How to Clear Cache in Edge Browser on Windows 10

Clearing the cache in Microsoft Edge on Windows 10 removes stored copies of web pages, images, and scripts, which can fix slow loading, outdated content, and display glitches. It also frees up disk space. You only need your Edge browser open—no other tools or files are required.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 PC with Microsoft Edge installed (the standard Chromium-based Edge, not the old EdgeHTML version)
• Your Edge browser open on any page (the new tab page works fine)

Step-by-Step

1. Open Edge. Click the Edge icon on your taskbar, Start menu, or desktop. Wait for the browser window to fully load.
2. Open the Settings menu. Click the three horizontal dots (⋯) in the top-right corner of the window. This is the “Settings and more� menu.
3. Go to Settings. In the dropdown menu, click Settings (it has a gear icon). A new tab will open with the Settings page.
4. Navigate to Privacy, search, and services. In the left sidebar of the Settings tab, click Privacy, search, and services. If the sidebar is collapsed, click the hamburger icon (three horizontal lines) at the top-left to expand it.
5. Find “Clear browsing data.� Scroll down in the main panel until you see the section titled Clear browsing data. Click the button labeled Choose what to clear.
6. Select the time range. In the pop-up window that appears, use the dropdown at the top labeled Time range to choose how far back to clear. Options include “Last hour,� “Last 24 hours,� “Last 7 days,� “Last 4 weeks,� and “All time.� For a full cache clear, select All time.
7. Check the “Cached images and files� box. In the list of data types, make sure the checkbox next to Cached images and files is ticked. You may also tick Cookies and other site data if you want to remove site logins and preferences, but this will sign you out of most websites. Leave the other boxes unchecked unless you specifically want to clear history, passwords, or autofill data.
8. Click “Clear now.� The button is at the bottom of the pop-up. Edge will immediately delete the selected data. A brief confirmation may appear, and the pop-up will close.
9. Restart Edge. Close the browser completely (click the X on the window) and reopen it. The cache is now cleared, and pages should reload fresh.

Alternative quick method: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete while Edge is open. This opens the same “Clear browsing data� pop-up directly, skipping the Settings navigation. Then follow steps 6–8 above.

Common Mistakes

• Clearing only the wrong time range. If you pick “Last hourâ€� but the problem started days ago, the old cached files remain. Always choose “All timeâ€� for a thorough clear.
• Unchecking “Cached images and files.â€� Some users accidentally leave this box unchecked and only clear history, which doesn’t fix the issue. Double-check the checkbox before clicking “Clear now.â€�
• Closing the pop-up too early. If you click elsewhere or press Esc before pressing “Clear now,â€� nothing gets deleted. Wait for the confirmation.
• Clearing cookies unnecessarily. If you only need to fix a display issue, clearing cookies will log you out of every site and may remove saved preferences. Stick to “Cached images and filesâ€� unless you have a specific reason to clear cookies.
• Forgetting to restart the browser. Some cached resources are held in memory until Edge fully closes. If you don’t restart, the old cache may still be used.

Tips

• Use “All timeâ€� when troubleshooting. If a site looks broken or outdated, a full cache clear is more likely to solve it than a partial one.
• Bookmark your important sites first. If you also clear cookies, you’ll be signed out everywhere. Save passwords in Edge’s password manager or have them handy before clearing.
• Set Edge to clear cache on exit. In Settings → Privacy, search, and services → “Choose what to clear every time you close the browser,â€� you can enable automatic clearing of cached files. This keeps things fresh but slows down repeat visits.
• Use InPrivate mode for quick tests. Instead of clearing cache, open an InPrivate window (Ctrl + Shift + N) to check if a problem is cache-related. If the site works there, the cache is the culprit.
• Clear cache after major updates. After a Windows or Edge update, clearing the cache can prevent conflicts between old and new files.

Troubleshooting

Edge won’t open the Settings page. If clicking Settings does nothing or the page is blank, close Edge completely and reopen it. If that fails, restart your PC. As a last resort, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete—this opens the clear-data pop-up directly without needing Settings.

The “Clear now� button is greyed out. This happens if no data type is selected. Go back and tick at least “Cached images and files.� If the button still won’t work, close the pop-up, reopen it, and try again.

Clearing the cache didn’t fix the problem. The issue may be caused by cookies, site data, or an extension. Try clearing cookies as well (step 7), or disable extensions one by one via Settings → Extensions. If the problem persists, the site itself may be down—check on another browser or device.

Edge is still slow after clearing. A single cache clear won’t speed up a browser if there are many open tabs, too many extensions, or a cluttered profile. Close unused tabs, disable unused extensions, and consider resetting Edge settings (Settings → Reset settings → Restore settings to their default values).

Cache keeps coming back immediately. That’s normal—Edge rebuilds the cache as you browse. If you want it to stay minimal, enable the “Choose what to clear every time you close the browser� option and select cached files. Note that this will make page loads slower on repeat visits.

You can’t find the three-dot menu. If the menu is missing (e.g., full-screen mode), press F11 to exit full-screen. The dots should appear in the top-right corner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing the cache delete my passwords? No. Passwords are stored separately and are only removed if you tick “Passwords� in the clear browsing data list. The default cache clear only removes cached images and files.

Do I need to close all Edge windows before clearing? No. You can clear the cache while other windows are open. However, after clearing, you should close and reopen Edge to ensure the old cached files are fully released from memory.

How often should I clear the cache? Only when you have a problem—slow loading, outdated content, or display glitches. Clearing too often slows down your browsing because Edge has to re-download everything. Once a month is plenty for most users.

Does clearing cache log me out of websites? Only if you also select “Cookies and other site data.� Clearing only “Cached images and files� keeps you logged in.

What’s the difference between cache and cookies? The cache stores files (images, scripts, stylesheets) so pages load faster on repeat visits. Cookies store small pieces of data about your session, like login tokens and preferences. They are separate items in the clear-data list.

Will clearing cache free up a lot of disk space? It can, but usually not dramatically. The cache is typically a few hundred megabytes to a couple of gigabytes, depending on usage. You’ll free more space by clearing downloaded files or uninstalling apps.

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