How to: Clearing your browser's cache

What is browser cache?

Each time you access a website or file through your web browser, the browser caches (stores) it. By doing this, the browser doesn't have to newly retrieve files (including any images) from the website each time you click Back or Forward. You should periodically clear the cache to allow your browser to function more efficiently by having the most up-to-date data from sites.

Browsers:

• Android
• Google Chrome
• Firefox
• Internet Explorer 8+
• Internet Explorer 7
• Opera
• Safari
• Mobile Safari

Android

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

Google Chrome

1. In the browser bar, enter:

     chrome://settings/clearBrowserData

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.

Firefox

1. From the Tools or History menu, select Clear Recent History.

   If the menu bar is hidden, press Alt to make it visible.

2. From the Time range to clear: drop-down menu, select the desired range; to clear your entire cache, select Everything.
   
   
3. Click the down arrow next to "Details" to choose which elements of the history to clear. Click Clear Now.

Internet Explorer 8 and higher

1. From the Tools or Safety menu, select Delete browsing history....

   If the menu bar is hidden, press Alt to make it visible.

2. Deselect Preserve Favorites website data, and select:
   
   
   • Temporary Internet files or Temporary Internet files and website files
   • Cookies or Cookies and website data
   • History
3. Click Delete.

Internet Explorer 7

1. From the Tools menu in the upper right, select Delete Browsing History….
   
   
2. To delete your cache, click Delete files….

   To delete your cookies, click Delete cookies….

   To delete your history, click Delete history….

3. Click Close, and then click OK to exit.

Opera

1. From the Opera menu, select Settings, and then Delete Private Data….
   
   
2. In the dialog box that opens, select the items you want to clear, and then clickDelete.

Safari

1. From the Safari menu, select Reset Safari….
   
   
2. From the menu, select the items you want to reset, and then click Reset. As of Safari 5.1, Remove all website data covers both cookies and cache.

Mobile Safari for iOS (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

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.

Credits: Thanks to Indiana University for their full guide (of which this is based on).