Clearing Browser Cache, Cookies, and HIstory

Clearing browser cache is a basic step in troubleshooting issues related to web browsers and websites not loading properly.

How do I clear my web browser's cache, cookies, and history?

About cache, cookies, and history

Each time you access a web site, the browser caches (stores) it. By doing this, the browser doesn't have to download new files each time. Sometimes the cache can "get stuck" and show old data. Clearing it can help solve issues.

A cookie is a file created by a web browser, at the request of a web site, that is then stored on a computer. These files are typically times like "Remember Me" on login pages, or items in your shopping cart. These files usually expire at a certain time, but clearing them may help solve issues.

Before you clear your cache or cookies, if you are only having an issue with a certain site, sometimes a forced refresh can help. You can do this by pressing Ctrl+F5 in your browser for Windows, for Macs press Command+R (⌘+R) or Apple+R (+R) 

Android

1. Start your browser.
2. Tap Menu, and then tap More.
3. Select Settings.
4. Under "Privacy & Security", select Clear cache, Clear history, or Clear all cookie data as appropriate, and then tap OK to accept (or Cancel to cancel) the deletion.

Chrome

1. Click the Menu button   in the top right.  Or press Ctrl+Shift+Del, or click this link chrome://settings/clearBrowserData. Click Tools, then choose Clear browsing data...
2. Select the items you want to clear (e.g., Clear browsing history, Clear download history, Empty the cache, Delete cookies and other site and plug-in data).

From the Obliterate the following items from: drop-down menu, you can choose the period of time for which you want to clear cached information. To clear your entire cache, select the beginning of time.

3. Click Clear browsing data.

Chrome (Android)

1. Press the Menu button and go Settings.
2. Under Advanced choose Privacy, then choose CLEAR BROWSING DATA at the bottom of the screen.
3. Select the items you want to clear (e.g., Clear browsing history, Clear the cache, Delete cookies and site data).
4. Click Clear.

Edge

1. Press the Menu button in the top right hand corner of the window.
2. Click the history button in the Favorites menu and click on Clear all history.
3. On the next screen, make sure that Cached data and files is checked.
4. Finally, click Clear to clear the cache in the Edge browser.

Firefox

1. Click the menu button  and choose options.
2. Choose the Advanced option, then click the Network tab.
3. Under Cached Web Content, click Clear Now.
4. From the Time range to clear: drop-down menu, select the desired range; to clear your entire cache, select Everything.
5. Click the down arrow next to "Details" to choose which elements of the history to clear. Click Clear Now.

Safari

1. From the Safari menu, select Clear History....
2. From the drop-down menu, select All History and then click Clear History.

Safari Mobile (iPhones, iPads, iPods)

To clear cache and cookies:

1. From the home screen, tap Settings, and then tap Safari.
2. At the bottom of Safari's settings screen, tap Clear cookies and data, or Clear Cookies and Clear Cache. Confirm when prompted.

To clear history:

1. From the home screen, tap Safari.
2. At the bottom of the screen, tap the Bookmarks icon.
3. In the lower left, tap Clear.
4. Tap Clear History.