The browser cache ensures that websites and their content load faster and can be displayed in the browser. You benefit from a fast display, especially for websites that you visit frequently. However, an ‘overfilled’ cache can even cause websites to load more slowly. Your entire computer can also become slower. You should therefore clear your browser cache regularly. Discover how the cache really works and how to clear it for each relevant browser. Optimise your surfing experience with Avira Free Security and surf faster and more securely than ever before.
What is the browser cache?
The word ‘cache’ has its origins in French. There it stands for the hiding place. This fits quite well, as the browser cache is a cache that does its work well hidden in the background.
Each time a page is called up on the Internet, numerous elements are downloaded. These fixed components of a website ensure that it is displayed in the browser without any problems. The elements primarily include images, videos and HTML code. Each time a page is called up, this data is temporarily stored in a memory that is invisible to the user. This is known as the browser cache.
The advantage: the next time you access the same page, most of the elements do not have to be downloaded again. The browser recognises the already known pages and automatically loads the elements from the cache. This means that websites load much faster.
Why should you clear the browser cache?
The browser’s cache is particularly useful for pages that you visit frequently. However, some websites are only visited once and then never again. The problem: the browser saves all elements in the cache, even if you only visit the page once.
The result: A considerable amount of data accumulates on your hard drive, even if you no longer need a large part of it. This leads to the browser becoming slower and slower over time, as it has to manage and process countless amounts of data in the background. Sometimes the browser even displays an outdated version of a website, even though it now has new content. You should therefore clear your browser cache at regular intervals. How often you do this depends on your usage behaviour. Empty the cache at least monthly, at the latest quarterly.
The advantages at a glance:
- Free up storage space: A large amount of (unnecessary) data is stored on the hard drive and takes up valuable space.
- Speed up the browser: A full cache slows down the browser, as it manages the cached data in the background and requires corresponding resources to do so.
- Load up-to-date content: The copies of websites in the cache may be out of date. This means that the latest version of a page may not be displayed.
- Protect privacy: The cache contains all the information about the websites visited. This has a negative impact on data protection, especially on shared devices.
Instructions: How to clear the cache in your browser
There are a variety of internet browsers on the market. They all have one thing in common: the ability to clear the browser cache with just a few clicks. The individual steps are almost always identical and differ only minimally. The following instructions will show you how to clear the cache quickly and easily in the most popular browsers.
Note: The following instructions should also apply in this form for the respective browser on your smartphone. Please also take a look at our other articles to find out how to clear the cache on Android and how your Apple device can improve performance thanks to an iPhone clean-up.
Google Chrome
- Open the Chrome browser
- Click the Chrome menu (three vertical dots in the top right corner)
- Select ‘Settings’
- Go to ‘Privacy and security’
- Click on ‘Clear browsing data’
- Choose the time range
- Check the box for ‘Cached images and files’. You can also select whether to delete ‘Browsing history’ and ‘Cookies and other site data’ if desired
- Click ‘Clear Data’
Mozilla Firefox
- Open the Firefox browser
- Open the Firefox menu (three horizontal lines in the top right corner)
- Select ‘Settings’
- Go to ‘Privacy & Security’
- Click on ‘Cookies and Site Data’
- Click ‘Clear Data’
- Decide whether to remove ‘Cookies and Site Data’ as well
- Click ‘Clear’
Microsoft Edge (ehemals Internet Explorer)
- Open the Edge browser
- Click the Edge menu (three horizontal dots in the top right corner)
- Select ‘Settings’
- Go to ‘Privacy, Search, and Services’
- Click on ‘Choose what to clear’ under ‘Clear browsing data’
- Select the time range
- Decide whether to remove ‘Browsing history’, ‘Download history’, ‘Cookies and other site data’, and ‘Cached images and files’
- Click ‘Clear now’
Safari (Standard)
- Open the Safari browser
- Click on ‘Safari’ in the top menu
- Select ‘Clear History’
- Choose the time range
- Click ‘Clear History’
Safari (Developer)
- Open the Safari browser
- Click on ‘Safari’ in the top menu
- Select ‘Preferences’
- Go to the ‘Advanced’ tab
- Check the box for ‘Show Develop menu in menu bar’
- In the menu bar, click on ‘Develop’
- From the dropdown menu, select ‘Empty Caches’
Opera
- Open the Opera browser.
- Click the Opera menu (the ‘O’ icon in the top left corner)
- Select ‘Settings’
- Go to ‘Advanced’
- Click on ‘Privacy & Security’
- Select ‘Clear browsing data’
- Choose the time range
- Check the box for ‘Cached images and files’
- Decide whether to remove ‘Browsing history’, ‘Cookies and other site data’, and other site data
- Click ‘Clear data’
By the way: In this article you can find out how to clear the cache on your Mac.
Practical plugins to clear the browser cache
It is even easier to have the browser cache emptied completely automatically. The advantage: you no longer have to carry out the steps manually and don’t forget to empty the cache. Appropriate tools and plug-ins do all the work for you.
With the Cleaner – Delete Cookies and Cache extension, you can specify which data should be deleted when the browser is opened. Whether cookies, the history or the entire cache: you can choose which data is automatically removed. You can also delete all data yourself at any time with just one click.
Another plugin is Clear Cache. This tool is available for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. You can easily install it via the official store. This little helper also allows you to clear the entire cache with just a single click.
Microsoft Edge users can use the History and Web Cache extension to delete temporary internet files. In addition to convenient cache emptying with just one click, you can set up a customised schedule for when the cache should be emptied automatically and without your intervention.
How to surf even faster and more securely with Avira Free Security
It’s not just a full browser cache that slows down your system and browser. Malware also has a negative effect on your computer’s performance sooner or later. There is also the risk of your personal data being jeopardised.
With Avira Free Security, you are informed of threats in real time and the malware is removed immediately. The tool also removes outdated programs and frees up space on your hard drive, which improves performance. This not only makes your surfing faster, but also safer.