Your browser is slow. Pages are loading weird. That login screen won’t refresh. Before you blame your internet or restart your computer for the fifth time, try this: clear your cache.
It takes 30 seconds and fixes most browser problems. Here’s how to do it in every major browser.
What Browser Cache Actually IsWhen you visit a website, your browser ses parts of it—images, scripts, stylesheets—on your computer. Next time you visit, the browser loads these sed files instead of downloading everything again. Faster loading, less bandwidth used. Smart.
Except when it’s not.
The cache eventually becomes a digital junk drawer. Old files pile up. Outdated versions of websites stick around. That CSS file from 2022 is still there, breaking the site’s new design. Your browser slows down hauling all this baggage around.
Clearing cache dumps all this and starts fresh.
When You Should Clear CacheClear your cache if:
Web pages look broken (old CSS files are interfering)Changes you made aren’t showing up (you’re seeing cached versions)Your browser feels sluggish (too many cached files)Websites won’t load properly (corrupt cache files)You’re troubleshooting any browser issue (first step in debugging)How often? Most people never do it. Once every few months is reasonable. Weekly if you browse heily. Or just when things act weird.
Quick Jump to Your BrowserGoogle ChromeMozilla FirefoxMicrosoft EdgeSafari (Mac)Chrome (Android)Safari (iOS)Google ChromeThe keyboard shortcut works across all platforms:
Fastest method: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows/Linux) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac)
This opens the Clear Browsing Data window directly. Skip to step 3.
Menu method:
Click the three dots (⋮) in the top-right cornerGo to Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing dataCheck Cached images and filesSet time range (choose “All time” to clear everything)Click Clear dataWhat to check:
Cached images and files: Yes (that’s the point)Cookies: Only if you want to log out of everythingBrowsing history: Your choice (doesn’t affect cache)Chrome clears the cache immediately. No restart needed.
FirefoxKeyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows/Linux) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac)
Menu method:
Click the three lines (☰) in the top-right cornerGo to Settings → Privacy & SecurityScroll to Cookies and Site DataClick Clear DataCheck Cached Web Content (uncheck Cookies unless you want to log out everywhere)Click ClearFirefox clears cache instantly. No restart required, though closing tabs and reopening can help confirm changes.
Microsoft EdgeEdge is built on Chromium (same as Chrome), so it’s nearly identical:
Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + Delete
Menu method:
Click the three dots (…) in the top-right cornerGo to Settings → Privacy, search, and servicesUnder Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clearCheck Cached images and filesSelect time range (use “All time” for full clear)Click Clear nowEdge also clears immediately without needing a restart.
Safari (Mac)Safari hides cache clearing better than other browsers.
Quick method (no keyboard shortcut):
Click Safari in the menu bar → Settings (or Preferences on older macOS)Go to Advanced tabCheck Show features for web developers (or “Show Develop menu”)Close SettingsIn the menu bar, click Develop → Empty CachesDone. Cache cleared.
Alternative method:
Safari → Settings → PrivacyClick Manage Website DataClick Remove AllConfirm with Remove NowThis clears cache plus cookies and site data. You’ll be logged out of websites.
Important: Safari doesn’t he a “clear cache only” option in the main interface. Use the Develop menu method to oid losing cookies.
Chrome (Android)Steps:
Open ChromeTap three dots (⋮) in the top-rightGo to Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing dataCheck Cached images and filesSet time rangeTap Clear dataAlternatively, in Android system settings:
Settings → Apps → Chrome → Storage → Clear cacheThis is faster but also more aggressive.
Safari (iOS)iOS makes this annoyingly hidden in system settings, not in Safari itself.
Steps:
Open Settings app (not Safari)Scroll down to SafariTap Clear History and Website DataConfirmWarning: This clears history, cookies, and cache all together. You’ll be logged out of websites. iOS doesn’t let you clear cache alone.
Alternative for specific sites:
Settings → Safari → Advanced → Website DataFind specific sites and swipe left to deleteOr tap Remove All Website Data at the bottomWhat Gets Deleted When You Clear CacheAlways deleted:
Images from websitesCSS stylesheetsJaScript filesFonts and other mediaUsually NOT deleted (unless you choose to):
PasswordsBookmarksAutoFill dataExtensionsSometimes deleted (depends on what you check):
Cookies (logs you out of sites)Browsing historyDownload historyRead the checkboxes carefully. The cache option is usually separate from passwords and history.
Does Clearing Cache Actually Speed Things Up?Yes and no.
Immediately after clearing cache: Pages might load slightly slower the first time you visit them because the browser has to download everything fresh.
After the first load: Everything is back to normal speed, but now with current files instead of old junk.
Long-term: Clearing a bloated cache (gigabytes of old files) does make your browser faster overall. Less data to sift through, less disk space consumed.
You won’t suddenly he a lightning-fast browser, but you’ll fix loading issues and remove the drag of accumulated garbage.
Other Ways to Speed Up Your BrowserClearing cache helps, but these make bigger differences:
Close unused tabs. Every open tab uses RAM. Close tabs you’re not actively using. If you’re the “I he 47 tabs open” person, use bookmark folders instead.
Disable unnecessary extensions. Each extension slows things down. Go to your extensions list and remove ones you don’t use weekly. You can always reinstall later.
Update your browser. Old versions he bugs and security holes. Update to the latest version. It’s free and usually faster.
Restart your browser regularly. Browsers leak memory over time. Close and reopen once a day if you lee it running constantly.
Use fewer browser toolbars. That weather toolbar, the PDF converter toolbar, the “helpful” search toolbar—delete them all. They’re slow and often sketchy.
Troubleshooting: Cache Won’t ClearIf the cache won’t clear:
Close all browser windows completelyOpen browser in incognito/private modeTry clearing cache againStill not working? Restart your computerIf websites still look broken after clearing cache:
Force refresh the specific page:
Windows/Linux: Ctrl + F5 or Ctrl + Shift + RMac: Command + Shift + RThis reloads the page while bypassing cache for that single page.
If browser is still slow after clearing cache:
The problem isn’t cache. Check for:
Too many extensionsMalware (run antivirus scan)Outdated browser versionComputer running low on RAM or storageIf you accidentally cleared cookies too:
You’ll be logged out of websites. Just log back in. Your passwords are still sed (if you sed them).
The Nuclear Option: Reset Browser SettingsIf clearing cache didn’t help and your browser is still acting weird, you can reset it to factory defaults.
Chrome/Edge: Settings → Reset settings → Restore settings to defaults
Firefox: Settings → Help → More troubleshooting information → Refresh Firefox
Safari: There’s no reset option; you he to manually remove preferences files or reinstall
This removes all extensions, settings, and customizations. Use as a last resort.
Quick ReferenceKeyboard shortcuts (fastest method):
Chrome/Edge/Firefox (Windows/Linux): Ctrl + Shift + DeleteChrome/Edge/Firefox (Mac): Command + Shift + DeleteSafari: No shortcut; use Develop menu → Empty CachesWhat to select:
Cached images/files: ✓ YesCookies: Only if you want to log out of sitesHistory: Your choiceHow often: When pages look broken or browser feels slow
Fixes most: Loading errors, outdated page displays, minor performance issues
Doesn’t fix: Deep browser bugs, malware, extension conflicts
Clear cache when things break. That’s the whole guide.