How to Clear the Cache and Cookies in Your Web Browser

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 on a desktop or laptop computer; you can quickly get to the clear cache window with a keyboard shortcut.   While in your browser, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete simultaneously on the keyboard to open the appropriate window.  Then follow the instructions below for each appropriate browser. 

IMPORTANT: Be sure and close/quit the browser or mobile app and relaunch it after clearing the cache and cookies.

GOOGLE CHROME - Desktop and Android

  1. Click the Tools menu (three dotted lines in the upper-right corner).
  2. Select History.

3.Select Clear Browsing Data from the left-hand side.

Set the Time Range set to All Time.  Make sure that  Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked and select CLEAR DATA.

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 - Desktop

  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.
Select the options, Cookies, Cache, Active Logins, Site settings, and Offline website data.

6. Click CLEAR NOW.
7. 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 MAC - Desktop

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...

Privacy tab highlighted at the top of the Settings page. Manage Website Data is highlighted on the page.

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 - Desktop

  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.

4. Set Time range to ALL TIME Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.

5. Click Clear Now.

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

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MOBILE DEVICES

SAFARI FOR IOS

Please Note: Safari is the default browser for Apple devices, this is normally the browser that will launch when clicking links in emails; on social media; in text messages; etc.

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.  

Scroll down to the Safari menu.

Scroll down and select Clear History and Website Data.

A pop-up will come up verifying that you want to clear the History and Data. Select Clear History and Data.

If the Browser has multiple tabs open you will see this message, you can choose either option; saying close tabs will automatically close all of the open tabs in the browser and may help with performance, but it is not required. 

The button for Clear History and Website Data will turn gray when cache and cookies have been successfully cleared.  You can now return to your browser and navigate to the correct site. 

FIREFOX FOR IOS

Open Firefox on your iOS device.

Click on the menu toolbar in the bottom right corner (3 lines).

Select Settings.

Select Data Management

Select Website Data at the top, locate the website that you are trying to clear and select the button next to it - or, you can also choose to scroll to the bottom of the list and select clear all website data if you like.   Say OK to the resulting pop up, then click the back button once cleared. 

Back on the Data Management page, Select Cookies, Offline Website Data, and Cache.

Click Clear Private Data at the bottom of the screen.  

Then confirm by clicking OK on the warning popup.

EDGE FOR IOS

  1. Open Edge on your iOS device.
  2. Click on the menu toolbar in the bottom center (3 dots).
  3. Select Settings.
  4. Select Privacy and Security
  5. Select Clear browsing data.
  6. Select Cookies, Site Data, and Cached Images and Files. At the top, set the Time Range set to All Time.
  7. Click Clear Now at the bottom of the screen.
  8. Then confirm by clicking Clear Now again.

GOOGLE CHROME FOR IOS

  1. Open Google Chrome on your iOS device.
  2. Click on the menu toolbar in the bottom right corner.
  3. Select Clear Browsing Data
  4. Select Cookies, Site Data, and Cached Images and Files. At the top, set the Time Range set to All Time.
  5. Click Clear Browsing Data at the bottom of the screen.
  6. Then confirm by clicking Clear Browsing Data again.

FIREFOX FOR ANDROID

  1. Open Firefox on your Android device.
  2. Click on the menu toolbar in the bottom right corner (3 dots).
  3. Select Settings
  4. Scroll to Delete Browsing Data
  5. Select Cookies, Site Data, and Cached Images and Files.
  6. Click Delete Browsing Data at the bottom of the screen.
  7. Then confirm by clicking Delete again.

05-01-23