How to Clear Cache and Cookies in Every Major Browser

This article teaches you how to purge the internet browser cache in popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Edge, and Vivaldi, plus their respective mobile browser apps.

Clear Cache in Chrome

Assuming you use a keyboard, the quickest way to the Clear browsing data window in Google Chrome is by using the Windows keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Del. If you're wiping the Chrome cache on a Mac, the shortcut is Command+Shift+Delete.

If you aren't into keyboard shortcuts, here's how to clear the Chrome browser cache on your computer using the on-screen menus:

1. Select the three-dotted menu button in the upper-right corner of Chrome, then choose Clear browsing data from the list of options.

   

2. Check the box next to Cached images and files. Select Cookies and other site data to also wipe the cookies.

   Also choose All time from the Time range option at the top to make sure you get everything.

3. Choose Clear data.

   

Clear Cache in the Chrome Mobile App

Here's how it works in Chrome's mobile app:

1. On Android, open the Chrome app and tap the three-dotted menu icon at the top of the screen. iOS users can find this button at the bottom.

2. Tap Clear browsing data (Android) or Delete Browsing Data (iOS).

3. Select a time range. Pick All time to purge the whole cache.

4. Ensure that Cached images and files is chosen. You'll need to tap More options first if you're on Android.

5. Tap Clear data > Clear on Android, or Delete Browsing Data > Delete Browsing Data on iOS.

   

   Chrome on Android will suggest keeping data from sites you visit often. The choice is yours but to delete all of Chrome's cache, you'll need to keep those items selected.

Clear the Firefox Cache

In Mozilla's Firefox browser, you clear the cache from the Clear All History or Clear Data area.

The Ctrl+Shift+Del (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) keyboard shortcut is the fastest way to open the Clear All History screen, which looks like this:

Follow these steps to get to that screen through the Firefox settings menu:

1. In Firefox's menu button (the three-lined hamburger icon), select Settings.

   

2. Choose Privacy & Security from the left, then scroll to Cookies and Site Data on the right.

3. Select Clear Data.

   

4. In the Clear Data screen that opens, select Cached Web Content. The other option, if selected, will delete the cookies in Firefox.

   

5. Choose Clear.

   

Clear Cache in the Firefox Mobile App

Open the Settings page to delete the Firefox cache in the mobile app:

1. Tap the three-dot icon at the top of your Android, or the three-line icon at the bottom of iOS, then choose Settings from the menu.

2. Select Delete browsing data on Android, or Data Management on iOS.

   The Firefox app for Android lets you clear the web browser cache every time you close the app. Tap Delete browsing data on quit to set it up.

3. Enable the Cached images and files (Android) or Cache (iOS) option.

4. On Android, tap Delete browsing data > DELETE. On iOS, choose Clear Private Data > OK.

   

Clear Safari's Browsing Cache

In Apple's Safari browser on a Mac, clearing the cache is done directly from the menu bar. Go to Develop > Empty Caches. You can also clear the cache in Safari on a Mac using the Option+Command+E keyboard shortcut.

Clear Cache in the Safari Mobile App

Use the Settings app to clear the browser cache for Safari on your iPhone or iPad.

1. Open the Settings app and tap Safari.

2. Scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data.

3. Pick a timeframe to delete, such as All history, then tap Clear History.

   

Purge Cache in Opera

In Opera, clearing the cache is done via the Clear browsing data section that's part of Settings.

The fastest way to bring up that window is via the Ctrl+Shift+Del (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) keyboard shortcut.

Otherwise, here's how to clear the browser cache from the menu:

1. From the Opera menu (the O at the top left of the browser), choose Settings.

   

2. Select Privacy & security on the left, then Clear browsing data on the right.

   

3. Choose All time at the top to delete the entire cache.

4. Opera automatically selects all items you can delete, including Cached images and files. Confirm that you want to erase the chosen items.

5. Select Clear data.

   

Clear Cache in the Opera Mobile Browser

You can also clear Opera's cache in the mobile app, but it's a bit different between iOS and Android.

1. Tap the profile icon (Android) or the three horizontal lines (iOS) at the bottom of the app.

2. Select the settings icon.

3. On Android, go to Privacy & security > Clear data > Advanced. On iOS, you're looking for the Clear Browser Data option.

   

4. Tap the items you want to clear. To erase just the cache, choose Cached images and files.

5. Select Clear data on Android, or Clear on iOS.

   

Clear Browsing Data for Edge

Clearing the cache in Microsoft Edge is done via the Delete browsing data menu.

The fastest way to the Delete browsing data area of Edge is via the Ctrl+Shift+Del keyboard shortcut.

Here's another option:

1. Select the three-dotted menu at the top right of the program, then select Settings.

   

2. Select Privacy, search, and services on the left followed by Choose what to clear on the right.

   

3. To purge the browsing cache in Edge, make sure Cached images and files is selected, then click Clear now. You can also clear the cookies, browsing history, and more.

   

Clear Cache in the Edge Mobile Browser

Here's how to delete cache files from the Edge mobile app:

1. Tap the three lines at the bottom right, then choose Settings from the menu that pops up.

2. Select Privacy and security.

   

3. Tap Clear browsing data.

4. Make sure Cached images and files is selected. This screen is also how you can delete other items like cookies and autofill data.

   Change the time range to All time if you want to clear the whole cache.

5. Tap Clear data on Android. For iOS, choose Clear now and then confirm by tapping the same button.

   

Delete Vivaldi's Browser Cache

Clear the cache in Vivaldi from the Delete Browsing Data area. As with most browsers, the Ctrl+Shift+Del (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) shortcut is the quickest way there, but the menu works, too:

1. From the menu bar (select the V logo at the top left if you don't see it), go to Tools > Delete Browsing Data.

   

2. Pick a timeframe, such as All Time, then choose Cache from the list. As you can see, you can also erase cookies, downloads, site settings, and more, if you select those items.

   

3. Choose Delete.

Clear Cache in the Vivaldi Mobile Browser

The Vivaldi app lets you clear the cache, cookies, and other items as well.

1. Tap the V icon at the top right of the app and then tap Settings.

2. Scroll down and select Privacy and security.

   

3. Tap Clear browsing data.

4. Make sure Cached images and files is selected, and optionally adjust the Time range setting to clear more or less of the cache.

5. Tap Clear data (Android) or Clear Browsing Data (iOS) to erase the cache.

   

What Exactly Is Cache?

Your browser's cache, pronounced cash, is a collection of web pages stored on your hard drive or in your phone/tablet storage. The cache includes the text, images, and most other media contained on web pages that you've visited.

Having a local copy of a web page makes for quick loading on your next visit because your computer or mobile device doesn't have to download it from the internet again. Over time, however, the cache may take up a big chunk of your computer's storage.

Why Do You Have to Clear Cache?

You don't have to clear the cache as a regular part of computer or smartphone maintenance. However, there are some good reasons to clear cache:

• Clearing your cache forces your browser to retrieve the newest copy available from the website, something that should happen automatically but sometimes does not.
• You're experiencing issues such as 404 errors or 502 errors (among others) that may indicate your browser's cache is corrupted.
• Malware is another reason to delete the browser cache. It can be dropped in the cache without you knowing or alongside program installations, so clearing the entire cache can delete malicious files. (It also helps to have antivirus software.)
• Another reason to delete browser cache data is to free up space on your hard drive. Over time, the cache can grow to a huge size; clearing it can recover some of that previously used space.

Regardless of why you want to do it, clearing your browser's cache is easy to do in all the popular browsers in use today.

As mentioned above, the quickest way to pull up the "cache clearing" or "browsing data" section in your browser is via Ctrl+Shift+Del (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) but see one of the sections above for the exact steps involved in clearing your specific browser's cache.

More About Clearing Caches in Web Browsers

Most browsers have at least basic cache management settings where, at a minimum, you can choose how much space you'd like the browser to use for its cache.

Some browsers let you choose to automatically clear the cache and other data that might contain private information every time you close the browser window.

In most browsers, you can overwrite a web page's stored cache without deleting all the cache collected by the browser. In essence, this erases and replenishes the cache for that specific page only. In most browsers and operating systems, you can bypass the cache by holding down the Shift or Ctrl key as you refresh.