How to Clear Browser Cache in Outlook on the Web Safely

To clear the browser cache for Outlook on the web, open your browser’s privacy settings and delete cached images and files; if Outlook still misbehaves, remove site data for Outlook as well. You can do this in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari. Clearing cache can reload Outlook’s web files and fix display or loading problems, but removing cookies or site data may sign you out. Your mailbox and messages stored in Microsoft 365 or Outlook.com are not deleted.

Before starting, save any unfinished email or calendar changes and note which account you use. The instructions below are for Outlook in a desktop browser. Browser names and menu labels can vary slightly by version. If you use the Outlook desktop app, clearing a browser cache usually will not affect it; see the troubleshooting section for that distinction.

What You’ll Need

A browser you use to open Outlook on the web, such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari.
Your Outlook or Microsoft 365 sign-in details, in case clearing cookies signs you out. If your organization requires multifactor authentication, have access to the verification method too.
A moment to close or save unsent messages and other work in Outlook before clearing data.

Step-by-Step

Save your work and identify the browser. Send or save drafts, finish any changes to calendar items, and make a note of the browser where Outlook is having trouble. If Outlook is open in several browsers, clearing data in one will not clear it in the others. You generally do not need to close Outlook first, but closing its tab before clearing data can avoid confusing results.
Try a cache-only refresh first. Reload Outlook using your browser’s hard-refresh shortcut. In Chrome, Edge, and Firefox on Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+R; on a Mac, press Command+Shift+R in Chrome or Firefox. In Edge on Mac, use Command+Shift+R. Safari on Mac uses Option+Command+R. This asks the browser to fetch fresh page files without deleting saved passwords or cookies. If Outlook works afterward, you can stop here.
Open the browser’s clear-data settings. In Chrome, select the three-dot menu, then Settings > Privacy and security > Delete browsing data. In Edge, select the three-dot menu, then Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Choose what to clear. In Firefox, open the menu and choose Settings > Privacy & Security, then find Cookies and Site Data and select Clear Data. On a Mac in Safari, open Safari > Settings > Privacy. These paths may move slightly between browser releases.
Choose a time range and the cache option. If the browser offers a time range, choose All time to remove older cached files too; a shorter range may be enough if the issue began recently. Select Cached images and files in Chrome or Edge, or the equivalent temporary cached files option in Firefox. For a first attempt, leave cookies, browsing history, and saved passwords unselected. Safari does not offer the same simple cache-only checkbox in its Privacy settings; use the Safari-specific options in step 6.
Clear the selected cache and reopen Outlook. Confirm that only the data you intend to remove is checked, then select Delete data, Clear now, or Clear, depending on the browser. Open a new tab and go to outlook.office.com for a work or school account, or outlook.live.com for a personal Outlook.com account. Sign in if prompted and allow the page to finish loading before deciding whether the issue is resolved.
If needed, remove Outlook’s site data in Chrome or Edge. This is a stronger reset than clearing cached files and can remove cookies and local site information, so expect to sign in again. In Chrome, open Settings > Privacy and security > Third-party cookies > See all site data and permissions. Search for Outlook or Microsoft, then remove entries that clearly belong to the Outlook site you use. In Edge, open Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Manage and delete cookies and site data > See all cookies and site data; search for Outlook or Microsoft and remove the relevant Outlook entries. Avoid removing unrelated Microsoft entries unless you intend to sign out of those services too.
Remove site data in Firefox or Safari if the cache-only step did not help. In Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Data. Search for outlook, select the matching Outlook entry, choose Remove Selected, and save the change. In Safari on Mac, go to Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data, search for Outlook or Microsoft, select the relevant entry, and choose Remove. Removing website data may clear sign-in state for that site. To empty Safari’s broader cache instead, enable the Develop menu in Safari > Settings > Advanced, then choose Develop > Empty Caches; this affects cached files across sites, not only Outlook.
Test Outlook and check whether the reset worked. Sign in again if requested, open the folder or feature that had the problem, and try the action that previously failed. For example, open a message that appeared incorrectly, refresh the calendar, or try attaching a file. If Outlook works in a private or InPrivate window but not in the normal window, the issue may involve saved site data or an extension. You can then investigate the site-specific reset or extensions rather than repeatedly clearing all browser data.

Common Mistakes

Deleting all browsing data when only the cache is needed. A broad clear can remove cookies, browsing history, and other stored information, and may sign you out of many websites. Start with cached files only. If you later remove Outlook site data, use the site-specific controls where available instead of clearing every cookie in the browser.

Expecting browser steps to repair the Outlook desktop app. Outlook on the web runs inside a browser, while classic Outlook for Windows and Outlook for Mac use different app data. Clearing Chrome’s cache will not normally repair the desktop app. New Outlook for Windows also has app-specific storage and settings, so do not delete folders or account files at random.

Assuming cache removal deletes your email—or fixes every problem. Your online mailbox remains on Microsoft’s servers, but unsent changes that had not synced could be at risk, which is why saving work first matters. Cache clearing also will not resolve an account lock, service outage, network restriction, or incorrect password.

Clearing the wrong browser or removing every Microsoft entry. The data is stored separately in each browser, and Microsoft sign-in pages may be used by other services. Check the browser and site name before removing data. If you erase broad Microsoft sign-in data, you may need to authenticate again in other Microsoft apps and websites.

Tips

Use a private or InPrivate window as a quick comparison before clearing anything. If Outlook works there, the normal browser profile’s stored data, extensions, or settings are more likely to be involved. A private window is a diagnostic test, not a permanent fix, and you may need to allow pop-ups or sign in again for the test.

When only one Outlook feature is affected, start with a hard refresh and cache-only clearing. Remove site data only if the problem persists or Outlook repeatedly loads an old sign-in page. Keep the browser updated, and avoid clearing saved passwords unless you have confirmed they are stored somewhere accessible. A password manager or organization sign-in portal may help you recover credentials, but do not assume a browser can restore deleted passwords.

If you use a shared or managed computer, follow your organization’s browser and security rules. Work or school administrators may control cookies, extensions, and sign-in policies. Clearing data can also remove preferences or saved sessions that are useful to you, so make changes only in the browser profile you actually use for Outlook.

Troubleshooting

Outlook still shows the same error after clearing the cache: Sign out of Outlook, close the tab, reopen the browser, and sign in again. Check Microsoft’s service status if available to your organization, or try Outlook in another supported browser. If the problem occurs in multiple browsers and devices, it is less likely to be a local browser cache issue.

You are asked to sign in repeatedly: Confirm that cookies are allowed for Outlook and Microsoft sign-in pages, and check whether an extension blocks cookies or scripts. Your organization may require a particular browser configuration or multifactor authentication. If site data was removed, a fresh sign-in is expected; if the loop continues, contact your organization’s IT administrator or Microsoft support rather than repeatedly deleting data.

The Outlook page is blank, incomplete, or keeps loading: Disable extensions temporarily, especially ad, privacy, or script blockers, then reload. Check your internet connection and try a private window or another browser. If only a work account is affected, a company proxy, security policy, or Microsoft 365 service issue may be involved.

You use Outlook for Windows or Mac, not Outlook in a browser: Browser cache instructions may not apply. First restart Outlook and check for Office updates. If you use classic Outlook for Windows, it stores offline mail in an OST file; deleting that file is not the same as clearing a browser cache and can require rebuilding local mail data. Do not delete Outlook data files as a routine cache fix. Use Microsoft’s app-specific repair or support guidance, or ask your IT administrator if this is a managed account.

You cannot find the same menu labels: Browser versions and operating systems sometimes rename or move privacy controls. Use the browser Settings search box for “clear browsing data,” “cached files,” or “site data.” On iPhone or iPad, browser controls differ from desktop; in Safari, Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data clears broader history and website data, not just Outlook’s cache. For a site-specific mobile reset, use the browser’s available website-data controls if offered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing the browser cache delete my Outlook emails?
No. Messages in Outlook.com or Microsoft 365 are stored with your account, not only in the browser cache. However, save unsent drafts and pending changes first because anything that has not synced may not be recoverable after a reset.

Should I clear cache or cookies for Outlook?
Start by clearing cached images and files, which makes the browser fetch fresh page resources and usually keeps you signed in. Clear Outlook’s cookies or site data only if the issue continues or you need to reset a broken sign-in state; this may sign you out.

How often should I clear the Outlook browser cache?
There is no routine schedule needed. Clear it when Outlook displays stale content, fails to load correctly, or behaves differently from another browser. Frequent full clears can cause unnecessary sign-ins and remove useful site settings.

Can I clear only Outlook’s cache instead of every website’s?
Often, yes. Chrome and Edge provide site-data lists you can search, and Firefox and Safari let you manage website data by site. Those controls may remove cookies and local storage as well as cached information, so they are not always a cache-only action. Start with the browser’s general cache-only option when you want to preserve sign-in state.

Does this work for the Outlook app on a phone?
These steps are for Outlook opened in a browser. If you use the Outlook mobile app, its storage is managed by iOS or Android and the app itself, not by Safari or Chrome’s browser cache. Restart or update the app first; if needed, use the app’s account or device settings and your organization’s guidance rather than deleting browser data.

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