What is Cache?

In plain English

A cache (say it "cash") is a little stash of things your computer or phone keeps handy so it doesn't have to fetch them all over again. Think of it like a kitchen worktop: instead of going back to the cupboard for the kettle, the mugs and the teabags every single time, you leave the ones you use most out where you can grab them quickly.

Your web browser does the same thing. When you visit a website, it quietly saves bits of that page - logos, pictures, layout - onto your computer. Next time you go back, it loads those saved bits instantly instead of downloading them again. That's why a site you've visited before usually pops up faster than a brand-new one.

Why it matters

Most of the time a cache is a good thing working away in the background to make Windows and Android feel quick. You'd only really notice it when something goes wrong: a website looks broken or shows old prices, a page won't update no matter how many times you refresh, or your device starts running low on storage. In those cases the cache has held on to a stale or jumbled copy, and clearing it is often the simple fix - no harm done to your photos, documents or passwords.

What to do

• Leave it alone unless there's a reason. A working cache is helping you. You don't need to clear it "just in case".
• If a website looks wrong or won't update, clear your browser's cache for that site. In most browsers it's Settings, then Privacy, then "Clear browsing data" - tick "Cached images and files". This is safe and won't log you out of everything if you leave "passwords" unticked.
• A quick alternative is to refresh the page while holding the Ctrl key (Ctrl and R together on Windows), which forces a fresh copy without wiping everything.
• Running low on phone storage? On Android you can clear an individual app's cache under Settings, Apps, then the app, then Storage. It frees up space without deleting your account or messages.
• Don't panic about "clearing" anything. Cached files are throwaway copies - removing them just means the next visit is a touch slower while they rebuild.

How 365 Techies can help

If a slow or stubborn computer has you reaching for help, we can talk you through clearing a cache or simply do it for you - gently, over the phone or remotely, as part of your support plan.

Related: Web browser · Cookies · RAM · Megabytes & gigabytes — or browse the full A–Z jargon buster.