How to Clear Cache

What Exactly Is Cache?

Your browser’s cache is a collection of web pages stored on your hard drive or in your phone/tablet storage. The cache includes the text, images, and most other media contained on web pages that you have visited.

Having a local copy of a web page makes for quick loading on your next visit because your computer or mobile device doesn’t have to download it from the internet again. Over time, however, the cache may take up a big chunk of your computer’s storage.

Why Clear Cache and Cookies?

Clearing the Cache and Cookies from a web browser 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.

You don’t have to clear the cache as a regular part of computer or smartphone maintenance. However, there are some good reasons to clear cache:

• Clearing your cache forces your browser to retrieve the newest copy available from the website, something that should happen automatically but sometimes does not.
• You are experiencing issues such as 404 errors that may indicate your browser’s cache is corrupted.
• Malware is another reason to delete the browser cache. It can be dropped in the cache without you knowing or alongside program installations, so clearing the entire cache can delete malicious files.
• Another reason to delete browser cache data is to free up space on your hard drive. Over time, the cache can grow to a huge size; clearing it can recover some of that previously used space.

Clearing your web browser’s cache, cookies, and history may remove data such as the following:

• Saved passwords
• Address bar predictions
• Shopping cart contents, etc.

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 open it after clearing the cache and cookies.

Chrome

Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete keys simultaneously. Select the ‘Advanced’ Tab and Time range as ‘All time’. Make sure all appropriate check boxes are selected. You may uncheck the check boxes for Browsing History, Download history and Passwords and other sign-in data. If the issue still not resolved clear the cache after checking other relevant check boxes also.

Click on the ‘Clear data’ button. Close the browser and open it.

Edge

Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete keys simultaneously. Select the Time range as ‘All time’. Make sure all appropriate check boxes are selected. You may uncheck the check boxes for Browsing History, Download history and Passwords. If the issue still not resolved clear the cache after checking other relevant check boxes also.

Click on the ‘Clear now’ button. Close the browser and open it.

Firefox

Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete keys simultaneously. Select the Time range to clear as ‘Everything’. Make sure all appropriate check boxes are selected. You may uncheck the check boxes for Browsing History, Download history and Passwords. If the issue still not resolved clear the cache after checking other relevant check boxes also.

Click on the ‘OK’ button. Close the browser and open it.

Safari

1. In the Safari app on your Mac, choose History > Clear History, then click the pop-up menu.
2. Choose how far back you want your browsing history cleared.