What is Browser Cache?

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 Keys

Typically, pressing CTRL+SHIFT+DELETE while in the browser will bring the Clear Browser Data screen up.


Chrome (for Desktop  or Chromebook)

  1. Click the Tools menu (three dotted lines in the upper-right corner).
  2. Click History, a menu will pop out
  3. Click History 
  4. Select Clear Browsing Data from the left-hand side. 
  5. 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
  6. 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.

For More Information on another device

Clear cache & cookies - Google Account Help

Chrome (for iPhone)

  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.
    Menu showing "All Time", Cookies, Site Data", and "Cached Images and Files" selected in Clear Browsing Data menu in Google Chrome for iOS
     
  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
Delete

Chrome (on Android)

  1. On your Android device, open Chrome Chrome.
  2. Tap More More and then Clear browsing data.
  3. To delete browsing history (including open tabs), select a duration and then tap Clear data. The default duration is 15 minutes.
  4. To choose more specific types of data you want to delete, tap More options. Select the types of browsing data you want to delete and then tap Clear data.
Delete

Firefox

  1. Click on the Tools bar (three bars in the top-right corner). 
  2. Click History
  3. On the menu to the right, select Clear Recent History.
  4. In the Clear All History menu, select the time range to Everything
  5. Select the options: Cookies, Cache, Active Logins, Site settings, and Offline website data
  6. Under data, Site settings and Offline website data are checked. 
  7. Click OK
  8. 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.
 

Microsoft Edge

  1. On your computer, Open Edge
  2. At the top right, Click the ...
  3. Click Setting
  4. Click Privacy, search, and services
  5. Under Clear browsing data
  6. Click Choose what to clear
  7. Choose All Time from the Time range drop-down menu
  8. Choose the following types of data to clear
    1. Cookies and other site data
    2. Cached images and files
    3. Site permissions
    4. Hosted app data
  9. Select Clear now
 

Safari (on Mac)

  1. Click on Safari on the top menu bar.
  2. Click Settings.
    Settings menu highlighted in Safari menu along top of macOS
  3. Click the Privacy tab.
  4. Click Manage Website Data...
  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.

Safari (on iPhone)

  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.
Delete

Internet Explorer

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


Alternative Method: Force Reload Single Webpage without Saved Cache

Shift + F5 is used to force reload a webpage, not using the cached files for that page. This will retrieve a completely new page. Note, the page may take longer to load because the data it loads is not from the cache files.

Delete