How to Clear Cache in Microsoft Edge on Windows 10
So, clearing the cache in Microsoft Edge isn’t just some techy chore—it actually helps keep your browsing speed up and the weird website glitches down. When you revisit a site, Edge pulls up old stuff it saved to load things faster. But, surprise! Sometimes this old stuff gets messy, and it can mess with how websites look or function. Clearing the cache means deleting those outdated files and getting fresh stuff from the web again.
Starting the Process
First, you gotta open Microsoft Edge. Just hit that Edge icon on your desktop or taskbar. Make sure it’s up to date because, well, it kinda helps prevent issues. Head over to Settings and more (that three-dot icon in the corner), then go to Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge to check for updates.
Diving into Settings
Once you’re in Edge, tap on that three-dot menu again and hit Settings. Or, if you’re the shortcut type, just press Alt + F and then S. This takes you to the settings where all the magic (or frustration) happens.
Getting to Privacy Settings
Look for Privacy, search, and services on the left pane. Click that, and you’ll see all the privacy options, including what info gets stored. You can even type edge://settings/privacy into the address bar and hit Enter if you wanna skip the menu dive.
Clearing the Cache
Scroll a bit to find the Clear browsing data section, then hit Choose what to clear. A little dialog pops up showing various data types, and you really just want to focus on clearing that Cached images and files section. Honestly, you can skip the rest unless you enjoy logging back into every site. To open this directly, just press Ctrl + Shift + Del, and boom, you’re there.
Selecting What to Clear
Make sure to tick that Cached images and files box. You might see some other options, but keep it simple—less clutter. You can also decide how far back you wanna go with that Time range menu. If you have no patience for ancient cache, go for All time.
Clearing the Data
Hit the Clear now button, and just like that, those pesky cached files are gone. Expect some initial slow loading on sites because, you know, Edge has to fetch new content. A little tip: after clearing the cache, using Ctrl + Shift + R can help reload the pages quickly by bypassing the cached version.
Keeping Things Smooth
Regularly clearing the cache isn’t just good practice—it can actually save a ton of headaches. Setting aside a day each month works well, especially if you’re on sites that change often. Fair warning, though: you might get logged out of sites if you clear cookies too, so maybe jot down important pages. If you really want keeping things tidy to be easier, there’s even an option to set up automatic clearing every time you close Edge. Just head to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data on exit and flip that switch.
Common Questions
Why clear the cache?
Emptying the cache gets rid of junk files and can boost your browser’s performance. It’s like giving it a much-needed refresh. Many users see their browsing get snappier after a good clear-out.
Will it erase my passwords?
Nope, it’ll leave your saved passwords alone unless you tell it to clear them specifically. If you want to tidy up passwords, go to Settings > Profiles > Passwords instead.
How often should this be done?
It depends on how often you browse. Monthly usually strikes a good balance. If stuff gets laggy sooner than that, go ahead and clear it out more often.
Will clearing the cache remove browsing history?
Not unless you ask it to. You’ll need to specifically select the option to delete browsing history if that’s your goal.
Can I undo it?
Unfortunately, once it’s gone, it’s gone. So, yeah, maybe think twice before you hit that Clear now button. Backup essential data like passwords if it’s super important.
Quick Checklist to Clear Cache in Edge
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Access the menu via that three-dot icon or hit Alt + F then select Settings.
- Go to Privacy, search, and services.
- Click Choose what to clear or press Ctrl + Shift + Del.
- Check Cached images and files and set your Time range.
- Hit Clear now.
Managing cache isn’t just about tidying up; it can really enhance how well your browser performs. Keeping things clear can fix those little annoyances like loading delays and website errors. If you wanna stay on top of things, getting into a routine will help—easy peasy!