What is a Browser Cache? How Do I Clear It?, by Ask Leo! on YouTube. 6 min 24 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 24 s
- Time to do it
- 5 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Understand what you are clearing. The cache stores images, scripts and other files from sites you visit so pages load faster next time. Clearing it removes those saved copies.
Close any important tabs or save your work first. Clearing cached files can log you out of some sites or make the next page load slower while files download again.
In Chrome or Edge, open the menu with the three dots, choose More tools, then Clear browsing data. In Firefox, open the menu and choose Settings, then Privacy and Security.
Set the time range to All time in Chrome or Edge. In Firefox, click Clear Data under Cookies and Site Data.
Tick the box for Cached images and files. Leave passwords and autofill data unticked unless you want those removed too.
Click Clear data and wait for the browser to finish. The time depends on how much is stored.
In Safari on a Mac, open the Develop menu and choose Empty Caches. If you do not see Develop, turn it on in Safari Settings under Advanced.
Reload the problem website and check whether the display issue is gone. If not, try clearing cookies for that site as well.
Tips and common mistakes
Clear the cache only when a site misbehaves, since a full cache makes everyday browsing faster.
A hard reload with Ctrl and F5 on Windows or Cmd and Shift and R on a Mac refreshes one page without wiping everything.
Some browsers clear old cache entries automatically, so a manual clear is rarely needed.
If one site keeps breaking, clear its cookies and cache only rather than everything.
Questions
Will clearing the cache delete my bookmarks and passwords?
No. Bookmarks, history and saved passwords stay unless you tick those boxes in the clear data window. Only the cached copies of website files are removed.
How often should I clear my browser cache?
Usually only when a website loads or displays incorrectly. Browsers manage the cache themselves, so regular clearing is not needed.
Does clearing the cache fix slow internet?
Not usually. It can help when a page shows old or broken content, but slow connections are more often a network or provider issue.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
