How to Clear Your Internet Cache

Easton Smith
Nov 03, 2023
Icon Time To Read3 min read

Clearing your internet cache, cookies, and search history helps keep your private information safe and your devices running optimally. If you don’t clear your browser cache, you can end up with slower loading times and malfunctioning websites.

On most devices, clearing your internet cache is very easy. Just follow these simple steps.

  • If you’re using a web browser on a Windows computer, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete. This should bring up your browser settings for "Clear browsing data." Select all of the options you want (cookies, site data, browser history, etc.) and then hit "Clear Data” or "Accept."
  • If you’re using a Mac computer, hit Command+Shift+Delete to open the settings for clearing cache and browsing data. Select the time range and kind of data you want to delete, and then hit "Ok."

If these keyboard shortcuts don’t work (or you’re using a cell phone, tablet, or other device), you may need to take other steps to clear cache and browser history. We’ll go over how to do this on all of the major web browsers below.

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How to clear your internet data on different browsers

To clear the internet cache on your computer, you’ll need to use your internet browser’s settings. Find the browser you use below and then follow the simple instructions to clear your data.

Clearing cache on Google Chrome

To clear your cache and browsing history in Chrome, click on the three dots (options) in the upper right hand corner of your browser window.

  1. Select History and then click on the option that says History again.
  2. Select the option that says Clear Browsing Data on the left hand side of the screen.
  3. Select the time range you want to clear (anywhere from 1 hour to all time).
  4. Select the data you want to clear (browsing, cache, site data, cookies).
  5. Hit the Clear Data button.

Clearing cache on Firefox

To delete your browsing history and cache in Firefox, just follow these steps.

  1. Select the Tools bar (the three bars in the top right of your browser window).
  2. Select the History option.
  3. Click on Clear Recent History.
  4. Select the time range of data that you want to delete.
  5. Choose what kind of data you want to delete (Cookies, Cache, Active Logins, Site settings, or Offline website data).
  6. Click OK to finish clearing the data.

Clearing cache on Safari

Those with Apple computers who use Safari can clear their browsing history and cache by following these steps.

  1. Click the Safari menu in your browser.
  2. Choose History.
  3. Select Clear History and then click on the pop-up menu.
  4. Choose the time range of the data that you want to clear.
  5. Select Clear History.

Clearing cache on Microsoft Edge

Clearing your cache and browsing history in Microsoft Edge takes just a few seconds if you follow these steps.

  1. Select Settings (the three dots in the upper right hand of the browser window).
  2. Choose the Privacy, search, and services option.
  3. Select Clear browsing data and then click on Clear browsing data now.
  4. Choose the time period of data that you want to clear.
  5. Choose the type of data that you want to clear from your computer.
  6. Click on Clear now.

Clearing cache on your mobile device

To clear your internet browsing history and your cache on a phone, you’ll need to go into the settings and find the browser app that you use. In the settings for the browser, there should be an option to "Clear History and Website Data” or "Clear Cache."

Select the option and follow the instructions to delete the data.

Why you need to clear your browser cookies and cache

Clearing your internet browsing data isn’t just about keeping your search history private from other people who use your computer (though it’s also about that).

Every time you visit a website, your computer stores information about that site locally. This can make your browsing experience faster and easier, especially when you return to sites you’ve used before. Without saved cookies and other data, you’d have to sign into all your accounts every time you visit the site, and your cart on shopping sites would always be empty.

But if you never delete your internet cache, it can start to bog down your internet browser. Sometimes, old data can make a website operate incorrectly on your browser (especially if that site has been updated recently). It can also expose you to certain privacy issues.

Most people will want to clear their browsing cache and cookies at least once a month to keep their computer running efficiently and securely.

The best way to stay secure and protect your privacy online is with a VPN

Clearing your cache and browser history is important, but if you really want to stay secure as you browse the web, you should consider purchasing a VPN. VPN services allow you to browse the web anonymously and have other features that protect you from hackers, viruses, and trackers.

Easton Smith
Written by
Easton has worked as a freelance writer and researcher for several years, reviewing health, lifestyle, and technology products. He has probably read more Terms of Use contracts than any human alive. When he’s not sitting in front of a computer, Easton spends his time camping, climbing, and volunteering with humanitarian aid organizations.

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