There’s a simple Sunday habit that’s made my iPhone noticeably faster, smoother, and just… less annoying: I clear the browser cache.
It takes less than 15 seconds. But after doing it regularly for a few months, I noticed Safari started loading pages faster. My storage freed up a couple gigabytes.
And little glitches I used to chalk up to “just iOS being iOS,” like sites stalling or buttons not responding, basically stopped happening.
If you’re considering an update soon, this is a smart step to take before or after the installation.
New software relies on a clean slate. Allowing old cache files to accumulate only clutters things and can cause unexpected bugs or slowdowns.
Here’s what’s really going on:
Your browser saves tiny bits of information from every site you visit, including images, scripts, cookies, and trackers, to speed up the process next time. However, over time, those files pile up.
Multiply that by five hours of daily screen time (the average for iPhone users), and you’ve got a mountain of junk silently slowing your phone down.
Also: 8 iPhone settings you should turn off to keep your data safe and your battery lasting longer
Clearing the cache wipes that junk and lets your browser breathe again.
Here’s how I do it in Safari:
Open the Settings app and select Apps.
Scroll down and select Safari from the list
Under the History and Website Data section, tap Clear History and Website Data
There will be more granular options to choose from. The default options are very conservative; if you want to dive deeper, feel free to do so.
When finished, tap the Clear History button at the bottom.
It logs you out of websites but keeps autofill info and passwords. You’ll get the option to keep your tabs open, I always do.
If you use Chrome as your main browser, it’s just as easy:
Open Chrome, then tap the three dots at the lower-right corner of the screen.
Swipe up to reveal the rest of the card, then tap Delete Browsing Data.
From the pop-up menu, choose which items you’d like to remove, such as your browsing history, tabs, cookies, cached images and files, saved passwords, or autofill data.
Next, choose the timeframe for the data you wish to delete. Select All Time to clear all data.
The Bottom Line
If it’s been a while since you’ve done this, expect a small performance bump immediately. It’s one of those things you don’t think about until after you do it, like restarting your router.
When you make it a habit, your phone runs cleaner all week long. And for anyone who takes pride in keeping their iPhone running like new, this is a habit worth picking up.
What other small iPhone tweaks or habits have helped speed up your device? Drop your favorite underrated trick in the comments.
Doesn’t conform to my iPhone (model 8)
Thanks so much!