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ZDNET Highlights
- Clear your iPad cache regularly to increase speed and free storage.
- Safari, Chrome, and apps all store cache which can slow down performance.
- Restarting your iPad helps clear hidden files and improve stability.
If you’re like me, you’re probably a bit of a data collector, maybe without even realizing it. I have about a hundred apps installed on my iPad Pro and a few browsers that I use regularly, each with more than 10 tabs open at all times, and they’re all caching data.
In theory, caching is great, as it helps your favorite apps and browsers load faster. However, in practice, it’s very easy for those temporary files – images, scripts, logins, etc. – to pile up and slow down your iPad. It’s like a backpack full of junk. While hiking, it is convenient to have snacks and water with you, which will give you the energy to climb the mountain at record speed.
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However, at some point, all that extra weight, especially if you’ve picked up rocks or specimens along the way, makes hiking a real chore. Clearing the cache regularly is like dumping your backpack. This frees up storage and can give your iPad a significant boost.
Let’s walk through each method of clearing the cache on an iPad running iOS 26, and I’ll explain in more detail why it matters.
How to clear the cache on your iPad
what you’ll need: All you need is an iPad running iPadOS 26 and your Apple ID password or device passcode if you’re asked for it.
If Safari is your default browser on your iPad or iPad Pro, know that every webpage you visit, every image you load, and every video you watch saves temporary files called cache locally. Here’s how to clean it.
- Open Settings > Apps.
- Scroll down to Safari and tap it.
- Find and tap Clear history and website data.
- Choose a time range (I suggest entire history).
- Tap Clear History to clear your history, cookies, and cache.
Clearing Safari history and website data can resolve glitches or improve browsing speed without deleting your bookmarks or saved passwords. This simply deletes the cache, history, and cookies, allowing Safari to start fresh the next time you open it. Even when you log out of websites, your bookmarks and autofill passwords will still be available.
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Tip: If you want more detailed control (for example, to delete cookies but keep your browsing history in Safari), scroll down further to Settings > Apps > Advanced from Safari > Website data, and then tap Clear all website data. This will only clear website data, such as cookies and tracking information, from Safari.
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If you use Chrome on your iPad instead, you can clear the cache just like you can in Safari. It also stores images, scripts, and site data to speed up your browsing experience. However, over time, that cache can become bloated and depleted. You may notice that websites aren’t updating properly, pages are loading slowly, or you’re experiencing login errors.
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Unlike Safari, Chrome has its own built-in controls for managing cache and cookies. You don’t need to dig into your iPad’s Settings app because everything is done within the Chrome app.
- Open the Chrome app on your iPad.
- Tap on the three-dot menu in the upper right corner.
- Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
- Select Privacy & Security, then tap Clear browsing data.
- Select the time range you want to clear (I suggest all time).
- Make sure cached images and files are checked. You can also check cookies and site data and even browsing history if you want to go more in-depth. Chrome makes it easy for you to decide.
- Tap Clear data to confirm.
Clearing the cache in Chrome will force the browser to load fresh data from websites the next time you visit them. It can also free up a remarkable amount of storage if you’re a heavy tab hoarder (guilty). If you clear everything you may be logged out of some sites, but like Safari, your bookmarks and autofill passwords will remain.
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Chrome is great because it offers a clear cache option, but most apps don’t, so you might want to consider uninstalling or deleting apps you don’t need. Offloading removes apps from your device to free up space but keeps your documents and data. Deleting removes everything including the app and its data.
The only way to completely clear the local cache is to delete it, but both methods can clear temporary files and free up space.
- Open Settings > General > iPad Storage. You’ll see a list of apps and how much space each app uses.
- Sort by size and review any apps taking up too much storage. Simply tap on one to select it and see your options.
- Select Offload App to remove an app but keep its data. This still clears most of the cached files for that app.
- If you need a full reset, tap Delete App instead. This deletes all app data and settings.
- After offloading or deleting, you can reinstall the app from the App Store if you still need it.
This trick is especially useful for social media, gaming, or streaming apps that can hoard gigabytes of cache. For example, Netflix was taking up more than 16GB of space on my iPad Pro before I turned it off to free up local storage.
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Tip: You can also enable Offload Unused Apps (in Settings > App Store) to let your iPad automatically delete apps you rarely use. This helps you free up space over time without having to manually offload each app.
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Once you’ve cleared the cache from your browser and offloaded or deleted unused apps, restart your iPad. iPadOS manages a lot of “invisible” caches and hidden temporary files in the background, and a quick reboot can flush them out and refresh the memory, often making everything faster.
I’m not talking about a full factory reset, just a simple restart.
- Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons together, then wait for a few seconds.
- Slide your iPad to power off.
- Press the top power button to turn it back on.
If your iPad’s buttons aren’t working, you can also go to Settings > General > Shut Down.
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Even a daily reboot can help keep things running smoothly and improve performance and security.
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What is the cache on my iPad?
TL;DR version: Cache is a collection of temporary files that apps and websites store locally to speed up loading, browsing, and your overall experience on the iPad. For example, images or scripts from websites are saved so that they do not have to be downloaded again. This is useful for performance, but too much cached data can slow down your iPad, so you should clear it regularly.
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Will clearing the cache destroy all my data?
No, clearing the cache and browser history only deletes temporary data, as well as your history and cookies – not your bookmarks or passwords. Offloading an app also keeps your documents and settings safe, but deleting an app removes everything for a complete reset.
How often should I clear the cache on my iPad?
It depends. As a general rule, clear your browser history and cache about once a month (or more if you browse heavily) and reboot your iPad every day. Apps can be offloaded or removed as needed – such as if they’re behaving strangely or taking up too much space.
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Can I clear cache in other browsers or apps?
Safari and Chrome aren’t the only browsers you can use on your iPad. you can also use firefox Or EdgeAnd each has its own cash-clearing method (linked). Many apps don’t allow you to clear the cache directly, but some do, so it’s worth checking their settings or support pages for your most used apps. For example, tiktok And snapchat Both let you clear the cache in your apps.
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