The fastest way to clear cached files in any browser on Windows is the keyboard shortcut Ctrl-Shift-Delete, which opens the "Clear browsing data" dialog in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox alike. Pick a time range, tick "Cached images and files," and confirm. This frees disk space and fixes pages that load a stale layout, but if you also tick cookies it will sign you out of your accounts.
TL;DR
- Ctrl-Shift-Delete opens the clear-data dialog in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
- "Cached images and files" is the safe option; it only removes regenerable copies of pages.
- Clearing cache typically frees a few hundred MB to a couple of GB per browser.
- Ticking "Cookies and other site data" logs you out and clears saved site preferences.
- Passwords, bookmarks, and history are separate checkboxes - leave them unticked to keep them.
How do I clear the cache in Chrome on Windows?
Press Ctrl-Shift-Delete, or go to the three-dot menu > Delete browsing data. In the dialog:
- Set Time range to "All time" for a full clear.
- Tick "Cached images and files."
- Leave "Cookies and other site data" unticked if you want to stay logged in.
- Click "Delete data."
Chrome's cache lives at %LocalAppData%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache if you want to confirm the size, but use the in-browser dialog rather than deleting files manually while Chrome is running.
How do I clear the cache in Microsoft Edge?
Edge shares Chromium's engine, so the flow is nearly identical. Press Ctrl-Shift-Delete, or open the three-dot menu > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > under "Clear browsing data" choose "Choose what to clear." Tick "Cached images and files," set the time range, and clear. Edge stores its cache under %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Cache.
How do I clear the cache in Firefox?
Firefox uses the same shortcut. Press Ctrl-Shift-Delete, or open the menu (three lines) > Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > "Clear Data." Firefox separates "Cached Web Content" from "Cookies and Site Data" with two distinct checkboxes, so you can clear cache while keeping logins. Untick the cookies box and clear.
What does clearing cache actually free, and what does it not?
The browser cache stores local copies of images, scripts, stylesheets, and fonts so pages reload faster. Clearing it reclaims that disk space - often a few hundred MB, sometimes a couple of GB - and forces a fresh download of each site, which fixes broken or outdated page rendering. It does not remove your saved passwords, bookmarks, autofill, or browsing history; those are governed by separate checkboxes in the same dialog. Crucially, cookies are not cache: they hold your session tokens, so clearing them is what logs you out of Gmail, your bank, and everything else.
What does Windows do natively, and where does it stop?
Windows Storage Sense (Settings > System > Storage) can clear some temporary files and even browser cache for Edge, and Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr) lists "Temporary Internet Files." These help, but they are inconsistent across browsers - they will not reliably reach Chrome or Firefox profiles, and they give you no control over time range or which data types to keep. For a clean, predictable result, use each browser's own dialog. If your goal is to hunt down what is actually filling the drive, see how to find the largest files on Windows 11.
What this cannot do, and what to leave alone
Clearing cache will not speed up a slow internet connection or remove tracking by ad networks - that needs cookie and tracking-protection settings, not a cache wipe. Do not delete the entire browser profile folder under %LocalAppData% to "go faster"; that nukes your bookmarks, passwords, and extensions. If you only mean to reclaim space, the cache checkbox is enough. Browser caches are not the same as the OS-level AppData folder, though browsers do store their profiles there.
FAQ
Does clearing the cache log me out of my accounts?
No - clearing only "Cached images and files" keeps you logged in. You get logged out only if you also tick "Cookies and other site data," because cookies hold your login sessions. Keep that box unticked to stay signed in.
How often should I clear my browser cache?
There is no fixed schedule. Clear it when a site renders incorrectly, when you are reclaiming disk space, or after updating credentials on a site. For everyday use the cache is helpful and rebuilds itself, so frequent clearing is unnecessary.
Will clearing cache delete my saved passwords?
No. Passwords are a separate checkbox in the clear-data dialog and are not removed when you clear cached files. As long as you only tick the cache option, your saved passwords, bookmarks, and autofill stay intact.
On your phone, Cleanor handles this kind of cleanup automatically - see Cleanor for iPhone.