Cached files help websites and apps load faster, but they can build up over time and contribute to loading errors, outdated pages or limited storage. There is no single button that clears every cache on an iPad, so you must clean Safari, browsers and individual applications separately.
Pro Tip
Before clearing your iPad’s cache, check Settings > General > iPad Storage to identify what is actually consuming space. Clearing Safari or app cache can fix loading errors and outdated content, but removing large downloads, videos and attachments often frees considerably more storage.
How to Clear Safari Cache on iPad
Safari stores browsing history, cookies and website data to remember previously visited pages and improve loading speed. Clearing this information can help when websites display old content, fail to load correctly or repeatedly show login and formatting errors.
Follow these steps on current iPadOS versions:
- Open the Settings app on your iPad.
- Scroll down and tap Apps.
- Select Safari from the app list.
- Tap Clear History and Website Data.
- Choose the period you want to clear, where available.
- Select the relevant Safari profile if you use multiple profiles.
- Tap Clear History to confirm.
On an older iPadOS version, Safari may appear directly in the main Settings menu rather than inside Settings > Apps.
Clearing Safari history and website data removes browsing history, recent searches, cookies and cached website files. It may also sign you out of websites and remove preferences that sites previously remembered. Safari history can be removed from other Apple devices when Safari is enabled in iCloud.
How to Clear Website Data Without Deleting All Safari History
You may want to remove cookies and cached files while retaining more of your visible browsing history. Safari provides an advanced website-data section where you can review and remove stored information.
Open Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced > Website Data. From there, you can remove data for individual websites or select Remove All Website Data.
This method is particularly useful when:
- One website is not working correctly: Remove data for the affected domain rather than clearing every saved website file. When you revisit the site, Safari downloads a fresh version of its content and may ask you to sign in again.
- A website keeps showing outdated information: Stored files can occasionally cause Safari to display an older page version. Removing that website’s data forces the browser to retrieve updated resources from the server.
- You want more targeted privacy control: Deleting selected website data removes stored cookies and local files for those sites without unnecessarily clearing data belonging to every website you use.
How to Clear Cache from Apps on iPad
Unlike Safari, iPadOS does not provide one universal cache-clearing control for every installed app. Some applications include their own cache, download or storage settings, while others require you to delete and reinstall the app.
Start by opening the app and checking sections such as Settings, Storage, Data Usage, Downloads or Privacy. Streaming, social media, messaging and cloud-storage applications often provide options to remove temporary media, downloaded files or browsing data.
When checking an app, look for options such as:
- Clear Cache: This normally removes temporary files while preserving your account, conversations and primary app data. Review the confirmation message because the exact behaviour depends on the application.
- Remove Downloads: Streaming and media apps may store films, music, podcasts or offline documents separately from cache files. Deleting unwanted downloads can free substantially more storage than clearing temporary data alone.
- Manage Storage: Messaging and collaboration apps may let you review large videos, attachments and conversations. Remove only content you no longer require, especially when the app contains business or customer information.
- Clear Browsing Data: Third-party browsers usually manage their own history, cookies and cached images. Clearing Safari does not automatically clean data stored by Chrome, Firefox, Edge or another browser.
How to Check Which Apps Are Using the Most Storage
Before deleting anything, identify which applications and files are consuming space.
Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage. Your iPad will calculate storage usage and display recommendations, followed by a list of applications arranged according to the space they occupy. Tap an app to see the size of the application and the amount used by its documents and data.
Use this information to decide what requires attention:
- A large app with limited documents and data: Offloading the app may free a useful amount of space because most storage is being used by the application itself.
- A small app with extensive documents and data: Review downloads, attachments and saved projects inside the application. Offloading may provide limited improvement because it retains documents and data.
- An app you no longer use: Delete it after confirming that important files, account information or unsynchronised projects have been backed up.
Should You Offload or Delete an App to Clear Cache?
Offloading and deleting produce different results, so choose carefully.
When you select Offload App, iPadOS removes the application itself while retaining its documents and data. The app can later be reinstalled, allowing you to continue using its saved information. Apple also allows users to enable Offload Unused Apps so the iPad can automatically remove infrequently used applications when storage is limited.
Deleting an app removes the application and may also remove locally stored data. This can provide a more complete reset when an app has corrupted cache files, keeps crashing or offers no built-in cache control.
To delete and reinstall an app:
- Confirm that important app data is synchronised or backed up.
- Touch and hold the app icon.
- Tap Remove App.
- Select Delete App and confirm the deletion.
- Open the App Store and reinstall the app.
- Sign back into your account and restore available cloud data.
Apple advises that deleting an app may cause the loss of information stored only inside that application. Do not use this method until you have checked whether essential files are saved elsewhere.
How to Clear Cache in Chrome and Other Browsers
Each browser maintains its own browsing data. Clearing Safari will not remove cache files from another browser installed on your iPad.
Open the browser, locate its menu and look for History, Privacy, Clear Browsing Data or a similar option. Select cached images and files, cookies or browsing history according to your needs.
Remember that:
- Clearing cookies may sign you out of websites.
- Removing saved passwords can delete login details that are not synchronised.
- Deleting autofill information may remove saved names, addresses or payment details.
- Clearing all browsing history removes more information than clearing only cached files.
Review every selected category before confirming the cleanup.
What Else Can You Delete to Free Storage on iPad?
Cache may not be the main reason your iPad is running low on space. Photos, videos, downloads, message attachments and offline media frequently use much more storage.
Check the following areas:
- Files and Downloads: Open the Files app and review the Downloads folder, saved PDFs, videos, ZIP archives and duplicate project files. Also empty Recently Deleted when you are certain the files are no longer required.
- Photos and videos: Delete unwanted recordings and large videos, then check the Recently Deleted album. Confirm that important media has been backed up before permanently removing it.
- Messages and attachments: Old conversations may contain large videos, images and documents. Remove unnecessary attachments without deleting important communication records.
- Offline entertainment: Review downloaded films, television programmes, podcasts, playlists and maps. Offline content can quietly consume several gigabytes of storage.
When Should You Clear Cache on an iPad?
You do not need to clear the cache every day. Temporary files are designed to improve performance and will be recreated as you continue browsing and using apps.
Cache cleaning is most useful when websites display outdated pages, an app repeatedly crashes, Safari behaves unexpectedly, storage is nearly full or a shared iPad must be prepared for another user. Apple also recommends checking iPad Storage and freeing space when a device is running slowly.
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