Web browsers store some website data (cache) and user-specific information (cookies) in order to provide a faster, more personalized web experience.
Manually clearing the cache and cookies may solve problems if a website does not load correctly.
Clearing your web browser’s cache, cookies and history may remove some data that you wish to keep such as saved passwords, recently types URLs and personalized website data such as shopping cart items.
If you do not want to clear your browser’s cache, cookies and history to troubleshoot a problem, you can use a private browsing window or a different web browser as a temporary solution.
Keyboard shortcuts to open private browsing windows
Safari – Command + Shift + N
Firefox – Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows) or Command + Shift + P (OS X)
Chrome – Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Command + Shift + N (OS X)
Internet Explorer and Edge – Ctrl + Shift + P
Key commands open the clear cache, cookies and history menu.
- Windows – Ctrl + Shift + Delete
- OS X – Command + Shift + Delete
To clear cache and cookies in Desktop browsers
Safari
- From the Safari menu, select Clear History….
- Select the desired time range and then click Clear History.
- Go to Safari > Quit Safari to exit the browser.
- Quit Safari and re-launch
Firefox
- From the History menu, select Clear Recent History.
- From the Time range to clear: drop-down menu, select the desired range or select Everything to clear your entire cache.
- Expand Details, but clicking on the down arrow and choose what you want to clear.
- Click Clear Now.
- Quit Firefox and re-launch.
Chrome
- On your browser toolbar, click More (three vertical dots) > More Tools > Clear Browsing Data.
- In the “Clear browsing data” box, click the checkboxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
- Use the menu at the top to select the amount of data that you want to delete. Choose beginning of time to delete everything. Click Clear browsing data.
- Quit Chrome and re-launch.
Internet Explorer
- Select Tools (Gear Icon) > Safety > Delete browsing history…
- Deselect Preserve Favorites website data, and select:
- Temporary Internet files or Temporary Internet files and website files
- Cookies or Cookies and website data
- History
- Click Delete.
- Quit Internet Explorer and re-launch.
Edge
- Click Hub Icon (looks like three horizontal lines).
- Click History icon (clock) and click on Clear all history
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and saved website data and Cached data and files. Click Clear.
- After the All Clear! message appears, quit and re-launch Edge.
To clear cache and cookies in Mobile browsers
Safari (Apple iOS)
- Open Settings
- Tap Safari
- Tap Clear History and Website Data and confirm.
- Quit app and re-launch.
Android
Instructions may differ depending on the model and software version of your Android device.
- Go to Settings and choose Apps or Application Manager.
- Swipe to the All tab.
- In the list of installed apps, find and tab your web browser. Tap Clear Data and then Clear Cache.
- Quit app and re-launch.