Every Microsoft Edge clear cache and cookies job ends in the same dialog. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete, pick a time range, check Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then select Clear now. You can clear cache and cookies on Edge in under a minute this way, on Windows 11, Windows 10, and macOS.
Key takeaways
- Ctrl + Shift + Delete opens the Clear browsing data pane on Windows. On a Mac it is Command + Shift + Delete, both documented by Microsoft.
- The menu route is Settings and more (…) > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data > Choose what to clear.
- The browser cache is a local copy of page files. Cookies are small files a site stores to remember you. Clearing the cache fixes stale pages. Clearing cookies signs you out.
- Edge lists 9 data types in that pane. Passwords and autofill form data are two of them, so leave those unchecked unless you mean to lose them.
- Turn sync off first if you only want to clear the device in front of you.
- One site can be cleared on its own, so a single login loop does not cost you every other session.
Terms this guide uses
- The browser cache is the local store of page files Edge keeps so a repeat visit loads faster.
- Cookies are small files a website saves on your device to remember sessions, preferences, and consent choices.
- Clear browsing data is the Edge pane that deletes cache, cookies, history, downloads, and five other data types.
- Sync is the Edge setting that copies history, passwords, and autofill data between your signed-in devices, and it decides how far a clear reaches.
- InPrivate is the Edge browsing mode that runs with no existing cookies or cached files. It discards its session data when you close the last InPrivate window.
Microsoft Edge clear cache and cookies: the keyboard shortcut
- Open Edge.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows, or Command + Shift + Delete on macOS. Microsoft lists this shortcut as "Open clear browsing data options", and the same keys work in Chrome.
- In Clear browsing data, set the Time range and check the items to remove. For troubleshooting, choose All time.
- Select Clear now.
Only the boxes you check are affected. Favorites, extensions, and unchecked data types stay where they are.
Clear browsing data Microsoft Edge keeps on your device
Clear browsing data is the Edge control panel for cache, cookies, history, and downloads. According to Microsoft's support documentation, the menu route runs like this:
- Select Settings and more (the … menu in the top-right corner) > Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
- Select Clear browsing data, then Choose what to clear next to Clear browsing data now.
- Under Time range, choose a range from the drop-down menu.
- Check the data types you want gone. For a page that looks stale, Cached images and files on its own is enough.
- Select Clear now.
There is a second documented route through the history page: Settings and more > History > Open history page > Delete browsing data. Microsoft points to that one when Edge itself is misbehaving. Set All time under Time range, then check Browsing history and Cached images and files.
Turn sync off before you clear, if you mean one device
Sync decides how far the delete reaches. With sync on, synced items clear across every signed-in device. To keep the clear local, go to Settings > Profiles > Sync and select Turn off sync first.
Clear the data automatically every time you close Edge
In the same Clear browsing data section, select Choose what to clear every time you close the browser and turn on the Cookies and other site data toggle. Edge then wipes that data at every exit, which signs you out of most sites each time.
IT teams have a policy version of this. The BrowsingDataLifetime policy sets a retention window in hours per data type: browsing history, download history, cookies and other site data, cached images and files, sign-in passwords, autofill, site settings, and hosted app data. Edge removes expired data 15 seconds after browser startup, then every hour while the browser runs. Microsoft supports it on Windows and macOS from version 89 and Android from 96, and not on iOS. The policy has no effect when Sync is enabled, so check the sync state before you deploy it.
How to clear cache in Edge Windows 11, macOS, and mobile
The pane is identical across desktop platforms. Only the shortcut and the menu position move.
| Platform | How you get there | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 and Windows 10 | Ctrl + Shift + Delete, or … > Settings > Privacy, search, and services | Edge ships with Windows, so this is the path most work machines use |
| macOS | Command + Shift + Delete, or the same Settings path | Shortcut differs, dialog does not |
| Android and iOS | Tap … > Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data | Select the data types, then tap Clear |
On mobile, the same screen carries Clear browsing data upon exit if you would rather it happen automatically, per Microsoft's Edge app help. Mobile Edge keeps its own cache, so clearing on a laptop leaves the phone untouched unless sync is on and the item type syncs.
According to StatCounter, Edge holds 11.15% of the worldwide desktop browser market in July 2026, second only to Chrome at 70.58%. That is why a stale Edge cache is one of the most common reasons a client reports that a freshly published change "did not go live".
Manage cookies in Microsoft Edge for one site only
You do not have to wipe every login to fix one broken site. Per Microsoft's cookie guide:
- Select Settings and more (…) > Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
- Select Cookies, then See all cookies and site data, and search for the site.
- Select the down arrow to the right of the site, then select Delete.
Only that site signs you out. Reach for it when one site has a login loop, a stuck consent banner, or a cart that will not update, and you want every other session preserved.
What you lose when you clear cache and cookies on Edge
Edge lists 9 data types in the Clear browsing data pane. Four of them cover almost every troubleshooting case.
| What you check | What Edge deletes | What it costs you |
|---|---|---|
| Cached images and files | Copies of pages, images, and media stored to load sites faster | One slower load per site, then back to normal |
| Cookies and other site data | Data sites store to remember preferences, sign-in info, location, media licenses | Signed-in sessions on most sites |
| Browsing history | URLs you visited plus the date and time of each visit | Address-bar suggestions and your history list |
| Download history | The list of files you downloaded, not the files themselves | Only the list, the files stay on disk |
The remaining five are Passwords, Autofill form data, Site permissions, all data from the previous version of Microsoft Edge, and Media Foundation data. Microsoft lists browsing history, passwords, autofill data, previous-version data, and Media Foundation data as reaching synced devices when sync is on. Cookies, cached files, download history, and site permissions stay on the device you are using.
Cache vs cookies: what is the difference?
The browser cache is a store of page files such as images, CSS, and JavaScript that your browser keeps locally. It exists so a repeat visit loads faster. Cookies are small pieces of data a website saves on your device to hold login sessions, preferences, cart contents, consent choices, and tracking identifiers.
| Cache | Cookies | |
|---|---|---|
| Stores | Images, CSS, JavaScript | Logins, preferences, tracking IDs |
| Clearing fixes | Stale pages, broken layouts | Login loops, bad personalization |
| You lose | Faster repeat loads | Signed-in sessions |
| Scope of a clear | The device you are on | The device you are on, unless sync is on |
If your goal is only to see a new website change, start with cached images and files. If the symptom involves login loops, broken personalization, odd consent behavior, or an account-specific error, clear cookies too.
Clear browser history Edge stores on your device and in the cloud
Browsing history is the list of URLs you visited with the date and time of each visit, and it is separate from the cache. To clear browser history Edge holds locally, check Browsing history in the same dialog.
Signed-in browsing can also leave data in the Microsoft cloud. That copy is managed from the privacy dashboard, and deleting it there does not remove anything from your device. Microsoft documents the dashboard as a separate clear from the one on your device, so a full cleanup covers both.
Why clear the browser cache at all
Cached files are the reason a page you just updated still shows the old logo, the old font, or the old colors. Edge serves the stored copy instead of fetching the new one. That speed is the upside and stale content is the downside.
Clearing the cache shows you the page a first-time visitor sees, which makes it the first step in any launch check. For a fuller sweep, see how to audit a website and the metrics behind fast repeat loads in Core Web Vitals explained. Most browser quirks during a website launch trace back to the cache. If you would rather not chase them yourself, our web development team builds and ships sites cleanly. Teams standardizing on Microsoft tooling can also work through Microsoft 365 Copilot and what business intelligence is for the rest of the stack.
Website launch troubleshooting checklist
- Hard refresh the page first.
- Open the page in an InPrivate window. InPrivate starts without your normal session's cookies or cached files, so it tells you in seconds whether local state is the problem. Closing every InPrivate window purges the session data.
- Clear cached images and files for All time if the page still looks stale.
- Clear cookies if the issue is tied to login, consent, or personalization.
- Test another browser or another device before deciding the site itself is broken.
- Block third-party cookies in Edge settings if cross-site tracking is the concern. Blocking them limits how much of your browsing is shared with advertisers.
This checklist keeps launch QA from turning into guesswork, and it separates browser-state issues from production issues that need a developer.
What you should avoid deleting
Do not clear saved passwords or autofill form data unless you intend to remove them. Both sit in the same list as the cache and cookies, one checkbox away, and both sync to other devices when sync is on. If you are troubleshooting on a client or teammate's machine, ask before you clear anything that could remove saved logins or form data.
FAQ
Does clearing the cache delete my passwords?
No. Passwords are a separate checkbox in the Clear browsing data pane. Cached images and files, and cookies and other site data, leave saved passwords alone.
Does clearing cookies sign me out of everything?
It signs you out of most sites, because session cookies are what keep you signed in. Delete a single site's cookies instead if only one site is broken.
How often should I clear the Edge cache?
Clear it when a page looks stale, when you have just published a change, or when a site behaves oddly after an update. Routine scheduled clearing costs you load speed for little gain.
Does clearing the cache on my laptop clear it on my phone?
No. Each device holds its own cache. History, passwords, and autofill data clear across devices when sync is on, but cached files do not.
Will Edge feel slower after a clear?
The first visit to each site is slower because Edge re-downloads images, scripts, and stylesheets. Speed returns as the cache refills.
What is the fastest way to confirm the cache is the problem?
Open the page in an InPrivate window. If it renders correctly there and incorrectly in your normal window, local browser state is the cause. Clear the cache and cookies first, then check extensions, which stay off in InPrivate unless you allow them.
Sources checked: support.microsoft.com, support.microsoft.com, learn.microsoft.com.
