How to Clear The Browser Cache on Your Computer

Your browser history is your computer’s big book of memories. It collects every page you’ve visited online, along with the date and time you visited them.

While many people don’t think of their browser history at all, learning how to clear the browser cache on your computer is a smart move.

Not only will it stop other people from figuring out where you’ve been online (useful if you’re shopping for a top-secret birthday gift, for example), but it can also speed up your PC and make browsing the web safer.

Not only will clearing your browser cache stop other people from figuring out where you’ve been online (useful if you’re shopping for a top-secret birthday gift, for example), but it can also speed up your PC and make browsing the web safer.

Here’s your complete guide to how, when, and why to delete your browser cache, no matter which browser you use.

How Frequently Should you Delete Your Cache?

The answer to this question depends on your goals. If you want to enjoy more digital privacy, you may choose to delete your browser cache after every browsing session.

If you’re simply looking to clear out your computer’s memory, though, and speed up your browsing capabilities, clearing the cache once a month or every few weeks will be sufficient.

How to Clear the Browser Cache on Your Computer: 3 Popular Browsers

Clearing the browser cache on your computer can be confusing – especially if you’ve never done it before. Here’s a simple step-by-step breakdown for three popular browsers.

Clearing the Cache on Google Chrome

To remove your browsing history on Google Chrome, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings. You can find Settings in the three-dot menu in the upper right-hand corner of your Chrome browser. Select “Show advanced settings” and then “Clear browsing data.”
2. Select Your Time Frame. Choose if you want to clear browsing data from the day, the last few weeks, or from “the beginning of time.”

Clearing the Cache on Safari

If you use Safari, follow these steps to clear the browser cache:

1. Find the Main Menu. From here, you’ll simply have to click “clear history.”
2. Select Your Time Range. Like Chrome users, you’ll need to choose whether you want to clear all your history, or just the material from the last hour, the last day, or the last two days. Be aware that clearing your browser cache will also remove all your cookies.

Clearing the Cache in Firefox

Firefox is a bit different from Chrome and Safari in that it uses a sidebar to house the main menu. Locate the hamburger menu at the upper right-hand corner of your screen and then follow these steps:

1. Go to “History.” Select “show history” to get a complete breakdown of the sites you’ve visited. From here, you can either remove individual sites or empty the entire menu.
2. Delete the Cache. Navigate to “Clear recent history.” You can also update your data caching preferences by going to “Options” and requesting that Firefox never remembers the sites you visit, or setting custom parameters to keep your browsing more secure.

While clearing out your browser cache is a simpler task than say, repairing your hard drive or cleaning your computer’s body, it’s still an essential maintenance tactic.

Think of your browser cache like an extensive memory that collects all of your comings and goings on the web. Over time, it’s easy to see how that massive database of information can slow your system down.

In a worst-case scenario, it could even allow someone to use your browser activity against you.

With this in mind, clearing your browser data regularly is a smart option. Simple, fast, and easy to do, emptying your browser’s cache is one easy way to maintain your system and keep it running beautifully, both now and in the future.