How to clear your browser cache in Chrome, Edge and Safari

Your browser saves bits of every page you visit, such as pictures and style files, so the next visit is faster. Usually that helps. Sometimes the saved copy goes out of date, and a site looks strange, won't load properly or keeps showing old information. Clearing the saved copies, called the cache, gives the browser a fresh start.

This guide shows how to clear browser cache and history in Chrome, Edge and Safari. Jump to the browser you use.

Cache, history and cookies: what is the difference?

• Cache is the saved copies of pages, pictures and files. Clearing it is the usual fix for a misbehaving site. It is safe: pages just load a little slower the first time afterward.
• History is the list of pages you have visited. Clearing it tidies your address bar suggestions and your history list. It does not speed anything up.
• Cookies are small notes that sites keep, such as the fact that you are signed in. Clearing them usually signs you out of sites.

Clear the cache in Chrome (Windows and Mac)

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click More (the three dots at the top right), then choose Delete browsing data. You can also type Delete browsing data into the address bar and pick the matching action.
3. Next to Time range, choose how far back to go. Last hour is gentle. All time clears everything.
4. Tick Cached images and files. Tick Browsing history too if you want your history cleared.
5. Leave Cookies and other site data unticked unless you want to be signed out of sites.
6. Click Delete data.

On Windows you can open the same window with Ctrl + Shift + Delete. On a Mac the shortcut is Cmd + Shift + Delete.

Clear the cache in Microsoft Edge

1. Open Edge and click Settings and more (the three dots at the top right).
2. Go to Settings › Privacy, search, and services.
3. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear. The shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete opens the same window.
4. Pick a Time range from the drop-down list.
5. Tick Cached images and files. Add Browsing history if you want that cleared as well.
6. Click Clear now.

Edge warns that clearing Cookies and other site data signs you out of most sites. If you only want to fix a slow or odd page, you can leave that box unticked.

Clear history and website data in Safari on Mac

Safari keeps these in two places, so there are two short jobs.

Clear your history

1. Open Safari.
2. In the menu bar, choose History › Clear History.
3. Click the pop-up menu and choose a time range, such as the last hour or all history.
4. Click Clear History.

Apple says this also removes your back and forward list, frequently visited sites, recent searches and webpage icons. It does not delete files you downloaded.

Remove website data

1. In Safari, choose Safari › Settings and open the Privacy tab.
2. Click Manage Website Data.
3. Select one or more websites, then click Remove. To clear everything, click Remove All.

Apple notes that removing this data may sign you out of websites or change how they behave. If only one site is giving you trouble, remove just that site and leave the rest.

After clearing: a quick check

• Close the browser fully and open it again.
• Reload the page that was giving you trouble.
• If it still looks wrong, try again with a longer time range, or include cookies and site data.

If clearing the cache does not help, the problem may be on the website's side, or your computer may be short of space. Our guide on freeing up disk space on Windows 11 may help with that.

Ask Key to open the right window

Key is a free assistant for Windows and Mac that works in the real windows you already use, including your browser. You can speak or type, and the result is the same. It opens the real window and presses the real button, then tells you what it did.

You can ask for the job in your own words. Half a sentence is enough. Key works out what you meant, does it in your browser, and checks the result before it tells you. A small panel shows what it is doing, and you can stop it at any point.

KeyChat

Clear the cache in my browser

opened the browser's delete browsing data windowticked cached images and filescleared the data

I cleared the cached images and files in your browser.

Checked: the browser's clear data window closed and showed no errors.

It is a handy way to skip the menu hunting, especially if you can never remember where your browser hides this setting. To see more of what Key can do day to day, read What can an AI assistant on your PC do every day?

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