How to Clear Cache in Safari on Mac and iPhone

Over time, your Safari browser accumulates a massive amount of temporary data, known as cache, to help websites load faster. However, a bloated cache can eventually cause performance issues, eat up valuable storage space, and even prevent websites from displaying updated content. Clearing your Safari cache on both your Mac and iPhone is a quick and effective troubleshooting step.

Why You Should Clear Your Safari Cache

Clearing your cache forces Safari to download fresh copies of websites. This is incredibly useful when:

• A website is rendering incorrectly or displaying outdated information.
• Safari feels sluggish or freezes frequently.
• You need to free up storage space on your device.
• You want to improve your digital privacy by removing stored tracking data.

How to Clear Safari Cache on a Mac

Unlike other browsers, Safari on macOS hides the option to clear only the cache. If you use the standard “Clear History” button, it also deletes your browsing history and cookies. To delete only the cache, you must enable the hidden Develop menu.

1. Open Safari on your Mac.
2. In the top menu bar, click Safari > Settings (or Preferences on older macOS versions).
3. Click the Advanced tab at the far right.
4. Check the box at the bottom that says Show features for web developers (or “Show Develop menu in menu bar”).
5. Close the Settings window. You will now see a new Develop menu in your top menu bar.
6. Click Develop > Empty Caches. (Alternatively, you can press Option + Command + E).

There is no confirmation dialog when you click Empty Caches; it happens instantly in the background.

How to Clear Safari Cache on an iPhone or iPad

iOS and iPadOS do not offer a way to separate the cache from your browsing history and cookies. Clearing the cache on mobile will log you out of websites and delete your browsing history.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Scroll down and tap on Safari.
3. Scroll down again until you find Clear History and Website Data and tap it.
4. Select the timeframe you want to clear (e.g., All history).
5. Tap the red Clear History button to confirm.

Conclusion

Regularly clearing your Safari cache is a great habit to maintain optimal browser performance. While mobile users must clear their history alongside the cache, Mac users can take advantage of the hidden Develop menu to surgically remove temporary files without losing their logged-in sessions.