How to clear cache and cookies in Safari

Complete guide with multiple methods and troubleshooting

7-10 min read
Expert Verified
Last Updated: August 2025

Quick Answer

To clear cache and cookies in Safari, navigate to Safari's Preferences, select the Privacy tab, and click on 'Manage Website Data' to remove stored data. Alternatively, you can clear all data by going to the History menu and selecting 'Clear History'.

Easy⏱ 7-10 min read

Prerequisites & Requirements

Before clearing cache and cookies in Safari, ensure you have the following:
  • •A Mac running macOS (version 10.12 or later) or an iOS device (iPhone/iPad) with Safari installed.
  • •Administrative access to the device may be required for certain settings.
  • •No important unsaved data in open tabs, as clearing data may log you out of websites.

Method 1: Clearing Cache and Cookies via Safari Preferences

This method is useful for selectively deleting cache and cookies from specific websites.
  • •Step 1: Open Safari, then click on 'Safari' in the top menu bar.
  • •Step 2: Select 'Preferences' from the dropdown menu.
  • •Step 3: Click on the 'Privacy' tab.
  • •Step 4: Click on 'Manage Website Data...' to view stored data.
  • •Step 5: Select the websites you want to remove data from and click 'Remove' or click 'Remove All' to clear all data.
  • •Step 6: Confirm the action when prompted.
  • •Step 7: To verify, revisit the 'Manage Website Data' section to ensure the data has been cleared.

For macOS Monterey (12) and later

In macOS Monterey and later, the interface may have slight visual changes but the steps remain the same.
  • •Step 1: Open Safari and go to 'Safari' > 'Preferences'.
  • •Step 2: Click on 'Privacy' and follow the same steps to manage website data.

For macOS Big Sur (11) and earlier

The process is similar, but ensure your Safari is updated to the latest version for optimal performance.
  • •Step 1: Open Safari, click on 'Safari' > 'Preferences'.
  • •Step 2: Proceed to 'Privacy' and manage website data as described.

Method 2: Clearing Cache and Cookies via History Menu

Use this method to quickly clear all browsing history, cache, and cookies.
  • •Step 1: Open Safari and click on 'History' in the top menu.
  • •Step 2: Select 'Clear History...' from the dropdown menu.
  • •Step 3: Choose the time range you want to clear (last hour, today, today and yesterday, all history).
  • •Step 4: Click 'Clear History' to confirm.
  • •Step 5: To verify, check your browsing history to ensure it has been cleared.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter problems while clearing cache and cookies, consider the following solutions:
  • •Error: 'Unable to remove data' - Solution: Ensure Safari is not running in Private Browsing mode, as this may prevent data from being cleared.
  • •Issue: 'Data still appears after clearing' - Fix: Restart Safari and check again; sometimes, a restart is needed for changes to take effect.
  • •Problem: 'Clearing history does not log me out' - Workaround: Manually log out of websites if they remain signed in after clearing.

Advanced Tips & Shortcuts

Enhance your Safari experience with these power user tips:
  • •Keyboard shortcut: Command + Option + E - This clears the cache directly without going through menus.
  • •Command line: Use Terminal command 'defaults delete com.apple.Safari' to reset Safari settings, including cache and cookies.
  • •Hidden feature: Enable 'Develop' menu in Preferences > Advanced to access 'Empty Caches' directly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common pitfalls:

Expert Tips

Regularly clearing cache and cookies can significantly enhance Safari's performance and security.