How to Clear the Cache in Windows 10

This article explains how to clear the cache in Windows 10 to free up space on your hard drive and improve your PC's performance.

How Do I Clear My System Cache?

Follow these steps to clear your system cache in Windows 10:

1. Select the Window Start menu and then select Settings.

2. Select System.

3. Select Storage in the left sidebar, then select Configure Storage Sense or run it now.

4. Under Free up space now, select Clean now.

5. Wait for Windows to scan your hard drive for files to delete. When it's done, you'll see a confirmation message including the amount of space that was freed up.

How Do I Clear My Cache and Cookies on Windows 10?

Follow these steps to clear your cache and web cookies in Windows 10:

1. Open the Control Panel and select Network and Internet.

2. Under Internet Options, select Delete browsing history and cookies.

3. Select Delete in the Internet Properties window.

4. Check the items you want to delete, including Cookies and website data and Temporary Internet files and website files, then select Delete.

How Do I Clear My Cache All at Once?

To delete all of the temporary files on your computer at once, use Windows Disk Cleanup:

1. Type Disk Cleanup in the Windows search box and select the Disk Cleanup app.

2. Select Clean up system files.

   Before this step, you might be given the option to pick a drive to clean up. If so, choose the C: drive.

3. Choose all of the items you want to remove and select OK.

4. Select Delete Files to confirm.

Automatically Clear Your Cache With Storage Sense

Windows 10 Storage Sense can automatically delete files you no longer need. To use it, go to Settings > System > Storage and make sure the toggle at the top of the screen is On. To customize your Storage Sense preferences, select Configure Storage Sense or run it now.

How Do I Clear My Cache Fast?

If you want to clear your cache with just a couple of clicks, download and install a program like CCleaner. Add a shortcut to your desktop and open CCleaner at any time to give your PC a thorough scrub.

Clear Your Browser Cache

Most browsers keep a cache of the websites you visit to improve load times and provide an overall smoother experience. The steps for clearing your browser cache are different depending on which browser you use. Cleaning the system cache won't affect your browsers, so make sure to separately take care of your browser cache.

Clear Windows 10 Location Cache

If you have Windows 10 location services enabled, you might want to clear your location history:

1. Select the Window Start menu, then select Settings.

2. Select Privacy.

3. Select Location in the left sidebar, then scroll down to Location History and select Clear.

Why Should You Clear the Cache in Windows 10?

The reason why Windows keeps a cache in the first place is to help your PC run better; however, if it's overloaded, it could be making things worse. In addition to slowing down your hard drive, cache files can also cause software conflicts, leading to crashes. If your computer is sluggish, or if programs keep crashing, clearing the cache could be an easy solution.