How to clear your browser cache (and when it actually helps)

What the cache is

Every time you visit a website, your browser saves bits of it on your computer: logos, images, page layouts. Next time you visit, it loads those saved copies, which is faster than downloading them again. That collection of saved copies is the cache.

Most of the time you never think about it. Trouble starts when the saved copy no longer matches the real website. You get a page that looks broken, a button that does nothing, or an old version of a page that you know has changed.

When clearing it helps

Clearing your cache is worth a try when:

• One website looks scrambled, but it works fine on your phone
• A site keeps showing old information
• A page loads forever, or a form refuses to submit
• A site tells you to clear your cache, which your bank's website might do after an upgrade

When it won't help

It won't speed up a slow computer. In fact, the next few websites you visit may load a little slower, because the browser has to download everything again.

It also won't fix slow internet, remove a virus or stop pop-ups. If every website is playing up, the cause is probably somewhere else. If pop-ups are telling you to call a phone number, skip the cache altogether and read our guide to spotting tech support scams.

Try this first: a hard refresh

Before clearing anything, try a hard refresh. It reloads just the page you're on, ignoring the saved copy, and it won't log you out of anything.

• Windows: hold Ctrl and press F5
• Mac: hold Cmd and Shift, then press R

If the page comes good, you're done. If not, move on to clearing the cache.

How to clear it

The quickest route in Chrome, Edge and Firefox on a computer is the same keyboard shortcut. Hold Ctrl and Shift, then press Delete. On a Mac, hold Cmd and Shift, then press Delete.

Chrome and Edge

1. Use the shortcut above, or open the three-dots menu and go to Delete browsing data (in Edge it's under Settings, then Privacy).
2. Choose Cached images and files.
3. Untick everything else.
4. Pick a time range. "All time" is fine for this job.
5. Click the delete or clear button.

Firefox

1. Use the shortcut above.
2. Tick Temporary cached files and pages.
3. Untick cookies unless you specifically want to clear them.
4. Click Clear.

Safari on a Mac

1. Open Safari, then Settings, then the Privacy tab.
2. Click Manage Website Data.
3. Search for the site that's playing up, select it and click Remove.

This removes that site's stored data, which is usually a better option than wiping all of it.

iPhone and iPad

Open the Settings app and go to Apps, then Safari. On older versions of iOS, Safari is listed directly in Settings. To clear stored data for one site without touching your history, go to Advanced, then Website Data. The bigger button, Clear History and Website Data, wipes much more, including your history.

Android

Open Chrome, tap the three dots, then Delete browsing data. Choose Cached images and files and untick the rest.

Cookies are a different thing

The cache and cookies get lumped together, but cookies are what keep you logged in. If you clear them, you'll be signed out of your email, your bank, Facebook and everything else in that browser.

That's only a nuisance if you remember your passwords. If you don't, it can turn a small problem into a long afternoon. So before you tick the cookies box, make sure you know your logins, or that they're saved in a password manager.

Sometimes a site really does need its cookies cleared, particularly if you keep getting a login loop. When that happens, try clearing cookies for that one site. In Chrome, click the small icon to the left of the web address and look for the cookies and site data option.

When to call a Nerd

If you've cleared the cache and the site still misbehaves, the problem may be a browser add-on, a corrupted profile or something on the computer itself. It's also worth calling if your browser keeps opening websites by itself, or if your home page has changed and won't change back. Those are signs of unwanted software, and we can check for it and clean it out.