How to clear the Firefox cache

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  • Revision id: 21845
  • Created:
  • Creator: Michael Verdi
  • Comment: updated for new cache settings in Fx 11
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  • Reviewed:
  • Reviewed by: Verdi
  • Is approved? Yes
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  • Readied for localization by: Verdi
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The Firefox cache temporarily stores images, scripts, and other parts of websites while you are browsing. This article describes how to clear the Firefox cache.

  • To clear your history (i.e. cookies, browsing history, cache, etc.) all at once, see Clearing Private Data.


Clear the cache

  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. Select the Advanced panel.
  3. Click on the Network tab.
  4. In the Offline Storage section, click Clear Now.
    2bd0b316b0ef6a181452357b0f563477-1270320067-928-1.jpgf49b2eeaca4757e02058bd6cf6e8f4b7-1246122498-344-2.jpgf49b2eeaca4757e02058bd6cf6e8f4b7-1266972965-411-2.jpg
  5. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.
  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. Select the Advanced panel.
  3. Click on the Network tab.
  4. In the Offline Storage section, click Clear Now.
    Clear Cache Win1Clear Cache Mac1Clear Cache Lin1
  5. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.
  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. Select the Advanced panel.
  3. Click on the Network tab.
  4. In the Cached Web Content section, click Clear Now.
    Clear Cache Win1 fx11Clear Cache Mac1 fx11Clear Cache Lin1 fx11
  5. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.


Automatically clear the cache

You can set Firefox to automatically clear the cache when Firefox closes:

  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. Select the Privacy panel.
  3. In the History section, set Firefox will: to Use custom settings for history.
  4. Select the check box for Clear history when Firefox closes.

    0fe4dbec9d60196f4d2380c648cfed1b-1259382275-299-2.png
    Clear Cache Win2Clear Cache Mac2Clear Cache Lin2
  5. Beside Clear history when Firefox closes, click the Settings... button. The Settings for Clearing History window will open.
  6. In the Settings for Clearing History window, click the check mark box next to Cache.

    0fe4dbec9d60196f4d2380c648cfed1b-1259382275-299-3.png
    Clear Cache Win3Clear Cache Mac3Clear Cache Lin3
  7. Click OK to close the Settings for Clearing History window.
  8. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.
  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. Select the Privacy panel.
  3. In the Private Data section, click to select Always clear my private data when I close Firefox.
    • If Ask me before clearing private data is selected you will be prompted to clear the cache each time you close Firefox. Do not select it if you want Firefox to clear the cache automatically.
  4. In the Private Data section, click Settings.... Click to select Cache.