Updated at: May 20, 2024
When you "clear your cache", you are telling your web browser to delete the temporary files it has stored in the process of showing you the websites you've visited. Clearing your cache gets rid of those temporary files and this results in a few things happening.
What happens:
When you clear your web browser's cache this is generally what happens:
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Your browser will need to re-download "fresh" versions of websites
As explained in our article: What Is A Cache? a cache is a collection of temporary files on your device, stored for the websites you visit. You might clear your cache because you are having problems with a website and want to try again with a "clean slate".
Clearing the cache will remove all the temporary copies of a website and it's files, and the next time you visit the site it will be freshly downloaded (and hopefully without problems).
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You recover a bit of disk space
Your cache is stored on your Computer or Phone in a temporary directory - these files take up a bit of space on your disk, so by clearing your cache you are deleting those temporary files which frees up a bit of space on your device.
However your browser cache normally doesn't take up too much space, so this may not make much of a difference to the amount of available space on your device, but it is one of the things that will happen. If you're running out of space on your computer or phone there are more effective ways to reclaim some storage space.
FAQs
What Happens When You Clear Cache? Clearing your cache will remove any saved data that is stored in your browser. This includes: Any login information, saved passwords or “remember me” settings across all websites.
What will I lose if I clear my cache? ›
Tip: Clearing the cache simply clears temporary files. It won't erase login credentials, downloaded files, or custom settings.
Is it a good idea to clear the cache? ›
The cache can also cause issues when viewing new versions of previously visited web pages. Deleting the cache and cookies data regularly helps to troubleshoot, increases the loading time of web pages, loads new versions of web pages and increases the performance of your computer.
What is removed when you clear your cache? ›
Your cache is stored on your Computer or Phone in a temporary directory - these files take up a bit of space on your disk, so by clearing your cache you are deleting those temporary files which frees up a bit of space on your device.
How often should I clear my cache? ›
How often do I need to clear my cache? Most people only need to clear their caches once every month or two. That's generally the point when your browser will build up a cache large enough to start slowing things down. If you frequent a large number of sites, you should err on the side of clearing your cache more often.
Will I lose my passwords if I clear my cache? ›
Cache refers to a temporary storage area on your device that stores recently visited web pages, so technically if you only clear the cached images and files, there are no passwords to worry about.
Does clearing your cache free up space? ›
Cache data can slow down your phone's overall browsing performance because it takes up storage space on your device. Therefore, it's a good idea to clear out your cache regularly.
Does clearing cache clear history? ›
Clearing your cache won't delete emails, posts, or text messages. Emails, social media posts, text messages, are not primarily stored in your cache, cookies, or history, so clearing your browser data should have no effect on them.
Does clearing cache get rid of virus? ›
App cache and data can sometimes harbor malicious code. Clearing them can help remove the virus and improve your phone's performance.
How often should you clear browsing history? ›
That's why it's so vital to utilize a password manager and have different passwords for each of your accounts. If one is compromised, your other accounts won't necessarily be at risk. It's best to delete your search history at least twice a month to reduce the chances of getting hacked.
By clearing the cache, you can free up space on your device and help to ensure that it continues to run smoothly. It's important to note that clearing the cache will not delete any personal data, such as photos or contacts. It will only remove temporary files that are no longer needed.
Does clearing the cache delete favorites? ›
Clearing out a web browser's cache does not damage any information stored in a browser, such as bookmarks or your homepage.
Does clearing the cache clear cookies? ›
No, deleting cookies will not delete the cache. They are two different things, unrelated in function and stored separately.
Is there a downside to clearing the cache? ›
Here's the short answer: in general, I recommend not clearing your cache unless you have a specific reason to. The files in the cache allow the websites you visit most often to load faster, which is a good thing.
Will I lose progress if I clear cache? ›
After clearing the cache, data will need to be redownloaded from the server. Please note that your progress in the game will not be deleted. Clearing the cache can help if you notice that your game has started to experience performance issues on your device.
What happens when you don't clear the cache? ›
However, cache and cookies can also cause some problems, such as slowing down your browser, taking up storage space, and compromising your privacy. That's why it's important to clear your browser cache and cookies regularly.
Will I lose my emails if I clear the cache? ›
Emails, social media posts, text messages, are not primarily stored in your cache, cookies, or history, so clearing your browser data should have no effect on them.
Will I lose game progress if I clear the cache? ›
Game consoles occasionally clear their cache automatically, but sometimes they need assistance. Your games and accounts will be fine unless you clear the game data, in which case you'll lose your in-game progress. Game data includes the game cache but also other files you may need to back up before doing a cleanup.
What happens if I clear cache all time? ›
After you clear cache and cookies: Some settings on sites get deleted. For example, if you were signed in, you'll need to sign in again. If you turn sync on in Chrome, you'll stay signed into the Google Account you're syncing to in order to delete your data across all your devices.
Will clearing cache delete photos? ›
By clearing the cache, you can free up space on your device and help to ensure that it continues to run smoothly. It's important to note that clearing the cache will not delete any personal data, such as photos or contacts. It will only remove temporary files that are no longer needed.
