Using any web browser without clearing the cache can cause problems over time, and the iPad Safari browser is no different.

Problems with corrupt page entries can lead to Safari tabs refusing to close, or general slow-loading of pages. To avoid these troubles, we show you how to clear the cache on your iPad.

This is also how you clear cookies from your iPhone or iPad, removing data that can be used to track your web browsing.

How to clear Safari's cache on an iPad or iPhone

To clear Safari's cache on your iPad or iPhone, take the following steps:

In the Settings app, scroll down then tap Safari. Under the Safari settings, you will see a blue setting called Clear History and Website Data.

You'll be asked to confirm if you wish to clear your history and website data. Tap to continue.

Doing this won’t clear all of your cache, however. To clear the cache fully, within the Settings app, tap Safari > Advanced > Website Data.

Tap Remove All Website Data to clear the cache.

Clearing the cache on apps

It’s not just Safari that can benefit from a cache clear-out. Individual apps can become buggy if their cache is left to accumulate for too long.

Not all apps will have a cache, but it's worth checking to see if they do, in case you've been dealing with an app that crashes for unknown reasons. Tap Settings, then scroll down til you see the app in question, and tap to open its settings menu. If you see an option to clear the cache, select it.