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How to Clear Cache on Your Computer
Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team
CacheComputerData ManagementWindowsMacPerformanceOptimizationBrowsersSoftwareUser Guide
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The cache is a storage location on your computer that saves temporary files to help speed up processes in the future. Although this is helpful for speeding things up, over time, the cache can take up a lot of space on your computer and potentially slow down your system. Clearing the cache from time to time can help maintain your computer's performance and free up hard disk space. In this detailed guide, we will go through various ways to clear the cache on your computer, including different systems, including Windows and macOS, and explain the importance and impact of clearing your cache.
What is cash?
A cache is a type of storage that saves certain types of data. When you perform certain tasks on your computer, temporary files are stored in this location. The purpose of the cache is to reduce processing time or data retrieval time by storing frequently accessed files. This means that when you visit a website again, for example, it loads faster because some of the information it needs is already stored in the cache.
There are different types of cache on your computer:
- Web browser cache: Stores files such as HTML pages, images, and multimedia content.
- System cache: Stores system files and configuration.
- Application cache: Stores temporary data for individual applications to speed up loading times.
Why clear the cache?
With regular use, the cache can accumulate a large amount of data that may not be useful and can slow down your computer. Clearing the cache helps with the following:
- Free up space: Cache files can take up a lot of space on your computer, especially if you haven't cleared them in a long time.
- Improve performance: Removing cached files can speed up system performance by eliminating clutter.
- Fix performance issues: Outdated or corrupt cache files can cause performance issues in web pages or applications.
- Privacy Protection: Clearing the cache helps protect your privacy by removing stored data about the websites you visited or the applications you used.
How to clear the cache on different systems
Clearing the Cache on Windows
Clearing the Browser Cache in Windows
Let's start with clearing the browser cache, as this is usually necessary to ensure fast and problem-free web browsing.
Clear the Cache in Google Chrome
1. Open Chrome.
2. Click the three dots at the top right corner to open the menu, then select Settings.
3. Scroll down and click Privacy and Security.
4. Select Clear browsing data.
5. Select the time range. For a full cleaning, select All Time.
6. Check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
7. Click Clear data.
Clear the Cache in Mozilla Firefox
1. Open Firefox.
2. Click on the three lines (hamburger menu) on the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Privacy & Security panel.
4. Scroll down to find the Cookies and site data section.
5. Click Clear data….
6. Check the box for Cached Web Content and click Clear.
Clearing the System Cache in Windows
System caches are files that are stored to help the Windows operating system run smoothly and faster.
Using the Disk Cleanup Utility
1. Press Windows + S key and type disk cleanup.
2. Select the drive where Windows is installed (usually C:).
3. A dialog box will appear, showing the files that can be deleted. Check the box next to Temporary files.
4. Confirm the deletion by clicking first OK and then Delete Files.
Clearing the Application Cache in Windows
Different applications may store cache data in specific locations.
Clear temporary files manually
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type %temp% and press Enter.
3. This will open the Temp folder. You can select all the files by pressing Ctrl + A and press Delete.
Clearing the cache on macOS
Clearing the Browser Cache on macOS
Clear the Cache in Safari
1. Open Safari.
2. Click Safari in the menu, then choose Preferences.
3. Go to the Advanced tab and enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
4. Now, click on Develop from the menu bar and select Empty Caches.
Clear the cache in Google Chrome on macOS
The steps are the same as for Windows.
Clearing the System Cache on macOS
System cache files on a Mac also take up space and can be cleared.
Clear the Cache Using Finder
1. Open Finder.
2. From the top menu, select Go and then Go to Folder.
3. Type ~/Library/Caches and click Go.
4. Go through each folder manually and delete the cache files present in it.
5. If you are comfortable using the terminal, you can also use the following command:
sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/*Please note that terminal commands should be used with caution and are only recommended for advanced users.
Conclusion
Clearing cache data on your computer, whether it is browser, system, or application cache, is an important routine to maintain the efficiency of your computer. Regularly cleared cache not only frees up disk space but also ensures better performance and protects your privacy. While modern operating systems manage cache very well, manual clearing may still be necessary to troubleshoot problems or optimize performance. We recommend making cache clearing a part of your regular system maintenance practice.
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