Safari cache holds stored page files such as images, scripts, and layout data. If a site looks stale, has missing images, or refuses to behave after a normal refresh, clearing the cache makes Safari fetch a fresh copy. The exact method depends on whether you also want to clear cookies and history.
Does this affect you?
Use this for Safari on recent macOS, iPhone, or iPad versions when a website is broken, outdated, or login behavior is odd. Safari on iPhone and iPad does not separate cache from history and cookies as cleanly as Safari on Mac.
Clear cache on iPhone or iPad
On iOS and iPadOS, this clears history and website data together, so expect to sign in again.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps, then Safari. On older iOS versions, Safari may appear directly in Settings.
- Tap Clear History and Website Data.
- Confirm with Clear History and Data.
Saved passwords in the Passwords app or iCloud Keychain are not deleted by this step.
Clear cache, cookies, and history on Mac
This is the common Safari cleanup path on Mac.
- Open Safari.
- Choose Safari > Settings from the menu bar.
- Open Privacy.
- Click Manage Website Data.
- Click Remove All and confirm.
You can also use History > Clear History and choose all history, but this also removes browsing history and site data.
Clear only the cache on Mac
Use the Develop menu when you want to keep cookies, saved logins, and history.
- Open Safari > Settings.
- Open Advanced.
- Turn on Show features for web developers.
- Open the new Develop menu in the menu bar.
- Click Empty Caches.
You can leave the Develop menu enabled. It does not change normal browsing by itself.
More control
Know what each data type does
Cache stores page files, cookies keep logins and preferences, and history records visited pages. Safari main cleanup commands often bundle these together, while Empty Caches affects only cache.
Clear one website only
In Manage Website Data, search for the site, select its entry, and remove it. This clears that site data without touching every other site.
Hard refresh after clearing
On Mac, hold Shift while clicking reload. On iPhone or iPad, close and reopen the tab. If the issue appears in another browser too, the website itself may be the cause.
Sources
- Apple Support – Clear the history and cookies from Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch (2025)
- Apple Support – Clear your browsing history in Safari on Mac (2025)
- Apple Support – Use the Develop menu in Safari on Mac (2025)