How to Clear the Cache and Cookies in Your Web Browser

How to Clear the Cache and Cookies in Your Web Browser

Why Clear Cache and Cookies?

Clearing the Cache and Cookies from a web browser is an important first step for almost any troubleshooting for internet browsing. The 'cache' is a tool used by your internet browser to speed up the page loading process. However, sometimes it can cause a problem when websites are updated and developed as files saved in the cache may conflict with what's actually coded into the website. Clearing Cache and Cookies is a way we can be sure that any issues you may come across are actually something wrong with the website, rather than inconsistencies caused by using different browsers.

Keyboard Shortcut for Most Browsers

If you are using Internet Explorer, Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox you can quickly clear cache with a keyboard shortcut. While in your browser, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete simultaneously on the keyboard to open the appropriate window.

IMPORTANT: Be sure and close/quit the browser and restart it after clearing the cache and cookies.

Google Chrome

  1. Click the Tools menu (three dotted lines in the upper-right corner).
  2. Select History. 
    Google Chrome history menu showing Clear browsing data
  3. Select Clear Browsing Data from the left-hand side. Set the Time Range set to All Time. Check-mark Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files and select Clear Data.Opened clear browing data menu with All time, cookeis and other site data, and cached images and files selected
  4. If on a Windows computer, close and re-open Chrome to save your changes. If on an Apple computer, go to the Chrome menu on the top menu bar and select Quit for the changes to take effect.

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Click on the Tools bar.
  2. Click on Options (On Mac, it's labeled Preferences).
    Options menu highlighted after choosing Open menu button in Mozilla Firefox
  3. On the menu to the left, select Privacy & Security.
  4. Under the Cookies and Site Data option, click the "Clear Data..." button.
    Cookies and Site data menu in Mozilla Firefox
  5. Select only the two options and hit clear now.
    Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content both selected to be cleared in Mozilla Firefox
  6. If on a Windows computer, close and re-open Firefox to save your changes. If on an Apple computer, go to the Firefox menu on the top menu bar and select Quit for the changes to take effect.


Safari for macOS

  1. Click on Safari on the top menu bar.
  2. Click Preferences.
    Preferences menu highlighted in Safari menu along top of macOS

  3. Click the Privacy tab.
  4. Click Manage Website Data...
    Manage Website Data... button highlited in Safari Privacy menu in macOS
  5. Click Remove All.
  6. Click Remove Now.
    Prompt to Remove Now after selecting Remove All in Safari Privacy menu in macOS

  7. Go to the Safari menu on the top menu bar.
  8. Select Quit to close Safari and save your changes.

Microsoft Edge for Windows 10

  1. Click the Tools menu (three dotted lines in the upper-right corner), and open the Settings menu.

  2. Click Privacy, search, and services on the left-side menu.
  3. Under the section Clear browsing data, Click Choose what to clear.
    Clear browsing data menu in Microsoft Edge with Choose what to clear button
  4. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
  5. Click Clear Now.
    Clear browsing dat amenu in Microsoft Edge with All time, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files selected

  6. Close Microsoft Edge completely for your changes to take effect.

Internet Explorer for Windows

  1. Click on the Settings menu in the upper-right corner.
  2. Click Internet options.
    Internet option menu highlighted in Settings in Internet Explorer

  3. Under the General tab on the upper-left-hand side, scroll down to Browsing history.
  4. Select Delete...
    Browsing history section with Delete... button highlighted in Internet Options General tab

  5. Check the Temporary Internet files and website files, Cookies and website data, History, and Download History boxes.
  6. Select Delete.
    Temporary Internet files and website files, Cookies and website data, History, and Download History all checked in Delete Browsing History menu in Internet Explorer

  7. Close Internet Explorer and reopen it for changes to take effect. 


Safari for iOS

  1. Go to the Settings app on your device.
  2. Scroll down to the Safari menu.
  3. Scroll down and select Clear History and Website Data.
    Safari menu in iOS Settings with blue Clear History and Website Data highlighted
  4.  A pop-up will come up verifying that you want to clear the History and Data. Select Clear History and Data.
    Clear History and Data popup on iOS
  5. The button for Clear History and Website Data will turn gray when cache and cookies have been successfully cleared.

Google Chrome for iOS

  1. Open Google Chrome on your iOS device.
  2. Click on the menu toolbar in the bottom right corner.
    Three-dot menu in bottom right highlighted in Google Chrome for iOS
  3.  Select Settings.
    Settings highlighted in Google Chrome for iOS 
  4. Select Privacy.
    Privacy menu highlighted in Google Chrome for iOS
  5.  Select Cookies, Site Data, and Cached Images and Files. At the top, set the Time Range set to All Time.

  6. Click Clear Browsing Data at the bottom of the screen.
  7. Then confirm by clicking Clear Browsing Data again.Clear Browsing Data popup at bottom of Google Chrome for iOS

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