How to clear your browser cache on a computer

Use your browser's Clear browsing data or Clear history option and select Cached images and files (or equivalent). On Windows and Linux the common shortcut is Ctrl+Shift+Delete; on Mac use Cmd+Shift+Delete. Confirm the action, restart the browser if a page still behaves oddly, and expect possible sign-outs from websites.

Why clear the browser cache and what changes to expect

The browser cache stores copies of images, scripts and other files to make pages open faster. Clearing it forces the browser to fetch fresh copies from the site, which often resolves display errors, outdated content and failed updates. Clearing cache does not usually delete account data stored by websites, but it can sign you out of some sites and remove locally cached site resources.

If you want to remove cookies as well but try to keep logins where possible, review this guide on Clear cookies without losing logins before you proceed.

Quick shortcuts and the role of a hard refresh

If you need a fast test before clearing everything, try a hard refresh. A hard refresh forces the browser to re-download page resources without clearing the full cache.

Shortcuts

Windows/Linux: press Ctrl+Shift+Delete to open the 'Clear browsing data' dialog in most browsers.
Mac: press Cmd+Shift+Delete to open the equivalent dialog.
Hard refresh: typically Ctrl+F5 or Ctrl+Shift+R on Windows, and Cmd+Shift+R on Mac; see Hard refresh vs. clearing cache for details.

Step-by-step: clear cache in major desktop browsers

Below are step-by-step instructions that work on most modern desktop and laptop installations. Each set of steps focuses on cached images and files so you avoid removing passwords unless you choose to.

Google Chrome (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
Choose More tools > Clear browsing data, or press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Cmd+Shift+Delete on Mac).
In the dialog, set Time range to the period you want. To remove everything, choose All time.
Check only Cached images and files (uncheck other boxes if you do not want to clear them).
Click Clear data and wait for the operation to finish. Restart Chrome if the problem persists.

Mozilla Firefox

Open Firefox, click the menu button (three horizontal lines), and choose Settings (or Options).
Select Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and click Clear Data.
In the dialog, check Cached Web Content. Leave Cookies and Site Data unchecked if you want to keep sign-ins.
Click Clear and restart Firefox if necessary.

Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and click the three-dot menu, then choose Settings.
Go to Privacy, search, and services and find Clear browsing data.
Click Choose what to clear, select Cached images and files, set the time range, and click Clear now.

Safari (macOS)

Open Safari and from the Safari menu choose Preferences.
Go to the Advanced tab and enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
From the Develop menu, choose Empty Caches. Alternatively, press Option+Cmd+E.
To remove additional site data, use Safari > Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data, then remove selected data.

When to clear cache versus other options

Clearing cache is one tool among several. Use this quick comparison to decide the least disruptive option for your issue.

Hard refresh - Try first when a single page shows outdated content or you recently updated a site.
Clear cache - Use when hard refresh fails or multiple pages are affected by stale resources.
Clear cookies - If a site shows login errors or account-related behavior; see Clear cookies without losing logins for guidance.
Mobile cache - Follow platform-specific steps for phones and tablets; see Mobile cache steps.

Checklist: what to do before and after clearing cache

Before: Save any open form data, because clearing may remove session storage on some sites.
Before: Note any sites where you want to preserve login state—consider exporting passwords or using a password manager.
Action: Use the browser-controlled dialog and select Cached images and files only if you want to avoid losing cookies or history.
After: Reload the affected page and, if needed, restart the browser or computer.
After: If you were signed out, sign in again and check whether the issue is resolved.

Common mistakes and troubleshooting

These mistakes are frequent and easy to fix.

Clearing everything by accident. Always check which boxes are selected in the Clear browsing data dialog to avoid removing passwords or history you needed.
Not restarting the browser. Some resource changes require a restart to take effect.
Assuming cache is the problem. If a site still misbehaves after clearing cache, try disabling extensions temporarily or test in a private/incognito window.

Worked example: site shows old layout after a theme update

Open the site in an incognito/private window to confirm it is not a session or extension issue.
Perform a hard refresh (Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R). If the new layout appears, the problem was cached files.
If not, clear cached images and files for All time in your browser, then reload the page.
If the old layout still displays, clear cookies for that site (see Clear cookies without losing logins), sign in again, and test.
As a last step, test in another browser or a different device; see Mobile cache steps if testing on mobile.

Closing: practical tips to minimize disruptions

Clear cache when you suspect stale resources, but take small steps: try a hard refresh first, clear only cached files when possible, and keep a checklist to avoid losing passwords or important data. If problems persist after these steps, testing in a private window or a different browser will narrow the cause before broader actions are necessary.