September 23, 2023, 6:08 am | Read time: 5 minutes

The browser cache is a temporary storage where parts of websites are saved for later access. Essentially, this is quite clever because when loading or accessing a website, the cached data is used to reduce loading time. Simply put, the cache immediately recognizes if a file has been accessed and downloaded before. If so, it loads the selected file or website directly from the cache, sparing the smartphone or laptop from exerting too much effort. This sounds great in theory. But why should you regularly clear the browser cache?

Why It’s Important to Clear the Cache

Depending on how many websites are stored in the browser cache, overfilling can slow down your laptop or smartphone. The cache is not a temporary storage in the traditional sense, like a hard drive or RAM. Instead, browsers store website data directly on the device’s memory. Especially on smartphones with smaller storage, this can quickly fill up.

Sometimes a caching issue can occur where a browser loads cached data instead of new website information. In such cases, clearing the cache is the only solution. You’ll learn how to do this for each browser on laptops and smartphones below.

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Laptop or PC: Clearing Cache in …

Google Chrome

1. Open the Chrome browser and click on the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
2. Then go to “More Tools” and click “Clear browsing data…” from the drop-down menu.
3. Now you need to check the box for “Cached images and files.”
4. You can also delete cookies and history there if you wish.
5. Once all boxes are checked, click the “Clear data” button.

Microsoft Edge

1. Open the Edge browser and click on the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
2. Then go to “Settings” and select “Privacy, search, and services” from the list on the left.
3. Scroll down to “Clear browsing data” and click the “Choose what to clear” button.
4. Check the box for “Cached images and files” and click “Clear now.”

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the Firefox browser and go to the three-line menu in the top right corner.
2. Then select “Settings” and click “Privacy & Security” from the list on the left.
3. Scroll down to “Cookies and Site Data.”
4. Click the “Clear Data” button.
5. Select the box for “Cached Web Content/Cache.”
6. Finally, click “Clear.”

Opera

1. First, open the Opera browser.
2. Click the three-dot menu at the bottom left and select the icon (“Open in new tab”) next to “Settings” in the sidebar.
3. Scroll to “Privacy and Security” and click “Clear browsing data.”
4. Check the box for “Cached images and files” and click “Clear data.”

Safari

1. Open the Safari browser.
2. Click “Safari” at the top of the list and then “Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
3. Go to “Advanced” and check the box for “Show Develop menu in menu bar.”
4. Then go back to the menu bar and click “Develop.”
5. Select “Empty Caches” from the drop-down menu.

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Smartphone: Clearing Cache in …

Google Chrome

1. Open the Chrome app on your smartphone and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
2. Then go to “History.”
3. “Clear browsing data…” will appear at the top left.
4. Check the box for “Cached images and files” and tap “Clear data.”

Microsoft Edge

1. Open the Edge app and click the three-line menu at the bottom right.
2. Tap the “Settings” icon.
3. Then go to “Privacy and Security.”
4. Next, tap “Clear browsing data.”
5. Select the box for “Cached images and files” and tap “Clear data.”

Mozilla Firefox

1. First, open the Firefox app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu at the top right and select “Settings.”
3. Scroll to “Clear browsing data.”
4. Check the box for “Cached images and files.”
5. Finally, tap the “Clear browsing data” button.

Opera

1. Open the Opera app on your smartphone.
2. Tap your profile (picture) at the bottom right.
3. In the opening menu, tap the settings icon at the top right.
4. Scroll down and tap “Privacy & Security.”
5. At the bottom, you’ll find “Clear data…”. Tap it.
6. Now tap “Advanced” to see more options.
7. At the bottom, you’ll find “Cached images and files.”
8. Check the box and finish by tapping “Clear data.”

Safari

1. Go to your iPhone’s settings.
2. Scroll until you find “Safari” and tap it.
3. Now tap the “Clear History and Website Data” button.
4. Finally, confirm by tapping “Clear History and Data.”

Shortcuts for a Quicker Path

If you don’t want to click through on your laptop or PC, there’s an easier way to clear the cache.

• Windows users: If you use Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or Edge, you can press the “CTRL + SHIFT + DELETE” shortcut, and a window will open. Here, you can check the appropriate box and clear the cache.
• Mac users: If you’re a Mac user and use Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or Edge, use the “CMD + SHIFT + DELETE” shortcut. A window will open, and you just need to check the box correctly. To clear the cache in Safari, first check the box for “Show Develop menu in menu bar” and then use the “CMD + OPTION + E” shortcut to clear the cache.