To clear the cache in Microsoft Edge, you first need to open the browser on your computer. Look for the three dots in the upper right corner and click them to open the menu. Select “Settings” from the list and then click on “Privacy, search, and services” on the left side. Scroll down until you find the section called “Clear browsing data” and click the blue button labeled “Choose what to clear.” Check the box for “Cached images and files” and finally click “Clear now.” This removes old temporary files that might cause loading issues.
Step by step guide for how to clear browser cache in Edge
This section explains the exact actions you need to take to remove temporary files from your computer. Following these instructions will help you refresh your browser and fix common website errors.
Step 1: Open the Microsoft Edge browser application on your desktop or laptop computer.
You must have the program running on your screen to access the internal tools and menus. If you have multiple windows open, you only need to access the menu from one of them.
Step 2: Click on the icon with three horizontal dots located in the top right corner of the window.
This specific icon is often referred to as the meatball menu by tech experts. It opens up a long list of options for customizing and controlling your browsing experience.
Step 3: Select the option labeled Settings from the drop-down menu that appears.
You will usually find this option near the bottom of the list. It typically has a small gear icon next to the text to help you identify it quickly.
Step 4: Click on the Privacy, search, and services tab located in the sidebar on the left.
This area acts as the command center for your security and data preferences. It contains the specific tools we need to manage the files stored by the browser.
Step 5: Scroll down the page to the Clear browsing data section and click the button that says Choose what to clear.
You might have to scroll past the tracking prevention options to find this specific area. The button is blue and easy to spot against the background.
Step 6: Check the box next to Cached images and files and select your desired time range from the menu.
Make sure you uncheck other boxes like browsing history if you want to keep that information. The time range allows you to delete files from the last hour or from all time.
Step 7: Click the blue Clear now button to finalize the process and delete the data.
The browser will immediately scrub the selected files from your hard drive. The small window will close automatically once the cleanup is finished.
After you complete this action, the browser will have a clean slate regarding temporary images and scripts. You might notice that websites load slightly slower the very first time you visit them again. This happens because Edge has to download fresh copies of images instead of using the old ones it just deleted.
Tips for how to clear browser cache in edge
- Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the clearing menu instantly.
- Select “All time” in the time range dropdown to ensure every single old file is removed.
- Close any other open tabs or windows to prevent active webpages from crashing during the process.
- Check the box for “Cookies and other site data” if you are trying to resolve login problems.
- Set up your browser to clear this data automatically every time you close the application.
Will clearing the cache delete my saved passwords?
No, clearing the cache does not touch your saved passwords or username information. You would have to specifically check the “Passwords” box to delete those. Your login details remain safe during a standard cache clear.
How often should I perform this task?
You generally do not need to do this every single day. It is best to clear it once a month or whenever a website starts acting strange. Regular maintenance helps, but obsession is unnecessary.
Does this improve the speed of my computer?
It helps free up storage space on your hard drive, which can assist with overall performance. However, its main purpose is to fix browser glitches rather than speed up the entire PC. You might see a small boost if your drive was full.
Why does the cache exist if I have to delete it?
The cache is actually designed to make your browsing faster by saving images so you do not download them twice. Problems only arise when those saved files get outdated or corrupted. Clearing it forces the browser to get the newest version of a page.
Can I undo this action if I change my mind?
No, once you click the clear button, those temporary files are permanently deleted. There is no recycle bin for browser cache files. The browser will simply download new files the next time you browse the web.
Summary of steps
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Click the three dots menu.
- Select Settings.
- Go to Privacy, search, and services.
- Click Choose what to clear.
- Select Cached images and files.
- Click Clear now.
Conclusion
Taking care of your digital tools is just like performing regular maintenance on a car or a house. When you let temporary files pile up for too long, things can start to get cluttered and slow. It is easy to forget about these hidden files because you cannot see them while you surf the web. However, they take up valuable space on your computer and can sometimes cause conflicts with new website updates. By learning how to manage this data, you are taking control of your own technology.
You no longer have to rely on a technician to fix simple loading errors or formatting glitches. This simple process is often the very first troubleshooting step that IT professionals recommend. Now that you know exactly how to clear browser cache in edge, you can browse with more confidence. It is a good habit to check these settings every few weeks just to keep everything tidy.
Remember that the internet is always changing and updating content. Your browser needs to be able to grab that new content without getting confused by old data. Clearing the cache is the best way to ensure you are seeing the most current version of the web. It is a small task that makes a big difference in your daily online experience. Keep your browser clean and enjoy a smoother ride on the internet.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.
Read his full bio here.
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