How to Clear Your Browser's Cache and Cookies

If your web browser — Chrome, Edge, or Safari — has been acting strange lately, slow to load pages, showing old versions of a website, or asking you to log in again when you just did, there's a simple fix worth trying before you call anyone. It's called clearing your cache and cookies.

Those two words sound technical, but the idea is simple. Your browser quietly saves little bits of information from the websites you visit, so pages load faster the next time. Over months and years, that saved information can pile up, get outdated, or cause a website to behave oddly. Clearing it out is a bit like tidying a drawer: nothing important is lost, and things work more smoothly afterward.

This guide walks you through clearing your cache and cookies on the three most common browsers, on both Windows and Mac. It takes about a minute.

What "cache" and "cookies" actually mean

Cache (said like the word "cash") is a stash of files your browser saves from websites you've visited — things like pictures and page layouts — so those pages open faster the next time you visit. When a website updates its look but your browser keeps showing you the old saved version, clearing the cache fixes it.

Cookies are small text files that websites use to remember you — for example, that you're still signed in, or what's in your shopping cart. Clearing cookies signs you out of websites, which is normal and expected. You'll just need to sign back in with your usual username and password.

Neither one holds your documents, photos, or personal files. Clearing them only affects how websites load and whether you're signed in — nothing on your computer is deleted.

How to clear cache and cookies in Chrome (Windows or Mac)

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click the three dots in the top-right corner, then click Delete browsing data. (If you don't see that option, click History first, then Clear browsing data.)
3. At the top of the window that opens, choose a time range. All time clears the most and is the safest choice if you're not sure.
4. Make sure the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked.
5. Click Delete data (or Clear data).

How to clear cache and cookies in Microsoft Edge (Windows or Mac)

1. Open Edge.
2. Click the three dots in the top-right corner, then click Settings.
3. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services.
4. Under "Clear browsing data," click Choose what to clear.
5. Pick All time for the time range, make sure Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked, then click Clear now.

How to clear your history in Safari (Mac)

Safari only runs on a Mac, not on Windows. Safari groups cache and cookies together under "history," so clearing it is one simple step:

1. Open Safari.
2. Click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then click Clear History.
3. Choose all history from the drop-down menu so nothing old is left behind.
4. Click Clear History.

What happens afterward

You'll be signed out of websites you were logged into, so have your usual passwords handy to sign back in. The first time you visit a familiar website after clearing your cache, it may load a second or two slower than usual — that's normal, since your browser is saving fresh files again. After that first visit, things should feel back to normal, often faster than before.

What to do if you're stuck

If clearing your cache and cookies doesn't fix the problem — the browser is still slow, a strange toolbar won't go away, or pop-ups keep appearing no matter what you try — that can be a sign of something more serious, like unwanted software on your computer rather than just a build-up of saved files.

If you want quiet protection on your Windows or Mac computer — with a real Porchswing person to call — learn about PorchswingProtect. Or call us at (916) 521-0065 and we'll help you set it up.

Common questions

Will clearing my cache delete my saved passwords?

No. Saved passwords are stored separately from your cache and cookies, so clearing browsing data in the steps above won't remove them, as long as you only check the boxes for cookies and cached files.

How often should I clear my cache and cookies?

There's no set schedule. Many people only need to do it when something is acting up — a page looks outdated, or a site won't let you stay signed in correctly. Doing it every few months is a reasonable habit if you want to stay ahead of it.

I don't see the exact menu item you described. What should I do?

Browsers update their look from time to time, so a menu name can shift slightly. If you can't find the option described here, our in-home and remote computer help can walk you through it on your own screen.