How to Clear Cache and Cookies in Windows PC (2024)

LAST UPDATED: DEC 15, 2023

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

In this guide, you will learn:

What Are Caches and Cookies?
How to Clear Cache and Cookies on Google Chrome
How to Clear Cache and Cookies on Mozilla Firefox
How to Clear Cache and Cookies on Microsoft Edge
Why is it Important to Clear Cookies?
What are the Risks in Saving Cookies?
When is the Best Time to Clear Cookies?

What Are Caches and Cookies?

Caches and cookies are like little notes your web browser stores when you visit websites so your browser can remember it the next time you visit those websites again.

Your browser tends to save these files. Even if they are relatively small, they will accumulate over time. It could cause performance and privacy issues on your browser.

Clear Cache and Cookies on Google Chrome

Open Google Chrome.
Click the menu button ⋮ > More Tools > Clear browsing data.
On the Clear browsing data window, select which time range you want to clear.
Put a check beside Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, and then click Clear data.

Clear Cache and Cookies on Mozilla Firefox

Open Mozilla Firefox.
Click the menu button ☰, then select Settings.
Select Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and then click Clear Data.
Check both Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content, and then click Clear.
See Also
How to Find Non-Genuine Windows Installations and Activate Them What is a cache? And why does clearing it fix things? | Zapier How to Clear Your Android Cache & Why You Should Do It How to use two-step verification with your Microsoft account
A confirmation box will appear. Click Clear Now to proceed.

Clear Cache and Cookies on Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge.
Click the menu button … > Settings.
Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
Tick Cookies and saved website and Cached data and files, and then click Clear.

Why Is It Important to Clear Cookies?

Clearing your browsing history and cookies regularly helps maintain the privacy and security of your personal information online. It also enhances your overall experience.

What Are the Risks in Saving Cookies?

Like anything that saves your personal information, it could enhance your browsing experience, but it could also lead to issues like:

Privacy Concerns. Malicious actors with their advanced hacking tools use data stored in cookies to get your login credentials or personal data. Getting this information can lead to identity theft or financial fraud.
Security Vulnerabilities. Cookies can be vulnerable to attacks that put the security of your data at risk.
Outdated Data. Cookies can become outdated or invalid, which can cause browser errors or unexpected behavior when trying to access the stored information.

When Is the Best Time to Clear Cookies?

Just like tidying up your physical space, regularly clearing your cookies helps keep your digital life organized and streamlined. Make it a monthly habit for a smoother online experience.

When you are shopping online. It is best to delete cookies first before making online purchases.
When you are about to log out. Always delete cookies after logging out from any website.
When you have trouble opening websites. If a website is experiencing issues, clearing its cookies can sometimes resolve the problem.
When you are switching to other devices. Before you use another device to surf the Internet, clear the cookies first.
When you want to speed up your PC. While clearing cookies will not significantly improve the overall speed of your computer, it can help improve the performance and privacy of your web browser.

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FAQs

How to Clear Cache and Cookies in Windows PC? ›

To clear the cache on a Microsoft computer, you have to go to the settings menu on your favorite browser – Edge, Internet Explorer, or Chrome. Then, search for the “Clear Browsing History” or “Clear Cache” option, click it – and you're done! Let me tell you a story. A few months ago, my computer was so slow.

Explore More ›

How do I clear cache and cookies in Windows? ›

In Chrome

On your computer, open Chrome.
At the top right, click More. Clear browsing data.
Select a time range, like Last hour or All time.
Select the types of information you want to remove.
Click Clear data.

Know More ›

How do I clear the cache on my Windows PC? ›

Get More Info Here ›

How do I clear all cookies and cache? ›

In the Chrome app

On your Android device, open Chrome .
Tap More. Clear browsing data. To delete browsing history (including open tabs), select a duration and then tap Clear data. The default duration is 15 minutes. To choose more specific types of data you want to delete, tap More options.

Know More ›

Should I clear cache and cookies on my computer? ›

The cache and cookies should be cleared regularly for several reasons. Depending on your settings, the cache can grow quite big, use a lot of disk space on your computer and cause slow web browsing. The cache can also cause issues when viewing new versions of previously visited web pages.

Read The Full Story ›

Where do I clear cookies in Windows? ›

Delete all cookies

Select Settings > Privacy, search, and services. Select Choose what to clear under Clear browsing data > Clear browsing data now. Under Time range, choose a time range from the list. Select Cookies and other site data, and then select Clear now.

How do I clear cache in Windows 11? ›

Clear cache using Disk Cleanup

Open the Start menu and type Disk cleanup. Select the first option in the search results.
To delete additional files, click Clean up system files. You'll need administrator permissions for this.
Select all the boxes of files you want to delete. ...
Click OK to delete the files you selected.

Feb 23, 2024

How do I clear my computer's cache memory? ›

However, If you need more disk space on your PC, you can clear the cache manually.

In the Search box on the taskbar, enter disk cleanup. Select the Disk Cleanup app from the list of results.
On the Disk Cleanup tab, select the Delivery Optimization Files check box.
Select OK.

Get More Info ›

How to clear cache RAM in Windows 10? ›

There are many ways by which you can clear the RAM cache with Windows 10.:

Restart Your Computer: Begin by restarting your laptop. This will help clear some cached data from memory.
Use Disk Cleanup: Search for "Disk Cleanup" and open the tool. ...
Disable Hibernation (Optional): Open Command Prompt as an administrator.

Sep 5, 2023

Learn More Now ›

How do you run to clear cache? ›

Press the Windows logo key + R key simultaneously on your keyboard. It will invoke the Run box. Now, type "cleanmgr.exe" and press Enter.

Read The Full Story ›

Is deleting cookies the same as clearing cache? ›

Clearing cache and cookies can be beneficial in certain situations. Cookies store information about your browsing habits and preferences, while the cache stores temporary data to improve website loading speed. Clearing them can help resolve issues like website errors or slow loading.