Updated at: May 20, 2024
Generally speaking, yes it is safe to clear your browser cache...
When you clear your browser cache, you are simply telling your web browser to delete the temporary files that it has automatically downloaded in order to show you a website. Your web browser will naturally delete these files anyway after a certain amount of time (usually a few weeks), but by manually clearing the cache you are simply causing this to happen sooner than normal.
But make sure you select the correct options
So while it is generally safe to delete your browser cache, be warned that most web browsers group the controls for deleting your Cache, Cookies, and Browser History all together, so while you might intend to only clear some browser data but end up clearing all of it by mistake. It's important to read the computer settings closely and choose the right options.
For example, Chrome gives you lots of control over what gets selected when you choose to Delete browser data, whereas Safari doesn't give you much control and it's a bit more "all or nothing".
But even if you deleted more Browsing data than you intended to, for any normal sort of website the probable worst that would happen is you would be logged out of some websites, you would lose your browsing history, and websites might take a fraction longer to download than normal the first time you load them.
What won't be deleted when you clear your cache, cookies, or history
Clearing your cache won't delete files you have saved
A common concern is that clearing your cache might delete the images, songs, documents, and other files you have downloaded from website you have visited, but those files are different to your web browser cache.
So rest assured that simply clearing your cache won't affect the files you have saved.
Clearing your cache won't delete your bookmarks
Your Browser History and your Browser Bookmarks are two different things - the history is just a list of websites you've visited recently (unless you were in Private/Incognito mode), and your bookmarks are a collection of addresses for web pages that you have specifically stored in your browser.
The two are different from each other, and deleting your History, Cache, or Cookies won't delete your Bookmarks.
Clearing your cache won't delete emails, posts, or text messages
Emails, social media posts, text messages, are not primarily stored in your cache, cookies, or history, so clearing your browser data should have no effect on them.
Do you have any other questions about clearing your cache?
We're really happy to answer any questions you have about clearing your cache, cookies, and history - just send us a message with your question and we'll help however we can, including posting the answer here to help others too!
FAQs
Important: If you delete cookies, you might get signed out of sites that remember you, and your saved preferences could be deleted. This applies any time a cookie is deleted.
Is it a good idea to clear all cookies? ›
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.
What happens if you don't clear cookies? ›
This information is called cache and cookies, and it can help your browser load pages faster and remember your preferences. However, cache and cookies can also cause some problems, such as slowing down your browser, taking up storage space, and compromising your privacy.
Will clearing cookies delete passwords? ›
Will clearing cookies delete passwords? Clearing cookies will wipe saved passwords from autofill settings stored on your web browser. But it won't delete passwords saved in a third-party password manager.
Does clearing cookies log you out of everything? ›
However, keep in mind that clearing cookies may log you out of websites and remove personalized settings.
What gets deleted when you clear cookies? ›
After you clear cache and cookies: Some settings on sites get deleted. For example, if you were signed in, you'll need to sign in again. If you turn sync on in Chrome, you'll stay signed into the Google Account you're syncing to in order to delete your data across all your devices.
What would happen if I deleted all my cookies? ›
Important: If you delete cookies, you might get signed out of sites that remember you, and your saved preferences could be deleted. This applies any time a cookie is deleted. Settings. Delete browsing data.
How often should you clear all cookies? ›
How often this happens can change depending on what you do online and how often you visit the same websites. However, for a typical internet user, our suggestion is to empty your cache approximately once or twice every month.
Is it better to delete or clear history? ›
If you want to keep your device more private and keep your browser running smoothly, quickly clearing your device's browser history can help. There's no fixed or recommended time for deleting your browsing history, cache, and cookies. It's all relative to your system's storage space and personal preferences.
How often should I clear my browsing history? ›
It's best to delete your search history at least twice a month to reduce the chances of getting hacked.
Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites and might erase preferences saved on those sites, like location settings or personalized themes. It's a small price for reclaiming a bit of privacy. Clearing cookies means losing certain conveniences: Saved logins: You'll need to log back into websites again.
What do I lose if I clear my cache? ›
By clearing the cache and cookies you are telling your computer to forget all previous activity, settings, and information.
Can cookies steal passwords? ›
Cookies can't steal passwords; nonetheless, they can be hijacked. In attacks such as session hijacking, hackers use cookies to get access to sensitive data, including passwords.
Is it better to clear cache or clear cookies? ›
Clear cache if you want to see a fresh version of the website, solve website loading issues, or free up space; Clear cookies if you want to remove search history on websites, e.g., Facebook, protect your data on a shared device, and prevent tracking.
Is there a downside to clearing the cache? ›
But even if you deleted more Browsing data than you intended to, for any normal sort of website the probable worst that would happen is you would be logged out of some websites, you would lose your browsing history, and websites might take a fraction longer to download than normal the first time you load them.
Is it better to reject all cookies? ›
It's a good idea to decline third-party cookies. If you don't decline, the website could sell your browsing data to third parties. Sharing your personal information with third parties without giving you any control over it could also leave you vulnerable. For one thing, you don't get to choose the third parties.
Is it good to block all cookies? ›
Privacy: Many sites use cookies to gather your personal data and later use them or sell them to the highest bidder to run marketing campaigns. Clearing cookies and turning them off will safeguard your privacy.
