How to Clear Cache in Arc Browser (Step-by-Step)

Clearing the cache in Arc Browser frees up disk space and forces websites to reload fresh files, which fixes pages that look broken, show outdated content, or fail to log you in properly. This guide walks you through clearing the cache on both macOS and Windows versions of Arc, plus how to do a deeper site-specific clear when a single page misbehaves. You don’t need any special tools—just the browser itself and a few minutes.

What You’ll Need

• Arc Browser installed and updated to the latest version (check via the menu bar or settings).
• Access to the website or websites that are causing issues (so you can test after clearing).
• Any open work in Arc saved—clearing cache will not close tabs, but it may log you out of some sites.

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Clear Cache for All Sites (macOS)

1. Open Arc Browser on your Mac.
2. Click the Arc menu in the top-left corner of your screen (next to the Apple logo).
3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu. Alternatively, press Cmd + , (Command and comma) to open settings directly.
4. In the Settings window that opens, click the Privacy tab in the left sidebar.
5. Scroll down to the Browsing Data section.
6. Click the button labeled Clear Browsing Data…
7. A dialog box will appear. In the Time range dropdown, choose All time to clear everything, or pick a shorter range like Last hour or Last 24 hours if you only want recent cache.
8. Make sure the checkbox next to Cached images and files is ticked. You can also tick Cookies and other site data if you want to fully reset a site, but note that this will log you out of websites.
9. Click the blue Clear Now button at the bottom of the dialog.
10. Wait a few seconds for the process to finish. The dialog will close automatically.
11. Restart Arc (quit with Cmd+Q and reopen) to ensure the cache is fully flushed.

Method 2: Clear Cache for All Sites (Windows)

1. Open Arc Browser on your PC.
2. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner of the window.
3. Select Settings from the menu, or press Ctrl + , (Control and comma).
4. In the Settings page, click Privacy in the left sidebar.
5. Scroll to the Browsing Data section and click Clear Browsing Data…
6. In the pop-up, set the Time range to All time (or your preferred range).
7. Ensure Cached images and files is checked. Add Cookies and other site data if needed for a full reset.
8. Click Clear Now and wait for the confirmation.
9. Close and reopen Arc to finish.

Method 3: Clear Cache for One Specific Site

1. Navigate to the problem website in Arc.
2. Click the lock icon (or the site name) in the address bar on the left side of the URL field.
3. From the dropdown, select Website Settings.
4. A new tab opens with permissions and data options for that site.
5. Scroll to the Storage or Data section and click Clear data (or Reset permissions if that’s the only option).
6. Confirm the action in the pop-up. This removes cookies, cache, and local storage for just that site, leaving everything else untouched.
7. Reload the page (Cmd+R on Mac, Ctrl+R on Windows) to test.

Method 4: Use the Keyboard Shortcut (Both Platforms)

1. Press Cmd + Shift + Delete on macOS or Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows.
2. The Clear Browsing Data dialog opens instantly.
3. Follow steps 7-9 from Method 1 (or the Windows equivalent) to choose the time range and check the cache box.
4. Click Clear Now.

Common Mistakes

• Only clearing cookies, not cache: If you leave “Cached images and files” unchecked, you’re not actually clearing the cache—you’re just logging out of sites. The cache is a separate item.
• Choosing too short a time range: Selecting “Last hour” won’t fix a page that’s been broken for days. When troubleshooting, always use “All time.”
• Forgetting to restart the browser: Some cached data lingers in memory until you fully quit and reopen Arc. A simple tab refresh may not be enough.
• Clearing everything when only one site is broken: This logs you out of all sites and resets preferences. Use the site-specific method first if you only have one problem page.
• Not closing other Arc windows: If you have multiple windows open, the clear operation may only apply to the active window’s profile. Close extra windows or check that you’re in the correct profile (Arc supports multiple profiles).

Tips

• Use Arc’s “Little Arc” mode to test: Open the problem URL in a Little Arc window (Cmd+Option+N on Mac) after clearing—it starts with a fresh session and can confirm whether the issue was cache-related.
• Clear cache regularly: Arc’s cache can grow to several gigabytes over months. A monthly clear keeps things snappy without much inconvenience.
• Bookmark your logins first: If you clear cookies along with cache, you’ll need to re-enter passwords. Save important ones in Arc’s built-in password manager or your own vault before clearing.
• Use a separate profile for development: If you’re a web developer, create a dedicated “Dev” profile in Arc and keep its cache separate from your daily browsing. This way you can clear aggressively without losing personal sessions.
• Check for extensions: Sometimes an extension (like an ad blocker) serves its own cached scripts. If clearing the browser cache doesn’t fix a page, disable extensions one by one to isolate the culprit.

Troubleshooting

Clearing didn’t fix the problem: First, confirm you actually selected “Cached images and files” and used “All time.” If you did, the issue may not be cache—try a hard reload by holding Shift and clicking the reload button, or press Cmd+Shift+R (Mac) / Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows). If that fails, the problem might be server-side (the website itself is down) or caused by an extension. Test in a new Arc profile or a different browser to isolate.

Arc won’t open the Settings window: If clicking Settings does nothing, try the keyboard shortcut (Cmd+, or Ctrl+,). If that also fails, restart Arc completely. As a last resort, you can clear cache via the developer tools: right-click on any page, select “Inspect,” go to the Network tab, check “Disable cache,” and reload—this bypasses the cache for that session without a full clear.

You got logged out of everything: This happens when you checked “Cookies and other site data.” It’s not a bug—it’s expected. Log back into the sites you need. To avoid this next time, uncheck the cookies box and only clear cached files.

The “Clear Now” button is greyed out: This usually means no data matches your selected time range (e.g., you chose “Last hour” but haven’t visited any sites in that hour). Widen the range to “All time” or visit a site first, then retry.

Arc crashes after clearing: Rare, but if it happens, reopen Arc and let it rebuild its cache. If it crashes repeatedly, you may have a corrupted profile—create a new profile from the profile switcher (bottom-left corner) and move your bookmarks over.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing the cache delete my passwords? No. Passwords saved in Arc’s password manager are stored separately and are not removed when you clear the cache. Clearing cookies may log you out, but your saved passwords remain for autofill.

Does clearing cache affect my bookmarks or tabs? No. Bookmarks, pinned tabs, and your tab spaces are stored in a different part of Arc’s data. Clearing cache only removes temporary website files (images, scripts, etc.).

How often should I clear the cache? Only when you notice issues like outdated content, layout glitches, or slow loading. Clearing it too often (daily) slows you down because every site has to re-download its assets. Monthly or on-demand is a good rhythm.

Why does Arc use so much disk space? Cache is a major contributor, but also check your downloads folder and any space where you’ve saved files. Arc also stores a local copy of every page you’ve opened for its “Boost” and “Snapshot” features—these can be cleaned by clearing cache.

Can I clear cache for just one tab? Not directly. Arc’s cache is stored per-site, not per-tab. Use the site-specific method (Method 3) to clear data for the domain, then reload the tab. This affects all tabs open to that site.

Is there a way to auto-clear cache on exit? Arc doesn’t have a built-in “clear on exit” toggle like some other browsers. You can use the keyboard shortcut (Cmd+Shift+Delete) as a habit before closing, or use a third-party cleaner app that targets Arc’s cache folder—but the built-in method is safest.

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