Over time, your iPhone browser becomes cluttered. Give them a refresh by clearing the cache.
Your iPhone browser is like a countertop. Over time, they collect clutter and become less effective at what they’re supposed to do. Sometimes, you just need to take the time to clean things up. Whether you prefer Chrome, Safari, or another browser, it’s a good idea to periodically clear your cache. This will speed up your phone when you browse the web. You can also manage your iPhone’s storage space to help it run fast again.
Typically, visiting a website requires your phone to download information such as photos, banners and other data. To help speed up the process, most internet browsers store some data in a cache so that it is easier to retrieve. You leave the keys on the kitchen counter because they’re easy to pick up the next time you need them.
Things become less convenient when your browser’s cache expires, and the data retrieved no longer matches what’s actually being used on the website. What is the result? Loading speeds slowed down and the site was messed up in formatting. It’s the equivalent of throwing your keys and your mail, coats, reusable mugs and whatever else on your counter. Suddenly, you have no room to do anything.
That’s why clearing your cache can help you. It gives the website a fresh start in your browser and frees up some space in your storage. It’s important to note that clearing your cache will log you out of the website you’re currently logged into. In general, though, the occasional minor inconvenience is worth it to keep things moving fast.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clear the cache on your iPhone depending on the browser you’re using.
How to Clear Your iPhone Cache in Safari
Safari is the default browser on the iPhone, and you can clear the Safari browser’s cache in a few short steps. Starting with iOS 11, following this process will affect all devices logged into your iCloud account. As a result, the cache of all your devices will be cleared, and you will need to log in to all of them the next time you use it. Here’s what to do.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Select the Safari browser from the list of applications.
- Go to Advanced > Website Data.
- Scroll down and select Clear History and Website Data.
- Select Delete Now in the pop-up box.
How to Clear iPhone Cache in Chrome Browser
Chrome is another popular browser for iPhone users. The overall process of clearing the Chrome browser’s cache requires more steps, and you need to do things through the Chrome browser itself. Below is the method.
- Open the Chrome app.
- Select the three dots in the lower right corner to open more options.
- Scroll down and select Settings.
- Select Privacy in the next menu.
- Then select Clear browsing data to open the last menu.
- Select a predetermined time range (anywhere from the last hour to all hours) at the top of the menu.
- Make sure to select Cookies, Site Data, and Cached Images and Files. Finally, tap Clear browsing data at the bottom of the screen.
How to Clear iPhone Cache in Firefox
If you’re a Firefox browser, don’t worry. Clearing the cache on your iPhone is very simple. Just follow these steps.
- Click the hamburger menu in the lower right corner to open the options.
- Select “Settings” at the bottom of the menu.
- Select Data Management in the Privacy section.
- You can select Website Data to clear data for individual websites, or select Clear Private Data at the bottom of the screen to clear data for all selected fields.
What happens when you clear the cache?
Clearing your cache deletes website data your phone stores locally, preventing it from being downloaded every time you visit. (My phone was storing about 150MB of data in Chrome when I checked.) Clearing this data gives the site a fresh start, which may fix some loading errors and speed up your browser. However, clearing the cache will also log you out of the page, so be prepared to log back into everything.
How often do I need to clear the cache?
Most people only need to clear their cache once every month or two. This is usually when your browser’s accumulated cache is large enough to start slowing things down. If you regularly browse a lot of websites, you should clear your cache more often.