How to Clear Your Browser History, Cache, and Cookies

Your web browser — Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge — keeps a record of every website you visit. It also stores small temporary files called "cache" (pronounced "cash") and "cookies." These files help websites load faster. But they can also cause problems: a website might display incorrectly, get stuck on an old version of a page, or run slowly.

Clearing your history, cache, and cookies fixes many of these issues. It can also free up storage space on your device and protect your privacy if you share a computer with others.

## What Each of These Terms Means

## What Stays After You Clear

| What you clear | Gone? | Still there? | |---|---|---| | Browser history | Yes | — | | Cache files | Yes | — | | Cookies | Yes | — | | Bookmarks (saved websites) | No | Still there | | Passwords saved in browser | No (by default) | Still there | | Photos on your device | No | Still there | | Downloaded files | No | Still there | | Apps | No | Still there |

## How to Clear History on an iPhone (Safari)

1. 1Open the **Settings** app (the gray gear icon on your home screen — not the Safari app itself).
2. 2Scroll down and tap **Safari**.
3. 3Scroll down and tap **Clear History and Website Data**.
4. 4A pop-up will ask you to confirm. Tap **Clear History and Data**.

That is all. Safari's history, cache, and cookies are now cleared. Your bookmarks and AutoFill passwords are still saved.

## How to Clear History on Android (Chrome)

1. 1Open the **Chrome** browser app.
2. 2Tap the three dots in the top-right corner of the screen.
3. 3Tap **History**.
4. 4At the top of the History page, tap **Clear browsing data**.
5. 5Make sure the checkboxes next to "Browsing history," "Cached images and files," and "Cookies and site data" are all checked.
6. 6Tap **Clear data** (it may say "Delete" on some Android versions).

Passwords and bookmarks are on separate tabs. They will not be deleted unless you specifically go to those tabs and choose to delete them.

## How to Clear History on a Computer — Chrome

1. 1Open the Chrome browser.
2. 2Press **Ctrl + Shift + Delete** on Windows, or **Command + Shift + Delete** on a Mac. This opens the Clear Browsing Data window.
3. 3At the top, set the time range to "All time" if you want to clear everything, or "Last 7 days" or "Last 4 weeks" for a partial clear.
4. 4Check the boxes next to "Browsing history," "Cached images and files," and "Cookies and other site data."
5. 5Click **Clear data**.

## How to Clear History on a Computer — Microsoft Edge

1. 1Open the Edge browser.
2. 2Click the three dots (**...**) in the top-right corner.
3. 3Click **Settings**.
4. 4On the left side, click **Privacy, search, and services**.
5. 5Under "Clear browsing data," click **Choose what to clear**.
6. 6Check "Browsing history," "Cached images and files," and "Cookies and other site data."
7. 7Click **Clear now**.

## How to Clear History on a Computer — Firefox

1. 1Open Firefox.
2. 2Click the three lines in the top-right corner (the menu icon).
3. 3Click **History**.
4. 4Click **Clear Recent History**.
5. 5Set the time range to "Everything" if you want a full clear.
6. 6Check the boxes next to "Browsing & Download History," "Cookies," and "Cache."
7. 7Click **Clear Now**.

## When Should You Clear Your History?

• **A website looks broken or out of date.** Clearing the cache forces a fresh download of the page.
• **A website is loading slowly.** Old cached files can slow things down.
• **You share a computer.** Clearing history protects your privacy.
• **Your browser is running slowly in general.** A build-up of cached files over months or years can slow a browser down.
• **You are done using a shared or public computer.** Always clear history before you leave a library or hotel computer.

For most home users, clearing history once every one to three months is a reasonable habit. You do not need to do it every day.