If you’re still getting used to iOS26you may be wondering if the latest software update affects your iPhone daily performance. Is it just you, or are websites loading slower Safari Or another browser? Chances are the slowness isn’t due to Liquid Glass: you might just need to clear your cache.
Clearing your cache gives Safari and other web browsers a clean slate. It can improve performance, free up some storage space, and help fix annoying bugs like slow page loads or broken links. It’s not a complete system overhaul and it can’t make a 7-year-old phone feel new, but it can help improve your browsing experience.
Your browser cache is a bit like a digital mini-fridge. Whether you’re using Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or another browser, the cache stores page elements locally to speed up your next visit. It’s great for grabbing a digital snack or drink without having to trek all the way to the kitchen – at least, until the mini-fridge gets overloaded with expired foods, which in this analogy are outdated page elements.
Clearing your cache is like cleaning out that mini-fridge. You’ll have to restock it (your first visit after clearing your iPhone’s cache might be a little slower), but once you do, you’ll have a better experience than before.
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If it’s been a while since you’ve reset your iPhone’s browser, here’s how to clear your cache and quickly refresh your device.
What happens when you clear your cache?
Clearing your cache usually also involves deleting cookies from the website. Cookies work similarly to browser caches, except that they store information about user data, rather than data about the website itself. Deleting your cookies gives you the opportunity to reset these preferences, which may improve your browsing experience. Note that clearing your cache and clearing your cookies will log you out of the sites, which means you will have to log in again and reset your preferences. Investing this time up front can lead to a smoother experience later and can be a useful solution if you’ve recently changed settings that aren’t applied correctly.
Here are step-by-step guides on how to clear your iPhone’s cache, depending on which browser you prefer.
How to Clear Your iPhone’s Cache in Safari
Safari is the default browser on iPhones and you can clear your Safari cache in a few short steps. Starting with iOS 11, following this process will affect all devices connected to your iCloud account. As a result, all caches on your devices will be cleared and you will have to log into everything the next time you use them. Here’s what to do.
1. Open it Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Select Applications > Safari.
3. Scroll to Website History and Data and choose Clear history and website data.
4. Choose Clear history and data in the pop-up box: you can choose anywhere from last hour to all history.
Then you are ready!
How to Clear Your iPhone Cache in Chrome
Chrome is another popular browser among iPhone users. Google has simplified the process of clearing your Chrome cache, making clearing your data much faster.
1. Open it Chromium application.
2. Select the three dots at the bottom right to open more options.
3. Swipe to Settings in the top menu bar.
4. Scroll down and tap Privacy and security.
5. Faucet Delete browsing data to open another menu. Select the desired time slot at the top of the menu (anywhere between last 15 minutes has All the time). Make sure that Cookies And Site data are verified, as well as Cached images and files. Finally, hit Delete data at the bottom of the screen.
How to Clear Your iPhone Cache in Firefox
If you’re a Firefox enthusiast, don’t worry. Clearing your iPhone’s cache is easy. Just follow these steps.
1. Tap the hamburger menu in the bottom right corner to open the options.
2. Choose Settings at the bottom of the menu.
3. Select Data management in the Privacy section.
4. To clear everything, choose Website Data at the top of the menu then Clear entire website Data. Alternatively, you can choose to clear only your browsing history, cache, cookies, offline web data, tracking protection, or offline files.
How often should I clear my cache?
Most people only need to clear their caches once a month or every two months. This is usually when your browser creates a large enough cache to start slowing things down. If you visit a large number of sites, you should prioritize clearing your cache more often.
