How to clear the cache in Firefox

how to clear the cache in Firefox
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Knowing how to clear the cache in Firefox helps you speed up the browser when its performance is noticeably lagging.

As in other web browsers, the Firefox cache stores temporary files such as images from the sites you visit, such as images, style sheets, and multimedia content. This means that when you revisit those sites, Firefox is able to load their pages more quickly.

The trouble is that all these locally stored elements take up valuable space on your hard drive and mobile device, and can actually slow down your browser over time.

Fortunately, it's very easy to clear the cache in Firefox, both in the desktop version of the browser and the mobile app. You can do so without losing important site data, such as the cookies that store your login details for websites, and your browsing history.

Here's how to clear the cache in Firefox on your PC, Mac, phone, and tablet.

How to clear the cache in Firefox: In the desktop browser

1. Click the three-line menu button in the top-right corner of the Firefox desktop browser and choose Settings. When the Settings page opens, click “Privacy & Security” on the left-hand side. 

how to clear cache in Firefox - settings

(Image credit: Mozilla)

2. Scroll down to the “Cookies and Site Data” section. This will tell you how much disk space your stored cookies, site data, and cache are currently using: more than one gigabyte in our case! 

Click “Clear Data” to continue. 

how to clear cache in Firefox - data usage

(Image credit: Mozilla)

3. When the Clear Data box opens, check the box to clear “Cached Web Content.” You can also delete “Cookies and Site Data” but, as doing so signs you out of websites, it's better to uncheck this option. 

Click Clear to perform the deletion. 

how to clear cache in Firefox - clear cache

(Image credit: Mozilla)

4. Another way to clear the cache in Firefox is to click the three-line menu button, choose History, and select “Clear Recent History.” 

5. When the Clear Recent History box opens, uncheck all the boxes in the History section except Cache. You can optionally choose to clear "Browsing history and site data" too.

Select Everything from the “Time range to clear” drop-down menu and click OK. 

how to clear cache in Firefox - history

(Image credit: Mozilla)

How to clear the cache in Firefox: In the Android browser

1. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the corner of the Firefox app for Android (this will either be top-right or bottom-right depending on where you’ve placed your toolbar) and select Settings. 

Swipe down to the “Privacy and security” section and choose “Delete browsing data.”  

how to clear cache in Firefox - app settings

(Image credit: Mozilla)

2. Uncheck all the options except “Cached images and files” and press “Delete browsing data.” Confirm that you want Firefox to delete the selected browsing data by tapping Delete. 

A “Browsing data deleted” message will appear at the bottom of your screen.

how to clear Firefox cache - delete data

(Image credit: Mozilla)

3. You can also set the Firefox mobile browser to clear your cache automatically when you close the app. Go back to the Settings screen and choose “Delete browsing data on quit.” 

Switch on that option and again choose “Cached images and files” from the options below. Firefox will now delete this data every time you exit the browser.

how to clear cache in Firefox - delete on quit

(Image credit: Mozilla)

How to clear the cache in Firefox: in the iOS browser

1. Tap the three-line menu button in the top-corner of the Firefox app for iPhone and iPad. Select Settings, swipe down to the Privacy section and choose Data Management.

how to clear cache in Firefox - iOS

(Image credit: Mozilla)

2. On the Data Management screen, select Cache and "Offline Web Site Data," but switch off the other options unless you want to clear your browsing history, cookies, and downloads too. 

Tap Clear Private Data, then press OK to perform the deletion and speed up Firefox on your iPhone or iPad. 

how to clear cache in Firefox - delete ios data

(Image credit: Mozilla)
TOPICS
Robert Irvine

Robert Irvine was previously the How-To Editor at Tom's Guide. He has been writing tutorials about software, hardware, websites and other tech topics since the days of dial-up modems, and was previously the editor of Web User magazine. Robert enjoys cooking, and makes a mean sausage casserole, but is definitely not the celebrity chef of the same name.

Read more
Apple iPhone 16 held in the hand.
You can speed up your iPhone by clearing its cache — here's how to do it
MacBook Pro 16-inch 2021 sitting on a patio table
You can speed up your Mac by clearing its cache — here's how
iPhone 16 Pro shown held in hand
How to enable cookies on iPhone
Holographic login above laptop keyboard
Yes, you can use your browser's password manager – here’s how to do it safely
Google Chrome logo on laptop
Too many Chrome tabs? Here's how to organize them
Apple iPhone 16 held in the hand.
How to delete apps on iPhone
Latest in Browsers
Google Chrome on Android
How to stop your personal data from appearing in Google searches
Opera Air
I just tested the world’s first mindful browser — it’s calmly convinced me to ditch Google Chrome
A photo of the Google Chrome logo on a white background, displayed on the screen of a large MacBook Pro which is situated on a table with green foliage behind.
Google Chrome just got three new modes — and it's a game changer for performance
Google Calendar app on iPhone
Google Calendar just got the dark mode we’ve been waiting for — here’s how to activate it
Image of an Apple MacBook with a Google Chrome logo on the display
This new Google Chrome upgrade made me say 'whoa' out loud — and it's a game changer
Two Opera Browser Days attendees standing in front of a screen displaying the Opera logo
How Opera is challenging Google by putting privacy first
Latest in How To
The coolest things the Apple Watch can do
7 best Apple Watch features you're probably not using, but should
ChatGPT logo on a smartphone screen being held outside
I test ChatGPT for a living — 5 game-changing prompts to try next
Cleaning with a mop in yellow bucket
Your cleaning tools are spreading dirt — here’s how to disinfect them properly
Bouquet of spring flowers, Irises and yellow ranunculus, yellow tulips with white daffodils
Expert florist hack makes your cut daffodils and other flowers last longer
dishwasher cleaning tablet
This viral TikTok cleaning hack just revealed why your dishwasher tablet isn't working — and it makes total sense
ChatGPT on iPhone
I tried these 11 ChatGPT tips — and they take my prompts to the next level