Tech Tip # 11 – Clearing Cache on Various Devices

If you’ve ever experienced a sluggish web browser on either your computer or your phone, you know how frustrating it can be.

And you may have been advised to clear your ‘cache’ to fix the problem.

But what does clearing your ‘cache’ actually mean?

Cache files are temporary data that your devices use to quickly load the content of a webpage when you open an app or browser. Clearing the cache is a maintenance task that helps optimize performance, resolve issues, and maintain privacy and security on your device.

How to clear cache on different devices:

Laptop/Desktop (Windows):

  • Open your web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the clearing browsing data window.Select the time range you want to clear (e.g., last hour, last 24 hours, all time).
  • Check the box next to “Cache” or “Temporary files” (and any other data you want to clear).
  • Click “Clear data” or “Delete”.
Microsoft Edge
Firefox

Chrome

Android (app cache)

  • Open settings, (gear Icon) then choose the app.
  • Scroll down either to Chrome, another browser or any other app.
  • Tap on “Storage” or “Storage & Cache”.
  • Tap on “Clear Cache”.

Android (browser cache)

  • Open Chrome on your phone.
  • Tap the three-dot menu at the top right.
  • From the drop-down menu that appears, tap “History”, then choose “Clear Browsing Data.”
  • You can clear all data or choose the time range under the “Time Range” menu.
  • Check the “Cached Images and Files” box.
  • Tap “Clear Data.”

iPhone/iPad (iOS):

  • Go to Settings > Safari.
  • Tap “Clear History and Website Data”.
  • Tap “Clear History and Data” to confirm.

Remember, clearing cache may log you out of some websites or apps and may temporarily slow down your device while it rebuilds cache. Use caution and only clear cache when necessary to improve performance.