Use Microsoft Edge to clear browser cache unless you are stuck with an old Internet Explorer-only site. Internet Explorer is retired for many Windows versions, as Microsoft ended support for it on June 15, 2022 [source: Microsoft]. So yes, you can still talk about “IE flush cache,” but most people should do the job in Edge now.

TLDR: If a site looks broken, loads old buttons, or refuses to log you in, clear the cache first. In Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete, pick Cached images and files, then clear it. For example, a support team with 50 users may fix 30 “site not updating” tickets just by clearing cache after a web app update. Internet Explorer can still be cleared, but it feels old, slower, and a bit cranky.

What “Flush Cache” Means

“Flush cache” sounds like a plumber’s job. It is not.

It means deleting saved website files from your browser. These files include images, scripts, style sheets, and bits of pages. Browsers save them to make sites load faster next time.

That is nice. Until it is not.

A cached file can get stale. Then the browser keeps showing old stuff. A button may vanish. A login page may loop. A shopping cart may act haunted. It drives me crazy that one tiny old file can make a whole site look broken.

Clearing the cache tells the browser, “Stop using the old copy. Get a fresh one.”

Internet Explorer vs Edge: The Simple Difference

Internet Explorer is the old browser. It was built for an older web. Many business tools were made for it years ago. Some still survive in offices like dusty printers that never die.

Microsoft Edge is the newer browser. It is faster. It gets security updates. It works with modern websites. It also has IE mode for some older business sites.

So the rule is simple:

• Use Edge for normal browsing.
• Use IE cache clearing only for old apps or IE mode issues.
• Try cache clearing first before blaming the website.

How to Clear Cache in Microsoft Edge

Edge makes this fairly painless. Not perfect. But better.

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete.
3. Set the time range. Pick All time if you want a full clean.
4. Check Cached images and files.
5. Leave passwords unchecked unless you want chaos.
6. Click Clear now.

You can also go through the menu:

• Click the three dots in the top right.
• Go to Settings.
• Pick Privacy, search, and services.
• Find Clear browsing data.
• Click Choose what to clear.

The keyboard shortcut is faster. Expect to waste 20 seconds more if you click through menus every time. That may not sound like much. Now do it ten times on a Monday.

How to Clear Cache in Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer hides cache clearing in a place called Internet Options. Of course it does.

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click the gear icon.
3. Choose Internet options.
4. Stay on the General tab.
5. Under Browsing history, click Delete.
6. Check Temporary Internet files and website files.
7. Click Delete.
8. Close and reopen the browser.

There is a useful checkbox here called Preserve Favorites website data. If it is checked, IE may keep cache from your favorite sites. That can be annoying. If you want a true clean, uncheck it.

What About Edge IE Mode?

IE mode is Edge wearing an old Internet Explorer hat. It helps companies run older apps inside Edge. This is common with legacy payroll systems, intranet portals, warehouse tools, and ancient admin panels.

If a site runs in IE mode, Edge may use different data for that session. So a normal Edge cache clear may not always fix every IE mode problem.

Try this order:

1. Clear normal Edge cache first.
2. Restart Edge.
3. Test the site again.
4. If it still fails, clear old Internet Options data too.
5. Ask IT if the site uses IE mode policies.

That last part matters in offices. IT teams can control IE mode with company rules. You might not be allowed to change some settings yourself.

Which One Is Faster?

Edge wins. No drama.

Edge has a direct shortcut. It has a cleaner settings page. It also handles modern site files better. Internet Explorer feels like opening a filing cabinet with a bent key.

For a normal user, Edge cache clearing takes about 10 to 20 seconds. Internet Explorer may take 20 to 40 seconds, especially if you hunt through menus. That gap gets bigger when helping multiple users.

If you are an admin helping 25 staff members, that difference matters. Saving 20 seconds per person saves over 8 minutes. That is enough time to drink coffee while it is still warm. A rare office miracle.

What Should You Clear?

Do not clear everything unless you mean it.

Here is the simple guide:

• Cached images and files: Safe to clear. Best first step.
• Cookies: Clears site logins and preferences. Useful for login bugs.
• Browsing history: Removes visited page records. Usually not needed for fixes.
• Passwords: Be careful. Do not clear unless you have them saved elsewhere.
• Autofill data: Removes saved form entries. Usually leave it alone.

For most problems, start with cached images and files. If the bug stays, try cookies for that site. Do not nuke everything just because one dashboard looks weird.

When Clearing Cache Helps

Cache clearing is great for common browser weirdness.

• A website still shows the old logo.
• A page loads with broken layout.
• A button does nothing.
• A login page loops back to itself.
• A web app update does not appear.
• Images are missing or wrong.

It will not fix everything. If your internet is down, cache is not the villain. If the server is broken, your browser is innocent. Mostly.

Quick IT Help Desk Script

If you help users, use this short script. It saves time.

1. Ask: “Are you using Edge or Internet Explorer?”
2. Ask: “Is the site in IE mode?”
3. Tell them: “Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete.”
4. Tell them: “Check only cached images and files.”
5. Tell them: “Clear it, close the browser, and reopen it.”
6. Confirm: “Does the page look correct now?”

This avoids the classic support spiral. You know the one. The user says the site is broken. The site owner says it works. IT says clear cache. Everyone sighs.

Best Choice for Most People

Microsoft Edge is the better place to clear cache. It is quicker, safer, and made for current websites. Internet Explorer cache clearing is still useful for old systems, but it should not be your daily tool.

Think of Internet Explorer like a spare key to an old storage room. Handy sometimes. Not something you want in your hand all day.

So when someone says “IE flush cache,” ask one question first: “Are we really using IE, or is this just an old habit?” Most of the time, Edge is the answer. Clear the cache there. Refresh the page. Enjoy the tiny win.