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Learn how to delete cookies and cached files on any web browser
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While your web browser's cache and cookies are meant to speed up your browsing experience, these files can sometimes cause problems. If websites aren't loading properly or you're having sign-in trouble, deleting these cached files can help fix these issues. Fortunately, it's easy to delete the cache and cookies Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox easily on any device—even on your Android, iPhone, or iPad. This wikiHow article will teach you how to clear cache and cookies in the most popular web browsers on your computer, phone, or tablet.

Things You Should Know

  • Chrome on a computer: Go to ⋮ > More Tools > Clear browsing data. Select "All time," check the "Cache" and "Cookies" boxes, and click "Clear data."
  • Chrome mobile app: Go to ⋮ > History > Clear Browsing Data. Select both "Cache" and "Cookies" and tap "Clear Browsing Data."
  • In Safari on a Mac, you'll need to enable the Develop menu to clear your cache.
Method 1
Method 1 of 9:

Google Chrome on a Computer

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  1. You'll see these three vertical dots in the top-right corner of your Chrome browser window. A menu will appear.[1]
  2. This expands another menu.[2]
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  3. It's on the menu. This opens a window with data-clearing options.[3]
    • You can also press Ctrl (or "CMD" on Mac) + Shift + Del to clear your browsing data.
  4. To clear your entire cache, select All Time. Otherwise, you can choose a different time period from the menu.[4]
  5. This instantly clears your Chrome browser cache.[5]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 9:

Google Chrome on Mobile

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  1. If you're using Chrome on your Android, tap the three vertical dots ⋮ at the top-right. On an iPhone or iPad, tap the three horizontal dots … at the bottom right.
  2. If you're using an iPhone or iPad, you may have to swipe across the icons to find this option.[6]
  3. It's in the lower-left corner of the screen on an iPhone or iPad and at the top of the screen on an Android.[7]
  4. It's at the bottom of the screen
  5. To clear your whole cache, select All Time. Otherwise, select your preferred time range from the menu.[9]
  6. This clears your browser cache for Chrome.[10]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 9:

Safari on a Mac

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  1. To do this, click the Safari menu and select Settings.
    • If you're using an older macOS version, you'll open Preferences instead.
  2. You'll see this along the top of the window next to Advanced and General.
  3. It's next to the "Cookies and website data" header.[11]
  4. Check the boxes next to the sites you'll be logged out of.
  5. Alternatively, you can individually select websites from the list instead of removing your cache and cookies from them all.
    • If prompted, click Remove Now and Done.[12]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 9:

Safari on iPhone/iPad

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  1. It's in the 5th group of settings.[14]
  2. You'll find this blue link near the middle of the page.[15]
  3. Doing so will clear all of your iPhone's Safari data, including the cached files and pages.[16]
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Method 5
Method 5 of 9:

Microsoft Edge on Windows

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  1. You'll see it at Edge's top-right corner.[17]
  2. It's on the menu.
  3. This is in the left panel.[18]
  4. This is a button in the right panel next to "Clear browsing data now."
  5. Select how much data to clear from the "Time range" menu at the top. To clear your entire cache, select All time.[19]
  6. This deletes your Edge browser cache and cookies.[20]
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Method 6
Method 6 of 9:

Firefox on a Computer

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  1. It's the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of the window.[21]
  2. It's toward the bottom of the menu.[22]
  3. You'll find this in the left panel.[23]
  4. It's under "Cookies and Site Data" in the right panel.
  5. You'll definitely want to check the "Cached Web Content" checkbox as well as the checkbox for cookies, but everything else is optional.[24]
  6. This clears your Firefox browser cache.[25]
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Method 7
Method 7 of 9:

Firefox for Android

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  1. 1
    Tap the three-dot menu in Firefox. It's at the top-right corner of your web browser.[26]
  2. 2
    Tap Settings on the menu.[27]
  3. 3
    Tap Delete browsing data.[28]
  4. 4
    Choose what to delete. Make sure you have both the boxes checked for "cache" and "cookies."
  5. 5
    Tap Delete browsing data. A confirmation message will appear.[29]
  6. 6
    Tap Delete to confirm. Your cache is now removed.[30]
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Method 8
Method 8 of 9:

Firefox for iPhone/iPad

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  1. 1
    Tap the menu in Firefox . It's the three horizontal lines at the bottom-right corner.[31]
    • In Firefox for iOS, you can only clear the cache by deleting all of your private browsing data. This means you'll also be deleting any saved cookies and your browsing history.
  2. 2
    Tap Settings.[32]
  3. 3
    Tap Data Management. It's under the "Privacy" header.[33]
  4. 4
    Tap Clear Private Data. It's at the bottom of the screen.[34]
  5. 5
    Tap OK when prompted. Doing so will clear the cached files from your Firefox browser.
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Method 9
Method 9 of 9:

Samsung Internet on Android

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  1. 1
    Tap the three-line menu in Samsung Internet. You'll see it at the bottom-right corner of your browser.[35]
  2. 2
    Tap Settings. It's the gear icon in the menu.[36]
  3. 3
    Tap Personal browsing data. This option is in the "Privacy" section.[37]
  4. 4
    Tap Delete browsing data. It's near the top of the page.
  5. 5
    Select the boxes for "Cached images and files" and "cookies." If you don't want to clear other data, such as your browsing history or cookies, remove the checkmarks from other options.
  6. 6
    Tap Delete data. It's at the bottom of the screen. Your Samsung Internet browser cache is now clear.[38]
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Community Q&A

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Add New Question
  • Question
    I did this and now I cannot access my Facebook account. What do I do?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Clearing cookies will sign you out of your accounts. You should just have to reenter your login information. If you've forgotten your password, there should be a prompt on the main page that says "Forgot password?" Just follow the prompts to retrieve or change it.
  • Question
    I have a tablet, so what do I do?
    Miloš Vlajković
    Miloš Vlajković
    Community Answer
    Just follow the instructions in the article. You'll know which instructions to follow, based on what browser you use on your tablet. It doesn't matter whether you use a tablet or a phone.
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  1. https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/32050?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid
  2. https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/manage-cookies-sfri11471/16.0/mac/12.0
  3. https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/manage-cookies-sfri11471/16.1/mac/13.0
  4. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265
  5. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265
  6. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265
  7. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265
  8. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/view-and-delete-browser-history-in-microsoft-edge-00cf7943-a9e1-975a-a33d-ac10ce454ca4
  9. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/view-and-delete-browser-history-in-microsoft-edge-00cf7943-a9e1-975a-a33d-ac10ce454ca4
  10. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/view-and-delete-browser-history-in-microsoft-edge-00cf7943-a9e1-975a-a33d-ac10ce454ca4
  11. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/view-and-delete-browser-history-in-microsoft-edge-00cf7943-a9e1-975a-a33d-ac10ce454ca4
  12. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-clear-firefox-cache
  13. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-clear-firefox-cache
  14. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-clear-firefox-cache
  15. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-clear-firefox-cache
  16. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-clear-firefox-cache
  17. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/clear-your-search-history-firefox-android
  18. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/clear-your-search-history-firefox-android
  19. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/clear-your-search-history-firefox-android
  20. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/clear-your-search-history-firefox-android
  21. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/clear-your-search-history-firefox-android
  22. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/clear-browsing-history-firefox-ios
  23. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/clear-browsing-history-firefox-ios
  24. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/clear-browsing-history-firefox-ios
  25. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/clear-browsing-history-firefox-ios
  26. https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/using-the-samsung-internet-app/
  27. https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/using-the-samsung-internet-app/
  28. https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00086162/
  29. https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00086162/

About This Article

Chiara Corsaro
Co-authored by:
Phone & Computer Repair Technician
This article was co-authored by Chiara Corsaro and by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Chiara Corsaro is the General Manager and Apple Certified Mac & iOS Technician for macVolks, Inc., an Apple Authorized Service Provider located in the San Francisco Bay Area. macVolks, Inc. was founded in 1990, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating, and is part of the Apple Consultants Network (ACN). This article has been viewed 902,510 times.
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Co-authors: 9
Updated: November 29, 2024
Views: 902,510
Categories: Internet Browsers
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    L. M.

    Jul 22, 2018

    "I wanted to clear cache on Google Chrome, and was able to do this following the guidance given here."
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