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How to clear cache?

700K/mo searches Β· Updated Jan 2026
Quick answer

In any desktop browser, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Cmd + Shift + Delete on Mac) to open the clear browsing data menu β€” select "Cached images and files" and hit Clear.

Full answer ΒΆ

A cache is a stored copy of web page assets β€” images, scripts, stylesheets β€” that your browser saves locally so pages load faster on repeat visits. Over time this cache grows large and can cause display glitches, show outdated versions of pages, or simply consume gigabytes of disk space.

In Chrome or Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete, set the time range to "All time," check "Cached images and files," and click Clear data. In Firefox the same shortcut opens a similar panel. On Safari (Mac), go to Safari β†’ Settings β†’ Advanced, enable the Develop menu, then Develop β†’ Empty Caches. On Safari for iPhone, go to Settings β†’ Safari β†’ Clear History and Website Data.

On Android, cache clearing is done app by app. Go to Settings β†’ Apps β†’ [App name] β†’ Storage β†’ Clear Cache. Some Android phones also have a "Device care" or "Storage" section that offers a bulk cache clear. On iPhone, you typically delete and reinstall an app to clear its cache, or use the offload feature under Settings β†’ General β†’ iPhone Storage.

Clearing the cache logs you out of most websites because session cookies are usually cleared alongside it. If you only want to fix a display glitch on one site, a "hard refresh" (Ctrl + Shift + R on Windows, Cmd + Shift + R on Mac) forces the browser to re-download that single page's assets without clearing everything else.

For a computer-wide cache clear beyond the browser, tools like BleachBit (Windows/Linux) or CleanMyMac (Mac) can clear system-level temp files. However, the browser cache is almost always the most impactful starting point.

Key facts ΒΆ

Browser shortcut (Win) Ctrl + Shift + Delete
Browser shortcut (Mac) Cmd + Shift + Delete
Hard refresh (Win) Ctrl + Shift + R
iPhone method Settings β†’ Safari β†’ Clear Data
Side effect Logs you out of websites

Common mistake ΒΆ

⚠ Most people get this wrong

Most people assume clearing cache also clears saved passwords β€” it doesn't unless you also check the "Passwords" or "Autofill data" box separately in the same dialog.

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