Clear Your iPhone Cache Before You Upgrade to iOS 18

You're browsing the web on your iPhone, checking out where to preorder the iPhone 16 after Apple's Glowtime event, when you notice something's off. Images look weird, and some info is missing. You're probably wondering what's happening.

But the real question is: When was the last time you cleared your cache?

(toc) #title=(Table of Content)

Your browser cache stores data from websites to make things load faster, but over time, websites change—new images, updated layouts—and that's when things can start to go wrong.

Think of your browser cache like a mini fridge. It's convenient for quick access, but if you don't clean it out now and then, it gets cluttered, and old stuff can go bad. That's why it's important to clear your cache (and maybe your actual fridge too!) from time to time.

Whether you use Chrome, Safari, or another browser on your iPhone, that cache builds up digital junk over time. Clearing it gives your browser a fresh start, helping it run faster, even if you're on iOS 17 or the upcoming iOS 18. (And if your phone feels sluggish, managing your iPhone’s storage can help too.)

Cookies are a bit different. They store data about you, like login info or preferences. Clearing cookies can reset these settings, which might improve your browsing experience. Just keep in mind that clearing both cache and cookies will log you out of websites, meaning you'll need to log back in and reset your preferences. It might take a little effort, but it can lead to a smoother experience later—especially if recent changes aren’t showing up properly.

Here are step-by-step guides on how to clear your cache on your iPhone based on the browser you use.

How to clear your iPhone cache in Safari

If you're using an iPhone, Safari is the default browser, and clearing its cache is pretty straightforward. Since iOS 11, doing this will clear the cache on all devices linked to your iCloud account, meaning you'll be logged out of websites on all your devices and will need to log back in. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap Safari.
3. Tap on "Clear History and Website Data."
4. Confirm by selecting "Clear History and Data" in the pop-up.

That’s it—you’re good to go!

Read More: iPhone 16 Pro Max: Everything Apple announced

How to clear your iPhone cache in Chrome

If you’re an iPhone user and prefer Chrome as your browser, clearing your cache is a quick and easy process, thanks to Google streamlining the steps. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open the Chrome app.
2. Tap the three dots in the bottom-right corner to access more options.
3. Swipe over and select Settings from the top menu.
4. Scroll down and tap Privacy and security.
5. Then, tap Clear Browsing Data. From here, choose the time range you want to clear (from the last hour to all time). Ensure both Cookies and Site Data and Cached Images and Files are selected. Finally, tap Clear Browsing Data at the bottom to complete the process.

And that’s it! Your Chrome cache is cleared.

Read More: iPhone 16 Plus: Everything You Need to Know

How to clear your iPhone cache in Firefox

If you're a dedicated Firefox user, no need to worry—clearing your cache on an iPhone is a breeze. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Tap the three-line menu icon in the bottom right corner to open the options.
2. Scroll down and select "Settings."
3. In the Privacy section, choose "Data Management."
4. From here, you can either clear data for specific websites by selecting "Website Data" or clear everything by tapping "Clear Private Data" at the bottom of the screen.

What happens when you clear the cache? 

When you clear your cache, you’re removing the temporary data your phone has saved from websites. This data helps load pages faster by avoiding re-downloading every time you visit, but over time it can pile up and slow things down if it becomes too large or outdated. (For example, I found 150MB of cached data in Chrome on my phone.) By clearing the cache, you give websites a fresh start, which can resolve loading issues and speed up your browser. Just keep in mind that clearing it will log you out of any sites, so you’ll need to sign back in afterward.

How often do I need to clear my cache?

You usually only need to clear your browser's cache every month or two. That's about when it gets big enough to start slowing things down. However, if you visit a lot of different websites, it's a good idea to clear your cache more frequently.