How to Clear Cache on iPhone: Safari, Apps and Storage Explained

To clear Safari cache on an iPhone, open Safari, visit your browsing history and choose the Clear option, selecting an appropriate time range. Apple’s current iPhone guide places the control inside Safari’s History view. For individual apps, the safest approach is to inspect Settings → General → iPhone Storage before deciding whether to offload or delete an app. There is no universal iPhone button that wipes every app’s cache without consequences.

Quick answer: which type of cache do you want to clear?

Clear Safari cache and website history on iPhone

1. Open Safari on your iPhone.
2. Open the bookmarks/history interface. Depending on the current Safari tab layout, use the Bookmarks icon, or More then Bookmarks.
3. Tap the History icon, then use the More menu and choose Clear.
4. Select the timeframe you actually want to erase. If you use Safari Profiles, choose whether to clear one profile or all profiles.
5. Confirm Clear History. Reopen any problem website to check whether the issue is resolved.

Apple warns that this process removes browsing history, cookies and website permissions. It can sign you out of websites or require permissions to be granted again. It does not wipe histories that other apps keep independently or every record retained by websites.

What about clearing only one app’s cache?

Start in Settings → General → iPhone Storage. Select the app and inspect its storage use. Apple distinguishes Offload App from Delete App: offloading removes the app binary while keeping its documents and data, whereas deleting removes the app and related data. This means offloading is not a guaranteed cache reset. For apps that offer a separate in-app ‘clear cache’ option, that option may be the more precise choice.

Offload an app without deleting its documents

1. Open Settings, choose General, then iPhone Storage.
2. Wait for the list of apps and their reported usage to load.
3. Choose the app you are investigating.
4. Read its storage breakdown and any Offload App option.
5. Use Offload only when you understand that the app may need downloading again and its stored documents are retained.

For a messaging or notes app, check whether its important data is backed up before changing anything. Deleting an app to fix cache can remove local data, depending on the app and its sync configuration.

Clear cache in Chrome or another iPhone browser

Safari’s clear-history action does not reach inside Chrome or other apps. Open the browser in question and look for its own browsing-data controls. Select only the data categories you intend to remove, such as cached images and files. Cookies and site data are separate categories in many browsers, so deleting them can cause sign-outs.

How to tell if storage is really the problem

In Settings → General → iPhone Storage, review free space, large apps, downloads, videos and local files. Apple says iOS may automatically remove some temporary files when space is scarce. Deleting hundreds of photos without checking iCloud sync is riskier than inspecting the actual storage breakdown first. See our iCloud storage explainer to distinguish cloud storage from local phone storage.

When clearing cache is not the fix

• Safari still will not load: check network access and whether the site itself is having an outage.
• An app is crashing: update the app and iOS, restart the device and consult the developer’s support steps.
• Storage fills again immediately: examine large downloads, offline videos and message attachments.
• Passwords appear missing: Safari history clearing is different from deleting saved passwords, but website sessions can still be signed out.
• Device is slow: cache is not always the cause; assess available storage, battery condition and software updates.

Frequently asked questions

Does iPhone have a clear-all-app-cache button?

Not a single universal system control that guarantees safe removal of every third-party app’s cache. App-specific controls and iPhone Storage settings are the practical options.

Does clearing Safari cache delete photos?

No. Safari browsing data and the Photos library are different storage categories.

Does Offload App erase cache?

Do not rely on that: Apple says offloading keeps documents and data, which may include information the app retains.

Will I have to log back in to websites?

Possibly, because clearing Safari browsing data also removes cookies.

Official references: Apple: Clear your cache and cookies and Apple: Check iPhone and iPad storage. Instructions may look different on earlier iOS versions.