How to Clear Cache and Cookies
A website looks broken, won't load, or keeps showing old info? Clearing your browser's cache and cookies fixes it surprisingly often. Here's how in every major browser, and what you'll lose before you click.
Open the “clear data” window in one go
Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows, or ⌘ Cmd + Shift + Delete on a Mac. Or click the ⋮ menu at the top right and choose Delete browsing data. Pick a Time range, tick Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data, then click Delete data.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows, or ⌘ Cmd + Shift + Delete on a Mac. Or go to ⋯ Settings and more › Settings › Privacy, search, and services › Clear browsing data and click Choose what to clear. Pick a Time range, tick Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then click Clear now.
Safari bundles things together. Choose History › Clear History… in the menu bar, pick how far back, and click Clear History. That removes your history plus the cookies and cached website data for that period. To clear only cookies, or only the cache, use steps 2 and 3 below.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows, or ⌘ Cmd + Shift + Delete on a Mac. Or click the ☰ menu › History › Clear Recent History…. Set When to Everything, tick Cookies and site data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Then close and reopen the browser and try the website again. Not sure what to tick? Use the checker below first.
101Cache, cookies and history: what's the difference?
🗂️ Cache
Copies of pictures, code and pages your browser saved so sites load faster next time. Nothing personal. Clearing it is safe; pages just load a little slower once. An old or damaged copy is a common cause of a page looking broken.
🍪 Cookies and site data
Small files websites save to remember you: that you're signed in, what's in your cart, your language. Clearing them signs you out of most websites and resets their settings.
🕘 History
The list of pages you've visited and files you've downloaded. Clearing it removes the list and address-bar suggestions. Your bookmarks and downloaded files stay.
🔑 Passwords and autofill
Saved passwords, addresses and cards. These are separate boxes in the clear-data window. Leave them unticked unless you're sure; clearing passwords can't be undone.
TOOLWhat will I lose? Check before you clear
Tap what you're trying to do, or tick boxes yourself. Box names match your browser.
You'll lose
You'll keep
FIXFix a misbehaving website, gentlest first
Start at step 1. Each step clears a bit more, so you lose as little as possible.
A hard refresh reloads the page and skips the saved copy, without clearing anything else.
Windows: Ctrl + F5 or Ctrl + Shift + R. Mac: ⌘ Cmd + Shift + R.
Windows: Ctrl + F5 or Ctrl + Shift + R. Mac: ⌘ Cmd + Shift + R.
Press ⌘ Cmd + Option + R, or hold Shift and click the reload button in the address bar.
Windows: Ctrl + F5 or Ctrl + Shift + R. Mac: ⌘ Cmd + Shift + R.
This signs you out of that one site only, and leaves every other site alone. Great for a site stuck in a sign-in loop.
- Click the ⋮ menu › Settings › Privacy and security › Third-party cookies.
- Click See all site data and permissions.
- Search for the site's name at the top right, click Delete next to it, and confirm.
- Click ⋯ › Settings › Cookies and site permissions.
- Click Manage and delete cookies and site data › See all cookies and site data.
- Search for the site's name, then click the trash can next to it.
- Choose Safari › Settings and click Privacy.
- Click Manage Website Data…
- Search for the site, select it, click Remove, then Done.
- While on the site, click the padlock or shield icon to the left of the address bar.
- Click Clear cookies and site data… and confirm.
- Or go to Settings › Privacy & Security › Cookies and Site Data › Manage Data…, search for the site, and click Remove Selected › Save Changes.
Clearing only the cache is safe: you stay signed in everywhere and lose nothing personal.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Mac: ⌘ + Shift + Delete), or ⋮ › Delete browsing data.
- Set Time range to All time.
- Tick only Cached images and files and untick everything else.
- Click Delete data.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Mac: ⌘ + Shift + Delete).
- Set Time range to All time.
- Tick only Cached images and files.
- Click Clear now.
- Choose Safari › Settings › Advanced and turn on Show features for web developers (older versions say “Show Develop menu in menu bar”).
- A Develop menu appears in the menu bar. Choose Develop › Empty Caches.
- Close and reopen Safari.
- Click ☰ › Settings › Privacy & Security.
- Under Cookies and Site Data (called Browsing data in some versions), click Clear Data…
- Set When to Everything, tick only Temporary cached files and pages, and click Clear.
The classic “clear cache and cookies.” You'll be signed out of most websites, so make sure you know your passwords (or have them saved in a password manager) first.
Open Delete browsing data as above, set All time, tick Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, and click Delete data.
Open Clear browsing data as above, set All time, tick Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, and click Clear now.
Go to Safari › Settings › Privacy › Manage Website Data… and click Remove All. This removes cookies and website data for every site but keeps your history. Or use History › Clear History… to remove history, cookies and cache together.
In Clear Data… (or Clear Recent History…), set When to Everything, tick Cookies and site data and Temporary cached files and pages, and click Clear.
A private window starts with no cookies, no cache and (usually) no extensions. If the site works there, the problem is your saved data or an extension such as an ad blocker.
Open an Incognito window with Ctrl + Shift + N (Mac: ⌘ + Shift + N). To turn off extensions, go to ⋮ › Extensions › Manage Extensions and switch them off one at a time.
Open an InPrivate window with Ctrl + Shift + N (Mac: ⌘ + Shift + N). To turn off extensions, go to ⋯ › Extensions › Manage extensions.
Choose File › New Private Window (⌘ + Shift + N). To turn off extensions, go to Safari › Settings › Extensions and untick them.
Open a private window with Ctrl + Shift + P (Mac: ⌘ + Shift + P). To turn off extensions, go to ☰ › Add-ons and themes › Extensions.
Click ⋮ › Help › About Google Chrome. Chrome checks for updates; click Relaunch if one is waiting.
Click ⋯ › Help and feedback › About Microsoft Edge. Edge updates itself; click Restart when asked.
Safari updates with macOS. Open System Settings › General › Software Update and install anything waiting.
Click ☰ › Help › About Firefox. Firefox downloads any update; click Restart to update Firefox.
If a site still fails in a different browser too, the problem is probably the website itself, or your internet connection.
- Try the site on your phone using mobile data. If it fails there too, the site is likely down.
- Check your connection with our no internet guide.
- Contact the website's support and tell them which browser you use.
FAQCommon questions
Will clearing my cache delete my passwords or bookmarks?
No. The cache only holds copies of website files. Bookmarks are never touched, and passwords are only deleted if you tick the separate Passwords box.
Why was I signed out of everything?
Cookies are what keep you signed in. Clearing them signs you out. Next time, clear only the cache, or clear cookies for one site.
How often should I clear my cache?
You don't need to on a schedule. Browsers manage the cache themselves. Clear it when a site misbehaves, or when you're finished on a shared or public computer.
Does clearing cookies stop tracking?
It removes the trackers saved so far, but new ones come back as you browse. Your browser's privacy settings, or a private window, do more to limit tracking.
Does a private or Incognito window hide me completely?
No. It just doesn't save history, cookies or form data on your computer after you close it. Your internet provider, employer or school, and the websites you visit can still see your activity.
I cleared my history on my computer. Is it gone from my phone too?
It can be. If you're signed in with sync on (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) or use iCloud for Safari, clearing history can also clear it on your other devices. For your phone, see clear cache on iPhone and Android.