How To Clear Cache and Cookies on Common Browsers


Introduction

Each time you access a file through your web browser, the browser caches (stores) it. By doing this, the browser doesn't have to retrieve files (including any images) from the remote web site each time you click backwards and forwards. If something goes wrong with this process and the saved information becomes corrupted, it can cause your web browser to behave oddly and sometimes prevents you from accessing specific sites. Clearing the cache and cookies on a web browser can often resolve these unique, unexplained issues. Below you will find links to our instructions for clearing the cache and cookies on a variety of modern web browsers.

Google Chrome

NOTE: You can complete steps 1-3 quickly by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac.

 
  1. Click on the three dots in the upper right hand corner
  2. Click on "More tools".
  3. Click on "Clear Browsing Data" in the drop-down menu.
  4. Change "Time Range" to "All time"
  5. Select "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files"
  6. Click on Clear Data.

Safari

  1. In the Safari menu, click Preferences.
  2. Click on Privacy and Manage Website Data.
  3. Click on Remove All.
  4. Click on Remove Now.

Microsoft Edge

  1. Click the menu button in the top right corner, 3 horizontal dots
  2. Click History
  3. Click Clear Browsing Data
  4. Make sure that "browsing history", "download history", "cookies and other site data", and "cached images and files" are selected
  5. Click Clear now
  6. Restart your browser to ensure these changes take effect.

NOTE: The Delete browsing history dialog box may also be accessed by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete on your keyboard.

Firefox

  1. Click the Options button in the top right corner and click History. 
  2. In the "History" drop-down menu, click Clear Recent History...
  3. In the "Clear All History" box, choose the time range to clear from the drop down menu. Then choose what elements of your browsing history you wish to delete by checking the boxes to the left of the items. Finally, click Clear Now and close your browser for the changes to take effect.

Internet Explorer

  1. Click on the Tools "Cog" in the top right of the screen, then click Internet Options.   
  2. Click Delete in the Browsing History section of the General tab.   
  3. Check the appropriate boxes then click Delete. You will need to restart your browser for the changes to take effect.
     
NOTE: The Delete browsing history dialog box may also be accessed by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete on your keyboard.
 
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Details

Article ID: 399
Created
Thu 5/2/24 9:57 AM
Modified
Wed 6/26/24 12:08 PM

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