How to Clear Your Browser Cache

Your browser stores copies of web pages, images and scripts to make sites load faster. Sometimes those saved copies get out of date, which can cause pages to look broken, show old information, or fail to log you in. Clearing the cache forces the browser to download a fresh copy.

Try this first: a hard refresh

A hard refresh reloads just the page you're on, without wiping anything else. It fixes most problems and takes two seconds.

If that doesn't help, clear the cache properly using the steps below.

Before you start: only tick the box for cached images and files. Ticking cookies or passwords will sign you out of websites and may delete saved logins.

Google Chrome (Windows, Mac, Linux)

1. Click the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner.
2. Go to Delete browsing data (older versions: More tools → Clear browsing data).
3. Set Time range to All time.
4. Tick Cached images and files.
5. Click Delete data.

Shortcut: press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac) to jump straight to step 3.

Microsoft Edge

1. Click the three dots (…) in the top-right corner.
2. Go to Settings → Privacy, search, and services.
3. Under Delete browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
4. Set Time range to All time.
5. Tick Cached images and files.
6. Click Clear now.

Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + Delete.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Click the menu button (☰) in the top-right corner.
2. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security.
3. Scroll to Cookies and Site Data and click Clear Data.
4. Untick Cookies and Site Data, leave Temporary cached files and pages ticked.
5. Click Clear.

Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac).

Safari (Mac)

Safari hides its cache controls behind the developer menu.

Quickest method:

1. Open Safari → Settings → Advanced.
2. Tick Show features for web developers (older versions: Show Develop menu in menu bar).
3. Close settings, then choose Develop → Empty Caches from the menu bar.

Shortcut: once the Develop menu is enabled, press Cmd + Option + E.

Alternative (also clears cookies and history): Safari → Clear History, choose all history, then Clear History.

Safari (iPhone / iPad)

iOS doesn't let you clear the cache on its own — it clears history and cookies at the same time, so you will be signed out of websites.

1. Open Settings (the iOS app, not Safari).
2. Scroll down and tap Apps → Safari.
3. Tap Clear History and Website Data.
4. Confirm.

To clear data for one site only: Settings → Apps → Safari → Advanced → Website Data, then swipe left on the site.

Chrome (Android)

1. Open Chrome and tap the three dots (⋮).
2. Tap Delete browsing data.
3. Set the time range to All time.
4. Tick Cached images and files.
5. Tap Delete data.

Chrome (iPhone / iPad)

1. Open Chrome and tap the three dots (…).
2. Tap Delete Browsing Data.
3. Choose All Time and tick Cached Images and Files.
4. Tap Delete Browsing Data and confirm.

Still not working?

If the page is still wrong after clearing the cache:

• Try a private / incognito window (Ctrl + Shift + N in Chrome and Edge, Ctrl + Shift + P in Firefox). Private windows ignore the cache — if the page works there, something is still cached locally.
• Check for a browser update. An out-of-date browser can fail on newer sites.
• Disable extensions temporarily. Ad blockers and privacy extensions can break page elements in ways that look like caching issues.
• Try a different browser or device. If the problem appears everywhere, it's likely the website itself rather than your machine.