Updated October 2026
Quick answer: to clear your browser cache on Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete in Chrome, Edge or Firefox. On a Mac, press Command + Shift + Delete in Chrome or Firefox. Choose “Cached images and files” (or “Cache”), set the time range to “All time”, and confirm. Step-by-step instructions for every major browser, iPhone and Android are below.
Your browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox) saves copies of the web pages you visit: images, styles, scripts and more. This is the browser cache. It makes websites load faster, but sometimes it shows you an old or broken version of a page. When a website looks wrong or won’t update, clearing the cache is usually the first thing a developer or support person will ask you to try.
Try a hard refresh first
If only one page looks wrong, a hard refresh reloads it without using the cache:
- Windows: Ctrl + F5 (or Ctrl + Shift + R)
- Mac: Command + Shift + R
If that doesn’t fix it, clear the cache completely using the steps below.
How to clear the cache in Google Chrome
Windows and Mac
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac). Or click the three dots in the top-right corner and choose Delete browsing data.
- Set the time range to All time.
- Tick Cached images and files. Untick cookies if you don’t want to be logged out of websites.
- Click Delete data.
Android and iPhone
- Open Chrome and tap the three dots.
- Tap Delete browsing data (on some versions, Settings > Privacy and security first).
- Choose All time, tick Cached images and files and confirm.
How to clear the cache in Safari
Mac
- In Safari, open Safari > Settings (called Preferences on older versions of macOS).
- Go to the Privacy tab and click Manage Website Data.
- Click Remove All.
To clear only the cache (and stay logged in), go to Settings > Advanced and turn on the developer features option, then choose Develop > Empty Caches from the menu bar.
iPhone and iPad
- Open the Settings app and go to Safari (on newer versions of iOS, Settings > Apps > Safari).
- Tap Clear History and Website Data and confirm.
How to clear the cache in Microsoft Edge
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete, or open the three-dot menu > Settings > Privacy, search and services and find the browsing data section.
- Set the time range to All time.
- Tick Cached images and files.
- Click Clear now.
How to clear the cache in Firefox
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Command + Shift + Delete (Mac).
- Set the time range to Everything.
- Tick Cached images and files (or Cache on older versions) and confirm.
How to clear the cache on Android (Samsung Internet)
- Tap the menu (three lines) > Settings > Personal browsing data (or Privacy on older versions).
- Tap Delete browsing data, tick Cached images and files and confirm.
What is browser cache, in plain English?
Think of the cache as your browser’s short-term memory. The first time you visit a website, your browser downloads everything it needs to show the page. It keeps a copy of the parts that rarely change, like logos and styling, so the next visit is faster and uses less data.
The catch: when a website is updated, your browser might keep showing its saved copy. That’s why a site can look broken, or out of date, for you but fine for everyone else.
When should you clear your browser cache?
- A website looks broken or out of date, especially just after it’s been updated.
- A website won’t load for you but works for others. See why a website can be down for you but not for others.
- Your browser is slow or crashing.
- You’ve used a shared or public computer and want to remove traces of the sites you visited.
- Your website developer or support team asks you to.
Will clearing my cache delete my passwords?
No. Clearing only “cached images and files” won’t delete saved passwords or log you out. Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites, so leave that box unticked unless you need it. Saved passwords are a separate option that you’d have to choose deliberately.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to clear my browser cache?
Yes. It only removes temporary copies of web pages. Websites may load a little slower the first time you revisit them.
How often should I clear my cache?
There’s no need to do it on a schedule. Clear it when a website isn’t behaving as expected, or if your device is short on storage.
What’s the difference between cache and cookies?
The cache stores copies of website files so pages load faster. Cookies store small pieces of information about you, such as whether you’re logged in or what’s in your shopping cart.
I’ve cleared my cache and my own website still looks wrong. What now?
Your website may have its own server-side caching, or a CDN such as Cloudflare, that also needs clearing. Read why your WordPress site suddenly looks weird, or ask your developer.
Website still not behaving?
If your website often looks broken after updates, or you’re forever asking customers to clear their cache, the problem may be how the site is built or hosted. Itomic hosts, maintains and secures websites for Australian organisations. Get in touch and we’ll take a look.
