How to Clear Cache in Safari (2026 Guide)

Last updated: June 20, 2026

Safari handles caching differently from Chrome and Firefox. Whether you're on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, clearing Safari's cache can fix websites that look broken, won't load, or show outdated content.

Safari on Mac — Method 1: Quick Cache Bypass

Force Safari to reload the current page fresh from the server.

Hard refresh the page

Mac: Cmd + Option + R

This bypasses the cache for the current page. Alternatively, hold Shift and click the reload button.

Safari on Mac — Method 2: Clear All Cache

Enable the Develop menu (if not already visible)

Go to Safari → Settings (or Cmd + ,). Click the "Advanced" tab. Check "Show features for web developers" (or "Show Develop menu in menu bar" on older versions).

Empty caches

Click Develop in the menu bar → "Empty Caches".

Or use the keyboard shortcut: Cmd + Option + E

Tip: This clears all cached files without removing cookies or history — you stay logged in to your websites.

Safari on Mac — Method 3: Clear Everything

If emptying caches wasn't enough, clear all website data including cookies.

Open Safari Settings

Go to Safari → Settings (or press Cmd + ,).

Go to the Privacy tab

Click the "Privacy" tab, then click "Manage Website Data..."

Remove data

You can search for a specific website and remove just its data, or click "Remove All" to clear everything. Click "Done" when finished.

Note: Removing all website data will log you out of every website. Only do this if the simpler methods didn't work.

Safari on Mac — Clear Cache for One Site

Use the Privacy tab to target a specific site

Go to Safari → Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data. Use the search box to find the specific site. Select it and click "Remove".

This clears cache, cookies, and local storage for that one site only.

Safari on iPhone / iPad

Clearing Safari cache on iOS works through the Settings app, not Safari itself.

Open the Settings app

Go to your iPhone or iPad Settings (the gear icon on your home screen).

Scroll down and tap "Apps" then "Safari"

On older iOS versions, Safari appears directly in the main Settings list. On iOS 18+, it's under Apps → Safari.

Tap "Clear History and Website Data"

Scroll down and tap "Clear History and Website Data". Confirm by tapping "Clear History and Data".

Note: On iOS, this clears history, cookies, AND cache all at once. There's no option to clear only the cache. You'll be logged out of all websites.

Safari on iPhone — Clear Data for One Site

Go to Settings → Apps → Safari → Advanced → Website Data

This shows a list of all websites that have stored data on your device.

Find and swipe to delete

Search for the specific website, then swipe left on it and tap "Delete". This removes data for that one site only.

When Should You Clear Safari Cache?

Website shows old design or content — Safari is serving a cached version
Images or scripts not loading — corrupted cached files
"Cannot open page" errors — especially after Wi-Fi changes or VPN toggling
Website works in Chrome but not Safari — could be a Safari-specific caching issue
After iOS/macOS updates — sometimes old cached data conflicts with the new browser version
Safari feels slow — a large cache can impact performance, especially on older devices

Site still not loading after clearing cache? The problem might be on the server side. Use nere.nu to check if the site is down for everyone or just you.

Still having trouble accessing a website?

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