How to Clear Your Browser Cache

• A cookie is a file created by a web browser, at the request of a website, that is stored on your computer. These files store information, such as shopping cart contents or authentication data.
• A cache stores data from the website (such as text or images) so that the web page will load faster if you access them again.

Manually clearing the cache and cookies may solve problems if a website does not load correctly.

Clearing your web browser’s cache, cookies and history may remove some data that you wish to keep such as saved passwords, recently typed URLs and personalized website data such as shopping cart items.  If you do not want to clear your browser’s cache, cookies and history to troubleshoot a problem, you can use a private browsing window or a different web browser as a temporary solution.

Keyboard shortcuts to open private browsing windows

Safari – Command + Shift + N

Firefox – Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows) or Command + Shift + P (OS X)

Chrome – Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Command + Shift + N (OS X)

Internet Explorer and Edge – Ctrl + Shift + P
 

Key commands open the clear cache, cookies and history menu.

• Windows – On a PC this can be done in any browser by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + DELETE at the same time.
• OS X – On a Mac in all browsers except Safari, this can be done by pressing COMMAND + SHIFT + DELETE at the same time.
  • On Safari, click History in the top bar and then click Clear History... at the bottom of the menu.

To clear cache and cookies in Desktop browsers

Safari

• From the Safari menu, select Clear History….
• Select the desired time range and then click Clear History.
• Go to Safari > Quit Safari to exit the browser.
• Quit Safari and re-launch

Firefox

• From the History menu, select Clear Recent History.
• From the Time range to clear: drop-down menu, select the desired range or select Everything to clear your entire cache.
• Expand Details, but clicking on the down arrow and choose what you want to clear.
• Click Clear Now.
• Quit Firefox and re-launch.

Chrome

• On your browser toolbar, click More (three vertical dots) > More Tools > Clear Browsing Data.
• In the “Clear browsing data” box, click the checkboxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
• Use the menu at the top to select the amount of data that you want to delete.  Choose beginning of time to delete everything.   Click Clear browsing data.
• Quit Chrome and re-launch.

Opera

• Click on the three horizontal lines, also called the Hamburger Icon.
• Select Go to full browser settings.
• Click Advanced > Privacy & security.
• Go to Clear browsing data.
• Change the Time range as per your choice, but if you want to remove everything, select All time.
• Select what you want to delete and unselect what you want to leave, then click Clear data.

Edge

• Click the Hub Icon, also called the Hamburger Icon (looks like three horizontal lines).
• Click History icon (clock) and click on Clear all history
• Select Browsing history, Cookies and saved website data and Cached data and files.   Click Clear.
• After the All Clear! message appears, quit and re-launch Edge.

To clear cache and cookies in Mobile browsers

Apple iOS (Safari)

• Open Settings
• Tap Safari
• Tap Clear History and Website Data and confirm.
• Quit app and re-launch.

Android

Instructions may differ depending on the model and software version of your Android device.

• Go to Settings and choose Apps or Application Manager.
• Swipe to the All tab.
• In the list of installed apps, find and tab your web browser.  Tap Clear Data and then Clear Cache.
• Quit app and re-launch.