To clear Safari cache on iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data, then confirm. That removes cached files, cookies, and browsing history together. If you want to clear cached site data without wiping your history, use Safari > Advanced > Website Data and remove sites individually instead.
TL;DR
- Quick clear: Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
- It clears cache and cookies and history together, and signs you out of sites.
- To keep history, clear per-site under Safari > Advanced > Website Data.
- Safari's "Website Data" often shows up inside System Data in your storage breakdown.
- It is safe — bookmarks, Reading List, and saved passwords are not affected.
What clearing Safari actually removes
Clear History and Website Data wipes three things at once: the cache (cached page images and files), cookies and site data (which keeps you signed in and remembers preferences), and your browsing history. Because it bundles them, you will be signed out of websites and lose history. Your bookmarks, Reading List, and saved passwords are not touched — those live elsewhere.
How to clear it (the quick way)
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps > Safari (older iOS: Settings > Safari).
- Scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data.
- Choose the time range if prompted, then confirm.
How to clear cache without losing history
If you only want to drop cached site data and keep your history and most logins:
- Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced > Website Data.
- Review sites by size.
- Swipe to delete heavy individual sites, or tap Remove All Website Data.
This is the surgical option — useful when one site is misbehaving or hogging space and you do not want to reset everything.
Why does Safari data count as "System Data"?
In Settings > General > iPhone Storage, Safari's cached website data often lands in the grey System Data bucket rather than under Safari's own line. That is why clearing Safari is one of the most effective ways to shrink a bloated System Data figure. (See how to clear "Other"/System Data on iPhone.)
What iOS does natively, and where it stops
iOS gives you both the bulk clear and the per-site option — that is genuinely all most people need for Safari. It will not, however, clear the other app caches and downloads that usually dwarf Safari. If Safari was not the real problem, the weight is in videos, photos, and streaming downloads.
What this cannot do
Clearing Safari will not recover space held by other apps, and it cannot selectively keep some cookies while clearing others beyond the per-site list. If you rely on staying signed in everywhere, use the per-site Website Data option rather than the full clear.
FAQ
How do I clear Safari cache on iPhone?
Go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data and confirm. This clears cache, cookies, and history together.
How do I clear Safari cache without deleting history?
Use Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced > Website Data and remove sites individually. This drops cached data while keeping your history.
Will clearing Safari delete my bookmarks or passwords?
No. Bookmarks, Reading List, and saved passwords are not affected. You will be signed out of sites because cookies are cleared.
Why is Safari data showing as System Data?
iOS often counts Safari's cached website data under the System Data category, which is why clearing Safari frequently shrinks a large System Data figure.
Next: how to clear "Other" storage on iPhone (iOS 18) and how to clear app cache on iPhone without deleting apps. To clear the bigger space drains, get Cleanor for iPhone or start with the free up iPhone space guide.