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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Clear your iPad cache regularly to boost speed and free storage.
- Safari, Chrome, and apps all store cache that can slow performance.
- Restarting your iPad helps clear hidden files and improve stability.
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably a bit of a data hoarder, maybe without even realizing it. My iPad Pro has around a hundred apps installed and a couple of browsers I regularly use, 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. In practice, though, it’s all too easy for those temporary files — images, scripts, logins, etc. — to pile up and slow down your iPad. It’s like a backpack filled with junk. On a hike, it’s handy to have snacks and water at your disposal, giving you the energy to make it up the mountain at record speed.
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At some point, though, all that extra weight, especially if you’ve picked up rocks or specimens along the way, makes hiking a real slog. Clearing the cache regularly is like dumping out your backpack. It frees up storage and can give your iPad a noticeable boost.
Let’s walk through every way to purge cache on an iPad running iOS 26, and I’ll explain why it matters in more detail.
How to clear cache on your iPad
What you’ll need: An iPad running iPadOS 26 and your Apple ID password or device passcode handy in case you’re prompted 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 locally called cache. Here’s how to clear it.
- Open Settings > Apps.
- Scroll down to Safari and tap it.
- Find and tap Clear History and Website Data.
- Choose a time frame (I suggest All History).
- Tap Clear History to erase your history, cookies, and cache.
Clearing Safari’s history and website data can resolve glitches or improve browsing speed without deleting your bookmarks or saved passwords. It simply removes cache, history, and cookies, allowing Safari to start fresh the next time you open it. While you’ll be logged out of websites, your bookmarks and autofill passwords will still be available.
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Tip: If you want more granular control (for example, to delete cookies but keep your browsing history in Safari), scroll further down in Settings > Apps > Safari to Advanced > Website Data, and then tap Remove All Website Data. This will clear website data only from Safari, such as cookies and tracking information.
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If you use Chrome on your iPad instead, you can clear cache just like you can in Safari. It also stores images, scripts, and site data to speed up your browsing experience. Over time, though, that cache can get bloated and buggy. You might notice that websites are not updating properly, pages are loading slowly, or you’re experiencing login glitches.
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Unlike Safari, Chrome has its own built-in controls for managing cache and cookies. You don’t need to dig through your iPad’s Settings app because everything is done right within the Chrome app.
- Open the Chrome app on your iPad.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
- Choose Privacy and Security, then tap Delete Browsing Data.
- Select the time range you want to clear (I suggest All time).
- Make sure Cached Images and Files is checked. You can also check Cookies and Site Data for a deeper purge, and even Browsing History if you want to be extra thorough. Chrome makes it easy for you to decide.
- Tap Delete Data to confirm.
Deleting 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 noticeable amount of storage if you’re a heavy tab hoarder (guilty). You might be logged out of some sites if you clear everything, 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 offloading or deleting apps you don’t need. Offloading removes the app from your device to free up space but keeps your documents and data. Deleting removes everything, including the app and its data.
Deleting is the only way to fully wipe local cache, 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 one uses.
- Sort by size and review any app taking up a lot of storage. Just tap one to select it and see your options.
- Select Offload App to delete the app but keep its data. This still clears most of the cached files for that app.
- If you need a total reset, tap Delete App instead. This removes 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 pile up gigabytes of cache. Netflix, for example, was taking up over 16GB on my iPad Pro before I offloaded it 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 remove apps you rarely use. This helps free up space over time without you having to manually offload each app.
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Once you’ve cleared cache from your browsers and offloaded or deleted unused apps, restart your iPad. iPadOS manages a lot of “invisible” cache and hidden temporary files in the background, and a quick reboot can flush those out and refresh the memory, often making everything feel faster.
I’m not talking about a full factory reset, just a simple restart.
- Hold down the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time, then wait a few seconds.
- Slide to Power Off your iPad.
- 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 cache on my iPad?
The 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 they don’t have to download again. It’s useful for performance, but too much cached data can slow your iPad down, so you should regularly clear it.
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Will clearing the cache delete all my data?
No. Clearing cache and browser history only removes 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 full 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 — like if they’re behaving oddly 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 might use on your iPad. You might also use Firefox or Edge, and each has its own cache-clearing method (linked). Many apps don’t let you clear cache directly, but some do, so it’s worth checking their settings or support pages for your most commonly used apps. For example, TikTok and Snapchat both let you clear cache within their apps.
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