Clearing Browser History, Cache and Cookies
What's browser history?
A browser's history is a log of sites that you visit. When you press a browser's Back button, you are moving back one entry the history log. Browsers will normally clear history at regular intervals, but you may want to clear it manually for privacy reasons.
What's a cache?
Each time you access a file through your web browser, the browser caches (i.e., stores) it. Thus, the browser doesn't have to newly retrieve files (including any images on the page) from the remote web site each time you click Back or Forward. You should periodically clear the cache to allow your browser to function more efficiently.
How to clear a cache
Select your browser from the list below to learn more about how to clear its cache.
- With Microsoft Edge click the Menu icon (three dots) at the top-right corner of the screen, then click Settings.
- Click on Privacy, search, and services from the list of options on the left-hand side under Settings.
- Scroll down to Clear browsing data and click Choose what to clear.
- Change the Time range at the top to All Time and check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. Then, click Clear now.
- With Chrome as the active window, hold down "Ctrl + Shift + Delete" on your keyboard to bring up the "Clear Browsing Data" dialogue box.
- Select the Time frame from which you wish to delete browsing history, and the content you wish to delete.
- Select Clear Browsing Data.
- With Firefox as the Active Window, Hold down Ctrl+Shift+Delete in windows, or Cmd+Shift+Delete on mac, on your keyboard to bring up the "Clear Recent History" dialogue box.
- Select the time frame for which you wish to delete content
- Select which content you which to delete from under windows.
- Click Clear Now
- With Safari Open, hold down Ctrl and the , key to bring up the settings window, or from the Safari Menu (or Gear Icon in windows) select Preferences.
- Select Privacy Tab.
- Click on "Remove All Website Data..."
If you do not see instructions for your specific version or browser, search your browser's Help menu for "clear cache". If you're unsure what browser version you're using, from the Help menu, select About [browser name]. In Internet Explorer and Firefox, if you do not see the menu bar, press Alt .
Note: When troubleshooting issues with any website, after clearing your browser's cache and cookies, exit your browser completely before attempting to access the site again. In Windows, close all your browser windows; in Mac OS X, quit ( Command-q ) your browser.
What's a cookie?
A cookie is a file created by a web browser, at the request of a web site, that is stored on a computer. These files typically store user-specific information such as selections in a form, shopping cart contents, or authentication data. Browsers will normally clear cookies that reach a certain age, but clearing them manually may solve problems with web sites or your browser.