Temporary Internet files are usually your browser’s cache: locally saved pieces of webpages, such as images, that can help those pages load faster when you visit again. In current Chrome controls, this category is labeled “Cached images and files.” It is separate from cookies, browsing history, and downloaded files.
What temporary Internet files are
A browser cache keeps copies of some webpage content on your device for a while. When you revisit a page, the browser may use those saved elements instead of fetching them all again, which can help the page open faster. Google describes cached information as parts of websites, including images, saved to help pages load more quickly on a later visit: Google Account Help.
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“Temporary Internet files” is a general or older label for this kind of browser-stored content. Google AdSense Help describes browser cache as a temporary record of Internet activity, including images, sounds, and downloads, kept on a computer for a short while: Google AdSense Help. The exact contents and labels can vary by browser; the term does not mean that every browser stores every kind of activity in one cache folder.
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How cache differs from cookies and other browser data
Browsers offer separate controls for different categories of stored data. Chrome, for example, distinguishes cached images and files from cookies and other site data, browsing history, and download history: Chrome Help: Delete browsing data.
| Category | What it contains or does | What deleting it affects |
|---|---|---|
| Cache / cached images and files | Saved webpage elements that can help pages load faster on a later visit. | Removes those cached copies; the browser can fetch content again when needed. |
| Cookies and other site data | Data created or stored by websites, which can include browsing information and site preferences. | May sign you out of websites or remove saved site preferences. |
| Browsing history | A list or record of pages you visited. | Removes the selected history records. |
| Download history | The browser’s list of files you downloaded. | Removes the list, not the downloaded files themselves. |
Chrome’s help explains these categories and notes that deleting download history does not delete the actual files on your computer. Other browser data, such as autofill, settings, or site data, may also have separate controls.
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What happens when you clear temporary Internet files
- The browser removes the selected cached page content from the chosen time range.
- Some sites may load more slowly the next time you visit because images and other content have to load again.
- Clearing cache can help when a site has loading or formatting problems, can make the latest version of a site appear, and can free local storage. These are possible benefits, not guaranteed outcomes.
- Cache clearing by itself is not the same as deleting cookies, browsing history, saved passwords, or downloaded files. The result depends on which categories you select in the browser’s deletion controls.
Google’s guidance on cache and cookies describes these potential troubleshooting benefits and the temporary slowdown as sites reload content: Google Account Help.
When to clear the cache—and when not to
Consider clearing cached files if a page appears broken or out of date, or if you need to reclaim local storage. If a site’s sign-in state or saved preferences matter, check the selected categories carefully: clearing cookies or other site data can have effects that clearing cache alone does not.
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For Chrome on a computer, the deletion controls let you choose a time range and the types of data to remove. Labels and steps can vary by browser, version, and platform, so use the browser’s current instructions and confirm the selected categories before deleting anything. The Chrome instructions are available at Delete browsing data in Chrome.
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