How to Clear Web Browser Cache in Windows 11

The browser cache stores images, scripts, and pages to speed up repeat visits. Over time, cached files can become large, causing display errors or privacy concerns. Clearing the cache allows the browser to retrieve the latest content and frees up disk space. Here is how to do it:

Note: clearing the cache may sign you out of some sites and temporarily slow down first visits.

General Quick Tips (works for most browsers)

Use the universal keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + Delete, which opens the Clear browsing data dialog in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete.

2. Choose an appropriate time range (Last hour, 24 hours, Last 7 days, All time).

3. Make sure Cached images and files (or similar) are selected. If you want to remove cookies or site data, select those as well (this may sign you out).

4. Close and reopen the browser after clearing for best results.

Manual Deletion of Cache Files

You can also clear the browser cache in File Explorer. Close the browser first, then open File Explorer and paste the path for the browser cache:

• Google Chrome: %LocalAppData%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache
• Microsoft Edge: %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Cache
• Firefox: %LocalAppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\cache2

Delete files inside the Cache folder. Warning: deleting files while the browser is running may cause problems. Use this only if the built-in clear option doesn’t work.

Use Wise Disk Cleaner

Whether using the first method or the second method, clearing the cache one by one would be time-consuming if you have multiple browsers. We recommend using Wise Disk Cleaner, a tiny and free third-party tool to clear all your browser cache at once.

Step 2. Scan Web Browser Cache

Click the Common Cleaner section, check the Web Browser Cache item. Then, click the Scan button.

Step 3. Clear Browser Cache

After a few seconds, you will see the scan result, including browser cache and log files. Click the Clean button to finish. That's it!

Optional: If you want to clear the browser cache automatically, you can enable the automatic cleanup function to set a cleanup schedule.

Conclusion

For most users, the fastest option to clear browser cache is the universal Ctrl + Shift + Delete shortcut. Users can remove cache folders manually via File Explorer as well. If you use multiple browsers, a lightweight tool like Wise Disk Cleaner can save time by scanning and cleaning all browser caches at once, and can be scheduled with AutoClean.