To clear the cache in Microsoft Edge, select Settings and more, then Settings, then Privacy, search, and services. Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear, pick a time range, tick Cached images and files, then select Clear now. Untick passwords and cookies if you want to stay signed in.
Edge hides its cache settings a couple of menus deeper than Chrome, and it has one twist Chrome users don't expect: if sync is on, clearing data on your laptop can clear it on your other signed-in devices too. Microsoft's own help page explains both, and I'll walk you through it here.
Steps to clear the Edge cache
- Select Settings and more (the three dots at the top right).
- Select Settings, then Privacy, search, and services.
- Find Clear browsing data and select Choose what to clear next to Clear browsing data now.
- Under Time range, pick a range from the drop-down menu.
- Tick Cached images and files. Untick anything you want to keep, such as passwords.
- Select Clear now.
Microsoft gives a sensible example: you might remove browsing history and cookies but keep passwords and form fill data. For a simple cache clear, I'd keep cookies too, so you're not signed out of everything.
What each Edge checkbox removes
| Checkbox | What Microsoft says it deletes | Where it's stored |
|---|---|---|
| Browsing history | The URLs of sites you've visited, with dates and times | Device, or synced devices if sync is on |
| Download history | The list of downloaded files, not the files themselves | Device |
| Cookies and other site data | Site data such as sign-in info, location and media licences | Device |
| Cached images and files | Copies of pages, images and media used to load sites faster | Device |
| Passwords | Site passwords you've saved | Device, or synced devices if sync is on |
| Autofill form data | Info entered into forms, such as an email or shipping address | Device, or synced devices if sync is on |
A reassuring detail from that table: clearing download history only deletes the list. The files you've downloaded stay put.
The sync catch: one device or all of them
Microsoft says to decide first whether you want to clear data only on the device in front of you, or across every synced device. If sync is on and you're signed in, items that are synced will be cleared across all synced devices. That matters for history, passwords and autofill, which can sync.
If you only want to clear this computer, turn sync off first:
- Select Settings and more, then Settings.
- Go to Profiles, then Sync.
- Select Turn off sync.
The cache itself is stored on your device, according to Microsoft's table, so a cache-only clear is local either way. The sync question bites when you tick history or passwords alongside it.
Data in the Microsoft cloud is separate
If you've turned on sync or personalisation, some data also lives in the Microsoft cloud. Microsoft says you manage that on the privacy dashboard, and that deleting data there won't delete it from your device. So there are two places to clean if you're doing a full privacy tidy: the browser and the dashboard.
Two settings people forget
Microsoft's list includes a couple of items that don't behave like the others. Site permissions aren't cleared from the same box at all: you review them under Settings and more, Settings, Privacy, search, and services, then Site permissions, where each website's permissions for things like location, cookies, pop-ups and media autoplay are listed. Media Foundation data, which covers licences, certificates and keys, is cleared after you restart Edge rather than straight away.
So if a site still asks for your location after a clear, or a streaming site still remembers something, those two are the places to look. I'd restart Edge after any big clear anyway; it's the simplest way to make sure everything you ticked has gone.
When to clear the Edge cache
- A website looks broken or won't load in Edge but works elsewhere.
- You've updated a web page and Edge keeps showing the old version.
- Edge feels cluttered after months of use and you want a fresh start.
Before you clear anything, close any tabs where you're halfway through a form or a checkout, because a clear can sign you out or empty what you've typed if cookies or autofill are ticked. Then run the clear and reopen the site fresh.
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Expect the first visit to each site afterwards to be a touch slower. Microsoft explains that the browser uses cached copies to load content faster, so without them it fetches everything again.
Clearing data versus browsing privately
Clearing the cache tidies what Edge has stored on your device, but it isn't the same as privacy online. It doesn't change what websites, your internet provider or your employer can see while you browse. If privacy is the real reason you're clearing data, read my view on whether Tor Browser is safe before you switch browsers, because a privacy browser comes with its own limits. You'll also notice Microsoft's Edge help page now offers Copilot answers alongside the written steps. If you're weighing up Microsoft's AI tools for your own business, my guide to what Copilot Studio is explains what it does and who it's for.
My take
Tick only Cached images and files, pick All time if the problem's been around a while, and select Clear now. Leave passwords and cookies alone unless you've got a reason. If you share an account across a laptop and a work PC, remember that sync can carry a history or password clear to both.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Clear browsing data in Edge?
Settings and more, Settings, Privacy, search, and services, then Choose what to clear next to Clear browsing data now.
Does clearing the Edge cache delete my downloads?
No. Even clearing download history only deletes the list, not the files you've downloaded.
Will clearing cache sign me out of websites?
Not on its own. Clearing cookies and other site data is what removes sign-in info.
Does clearing Edge data clear my other devices?
If you're signed in with sync on, synced items are cleared across all synced devices. Turn off sync to clear just one device.
How do I delete Edge data stored in the cloud?
Use Microsoft's privacy dashboard. Deleting there doesn't delete data from your device.
