Browser cache
Also known as: web cache, clear browser cache, cached web data
The browser cache is a local copy of web page parts — images, scripts, stylesheets, and fonts — saved so pages reload faster on your next visit. Clearing it frees space and forces a fresh download, but never signs you out, since logins live in cookies instead.
- Local copies of page files for faster reloads
- Safe to clear — files re-download on next visit
- Clearing it does not sign you out
What the cache stores and why
When you open a website, the browser downloads its files and keeps a copy on disk. The next time you visit, it reuses those copies instead of re-fetching them, so the page paints faster and uses less data. Heavy media sites and web apps build the largest caches.
Cached files are disposable by design: the browser can always re-download them. The cost of clearing is a slightly slower first load afterward, while the cache rebuilds.
How to clear it
In Chrome, open Settings > Privacy and security > Delete browsing data (or ⋮ > Clear browsing data) and tick Cached images and files. In Safari on iOS, the cache is bundled into website data under Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data, or Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data to clear it per site.
Clearing the cache alone leaves your history, cookies, and saved logins intact, so you stay signed in. It is the safest browsing data to remove when you want space back.