How to Clear Cache and Cookies in Any Browser

A page that will not load properly, a login that keeps failing, a site that shows yesterday’s content: these annoyances often share one quick fix. When you clear cache and cookies, you remove stored files and small identifiers that a browser keeps to speed things up, and that sometimes go stale. This guide shows how to do it in the major browsers on computers and phones, and explains what you lose in the process so there are no surprises.

Cache versus cookies, in plain terms

Cache is a store of website files, such as images, scripts and style sheets, saved on your device so pages load faster on repeat visits. If a site changes but your browser keeps showing the old saved file, the page can look broken or outdated.

Cookies are small pieces of data that websites ask your browser to store. Some are essential, such as keeping you signed in or remembering what is in your basket. Others track activity across sites for advertising or analytics.

Clearing the cache is generally harmless. Clearing cookies signs you out of most websites and resets preferences, so be ready to log in again.

When clearing is worth doing

• A site displays oddly, with missing images or broken layout.
• A page keeps showing old information after an update.
• You see login loops or “too many redirects” errors.
• You want to remove tracking cookies from your device.
• You are handing a shared device to someone else.

Clearing is not a cure-all. If a site is genuinely down, nothing on your side will fix it.

Before you start

Think about what you do not want to lose. Make sure you know the passwords for important accounts, or that they are stored in a password manager, because signing out will require them. If you use two-step verification, have your phone nearby.

Most browsers offer a time range option. Choosing “last hour” or “last 24 hours” is a gentler option than “all time” if you are only fixing a recent problem.

Google Chrome on a computer

1. Open Chrome and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Cmd+Shift+Delete on a Mac. This opens the clearing dialogue directly.
2. Choose a time range. Select “All time” for a thorough clean.
3. Tick Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. Leave browsing history unticked if you want to keep it.
4. Select Clear data.

To clear data for one site only, click the icon at the left of the address bar, open the site settings and use the option to delete data for that site.

Microsoft Edge

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete to open Clear browsing data.
2. Pick a time range.
3. Tick Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
4. Select Clear now.

Edge can also clear data automatically each time you close the browser. You will find this under privacy settings, in the option for choosing what to clear on exit. This is handy on a shared computer.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete, or open the menu and choose Settings, then Privacy & Security.
2. Under Cookies and Site Data, select Clear Data.
3. Tick both Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content, then confirm.

Firefox has an option to delete cookies and site data when it closes, available in the same privacy panel. You can add exceptions for sites you trust so they remain signed in.

Safari on a Mac

1. With Safari open, choose Safari in the menu bar, then Settings (or Preferences on older versions of macOS).
2. Go to Privacy and select Manage Website Data.
3. Pick Remove All, or select individual sites and remove only those.

To clear history together with cache and cookies, choose History in the menu bar and then Clear History. Pick a time range and confirm. Because this also removes history, be sure that is what you want.

The exact wording of menus can change between macOS versions, so if you cannot find an option, search for “website data” in the settings window.

Safari on iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down to Safari.
3. Tap Clear History and Website Data, then confirm.

This clears history as well as cookies and cache, and signs you out of websites. If you want to keep history, look for the advanced option for website data and remove it separately.

Chrome on Android and iPhone

1. Open Chrome and tap the three dots, then Settings.
2. Tap Privacy and security (or Privacy), then Delete browsing data.
3. Select a time range, tick cookies and cached files, and confirm.

Menu layout differs slightly across platforms and versions, but the option is always under privacy settings.

Samsung Internet and other mobile browsers

Look for a menu named Settings, then Privacy or Personal data, and choose the delete option. Select cookies and cache, then confirm. Apps that open web links in an in-app viewer usually store their own data, which you manage in the phone’s app settings, often under storage.

What if the problem is still there?

If clearing did not help, try these in order:

1. Hard refresh the page with Ctrl+F5 (or Cmd+Shift+R on a Mac), which forces the browser to fetch fresh files.
2. Disable extensions temporarily, because ad blockers and script blockers sometimes break pages.
3. Try a private window. If the site works there, the issue is stored data or an extension.
4. Update the browser to the latest version.
5. Restart your device and your router.
6. Try another browser. If the site works there, the problem is local to your first browser.

Clearing automatically and managing cookies

If you clear data often, consider automating it. Most browsers let you delete cookies on exit, or block third-party cookies altogether while keeping those needed for logins. Our guide to blocking third-party cookies explains the trade-offs. Keep in mind that clearing everything on exit means you will log in more often.

How to Block Third-Party Cookies in Chrome and Firefox

Frequently asked questions

Will clearing cache delete my passwords?

No. Saved passwords are stored separately from the cache. Most clearing dialogues have a separate tick box for passwords, which you should leave unticked unless you mean to remove them.

How often should I clear cache and cookies?

There is no fixed schedule. Do it when you hit a problem or want a privacy refresh. Clearing too often just makes pages load slower and signs you out repeatedly.

Is clearing cookies the same as using private browsing?

No. Private browsing avoids saving data from that session. Clearing removes data that has already been saved.

Will it free up storage space?

A little, sometimes. The cache can grow to a noticeable size, but cookies are tiny. Do not expect a big gain.

Conclusion

To clear cache and cookies, open your browser’s privacy settings, choose a time range and tick only the items you mean to remove. It takes less than a minute and often fixes stubborn display and login problems. Just remember you will be signed out of most sites afterwards, so keep your passwords to hand.