How to Clear Your iPhone Cache

Clearing your iPhone cache means removing the temporary files that websites and apps store to load faster. You do it in Settings, mostly under Safari, and it takes a couple of minutes. There is no single button that clears every app's cache at once, so you clear browser data directly and use app offloading for everything else.

• Your login details for any websites you are signed into, because clearing Safari data signs you out

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Apps, then select Safari.
3. Scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data.
4. Confirm the timeframe you want to clear, then tap Clear History. This does not change your AutoFill information.
5. If you want to keep your browsing history but still clear cookies and cache, go back to Safari settings, tap Advanced, then choose Website Data.
6. Tap Remove All Website Data, then tap Remove Now. This clears the data used for tracking and for saving login information.
7. To remove a single site from your history instead, open the Safari app and go to your Start Page.
8. Tap the History button, then tap the More button.
9. Tap Select Websites, choose the sites you want to delete, then tap the Trash button.
10. To clear an app's stored data, go to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage.
11. Tap an app you do not need on your phone right now and select Offload App. The app stays on your Home Screen, but you will need to tap it to re-download before you can use it again.

Clearing Safari data signs you out of websites you are currently signed into, so make sure you know your passwords before you start.

If the Clear History and Website Data button is greyed out, there is either no data to clear, or you may need to check your web content restrictions in Screen Time.

You cannot technically clear an individual app's cache on an iPhone. Offloading the app is the closest equivalent, and it frees up the space the app was using while keeping its icon in place.

Blocking cookies is a separate option. Go to Settings, tap Apps, choose Safari, then tap Advanced and turn on Block All Cookies. This removes all existing cookies and website data, Safari quits and your tabs reload. Be aware that some webpages may not work properly if you block cookies: you may not be able to sign in even with the correct username and password, you may see a message saying cookies are required, and some site features may stop working.

Content blockers are another route. Download a content blocking app from the App Store, then go to Settings, tap Apps, choose Safari, then tap Extensions and turn on a listed blocker. You can use more than one. If you need help with a third-party blocker, contact the app developer.

Restarting your iPhone is a simple way to clear out memory-clogging files. On a model with no Home button, press the volume up button, the volume down button and the power button, then swipe to turn your iPhone off. Once it has shut down, press and hold the power button until the Apple logo appears and wait for it to reboot fully. On a model with a Home button, hold down the power button until the slider appears, let the device power down, then press the power button to restart.

Will clearing my cache delete my photos or apps? No. Clearing Safari history and website data removes browsing data, cookies and cache. Offloading an app removes the app's stored data but leaves the icon on your Home Screen, and you can re-download it by tapping it.

Why is the Clear History and Website Data button greyed out? Either there is no data to clear, or you may need to check your web content restrictions in Screen Time.

Does clearing Safari data remove my saved passwords and AutoFill details? No. Apple states that clearing history and website data does not change your AutoFill information. You will, however, be signed out of websites you were logged into.

Can I clear the cache for just one app? iPhone does not have a built-in feature for clearing individual app caches. Offloading the app through Settings, General, iPhone Storage is the practical alternative.

Should I block all cookies instead? Blocking all cookies removes existing cookies and website data, but it can stop you signing in to sites and break some features.