Edge Clear cache and cookies instructions
Cookies are files created by websites you have visited, and are stored in your browser’s cache. Cookies are intended to help web pages load faster, and make it easier for you to browse the web.
By clearing your browser’s cache and cookies, this also means clearing website settings such as usernames and passwords. After deleting your browser’s stored cookies and cache files some sites might appear to load a little slower because all of the images have to be loaded again. However, clearing your browser cache can sometimes resolve issues with a website error should outdated cache files be stored in your browser.
Your browsing history—including info you’ve entered into forms, passwords, and sites you’ve visited—is the information that Microsoft Edge remembers and stores as you browse the web.
Most of this info is stored on your PC only, but if you use Cortana, some info is also stored in the cloud, to help her bring you more timely and personal suggestions and assistance.
- To view your browsing history, select Hub > History .
- Select Clear all history.
- Choose the types of data you want to remove from your PC, then select Clear.
- If you use Cortana and want to clear browsing history that’s stored in the cloud, select Change what Microsoft Edge knows about me in the cloud, then select Clear browsing history.
What gets deleted when you clear your browsing history
Types of info | What gets deleted | Where it’s stored |
---|---|---|
Browsing history | The URLs of sites you’ve visited, and the dates and times of each visit. | In the cloud and on your PC |
Cookies and saved website data | Info that sites store on your PC to remember your preferences, such as sign-in info or your location. | On your PC |
Cached data and files | Copies of pages, images, and other media content stored on your PC. The browser uses these copies to load content faster the next time you visit those sites. | On your PC |
Download history | The list of files you’ve downloaded from the web. This only deletes the list, not the actual files that you’ve downloaded. | On your PC |
Form data | Info that you’ve entered into forms, such as your email or a shipping address. | On your PC |
Passwords | Passwords that you’ve saved for sites. | On your PC |
Media licenses | PlayReady/Digital Rights Management content licenses. | On your PC |
Pop-up exceptions | A list of websites that you’ve explicitly allowed to display pop-ups. | On your PC |
Location permissions | A list of websites that you’ve explicitly allowed to grab your location. | On your PC |
Full screen permissions | A list of websites that you’ve explicitly allowed to automatically open in full-screen mode. | On your PC |
Compatibility permissions | A list of websites that you’ve explicitly allowed to automatically open in Internet Explorer. | On your PC |