.

Chrome on iPhone

Open Chrome, tap More, then Delete Browsing Data. Set the Time Range (the default is 15 minutes), tap Browsing Data to pick Cached Images and Files, tap Confirm, then Delete Browsing Data (Google Chrome Help).

How to clear cache on Android

Clear browser cache in Chrome

Open Chrome and tap More to the right of the address bar.
Tap Delete browsing data.
Tap More options, choose a time range, and select Cached images and files.
Tap Delete data.

The default time range is 15 minutes, so change it to All time for a full clear. Deleting cookies while signed in to Chrome does not sign you out of your Google Account (Google Chrome Help).

Clear the cache for one app

Open the Settings app.
Go to Apps (or Applications, depending on your Android version).
Select the app.
Tap Storage, then Clear cache.

These steps come from Android’s own guide, which says clearing an app’s cache can help when an app is slow, closes unexpectedly or is not working correctly (Android). Menu names vary by manufacturer. Do not tap Clear storage unless you mean to: Google says it permanently deletes all of the app’s data (Android Help).

How to clear cache in Safari on Mac

Open Safari.
Choose Safari > Settings, then click Privacy.
Click Manage Website Data.
Select one or more websites, then click Remove, or click Remove All.

Apple notes that removing this data may sign you out of websites or change how they behave (Apple Support). If you are documenting a problem first, see how to screenshot on a Mac.

How to clear cache in Microsoft Edge

Select Settings and more (the three dots), then Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
Select Clear browsing data, then Choose what to clear.
Pick a time range.
Check Cached images and files and any other data types you want removed.
Select Clear now.

To clear data only on the current computer, turn off sync first under Settings, Profiles, Sync; with sync on, synced items are cleared on all your devices (Microsoft). On a Windows PC, you can capture any error message first with our guide to taking a screenshot on Windows.

Where to find clear cache on each browser

Browser or device	Where to go	Item to check
Chrome (computer)	More > Delete browsing data	Cached images and files
Chrome (Android)	More > Delete browsing data > More options	Cached images and files
Chrome (iPhone)	More > Delete Browsing Data > Browsing Data	Cached Images and Files
Safari (iPhone)	Settings > Apps > Safari	Clear History and Website Data
Safari (Mac)	Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data	Remove All
Microsoft Edge	Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data	Cached images and files
Android app	Settings > Apps > app > Storage	Clear cache

When should you clear your cache?

A site will not load or looks broken. Old stored files can conflict with a site’s current version (Android).
You see outdated content after a site has been updated.
An app is slow or keeps crashing. Clear that app’s cache before trying Clear storage or reinstalling it.
Your phone is low on storage. This is a short-term fix, because cached data builds up again over time (Android Help).

Expect some sites to load a little slower right after you clear the cache, since the browser has to download files again. If you also cleared cookies, you will need to sign in again (Android).

Frequently asked questions

What happens when you clear cache?

Your browser deletes its stored copies of pages, images and other media. Sites may load a little slower at first while the cache rebuilds, but you stay signed in unless you also delete cookies.

Does clearing cache delete passwords?

No. Clearing only cached images and files does not remove saved passwords. Passwords are a separate item in the delete browsing data menu, so leave that box unchecked.

Is it safe to clear cache?

Yes. Cached files are temporary copies that the browser or app downloads again when needed, so clearing them does not delete your files, photos or saved passwords.

How often should you clear your cache?

There is no fixed schedule. Clear it when a site loads incorrectly, shows outdated content, or when you need to free up storage, because the cache builds up again over time.

What is the difference between clearing cache and clearing cookies?

Cache stores copies of pages, images and media so sites load faster. Cookies store site data such as sign-in information and preferences, so deleting cookies usually signs you out of websites.

Does clearing cache free up space?

Yes, but only temporarily. Google notes that cached data builds up again over time, so clearing it is a short-term way to free storage.

Sources

Featured image: backlit laptop keyboard. Photo by Gre123gr, released under CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

How to Clear Cache: Chrome, Safari, Edge, iPhone and Android