How to Clear Browser History, Settings and Cache

Question

How to clear your web browser's cache, cookies, and history

Answer

Clear your web browser's cache, cookies, and history

• Clearing your web browser's cache, cookies, and history may remove some data that you wish to keep. 
• For desktop browsers, to quickly open menus used to clear your cache, cookies, and history, ensure that the browser is open and selected, and press Ctrl-Shift-Delete (Windows) or Command-Shift-Delete(Mac). If this doesn't work, follow the appropriate instructions below.
• If the instructions below don't exactly match what you see, you may need to update your web browser to the latest version.
• If you don't see instructions below for your specific version or browser, search your browser's Helpmenu for "clear cache". If you're unsure what browser version you're using, from the Help menu or your browser's menu, select About [browser name]. In Internet Explorer and Firefox, if you don't see the menu bar, press Alt.

IMPORTANT NOTE: When clearing the cache from your browser, you must completely close out all sessions of that browser for the cache to clear. Closing a tab is not sufficient. All open browser windows must be closed. 

About cache, cookies, and history

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.

While you should clear your web browser's cache, cookies, and history periodically in order to prevent or resolve performance problems, you may wish to record some of your saved information first.

Mobile browsers

Android

The steps to clear your cache, cookies, and history may differ depending on the model of your Android device and your preferred browser. However, you should be able to clear your cache and data from your application management settings menu:

1. Go to Settings and choose Apps or Application Manager.
2. Swipe to the All tab.
3. In the list of installed apps, find and tap your web browser. Tap Clear Data and then Clear Cache.
4. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Chrome for Android

1. Tap Chrome menu > Settings.
2. Tap (Advanced) Privacy.
3. From the "Time Range" drop-down menu, select All Time.
4. Check Cookies and Site data and Cached Images and Files.
5. Tap Clear data.
6. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Safari for iOS

1. Open your Settings app.
2. Tap Safari.
3. Tap Clear History and Website Data and confirm.
4. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Chrome for iOS

1. Tap Chrome menu > Settings.
2. Tap Privacy.
3. Tap Clear Browsing Data.
4. Choose the data type you want to clear.
5. Tap Clear Browsing Data.
6. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Desktop browsers

Chrome

1. In the browser bar, enter:

2. At the top of the "Clear browsing data" window, click Advanced.
3. Select the following:
   • Browsing history
   • Download history
   • Cookies and other site data
   • Cached images and files

From the "Time range" drop-down menu, you can choose the period of time for which you want to clear cached information. To clear your entire cache, select All time.

4. Click CLEAR DATA.
5. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Firefox

1. From the 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. Next to "Details", click the down arrow to choose which elements of the history to clear; to clear your entire cache, select all items.
4. Click Clear Now.
5. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Microsoft Edge

1. In the top right, click the 3-dot menu icon 
2. Click on Settings
3. On the left side of the screen, click on Privacy, search and services
4. Click on the Choose what to clear button under the Clear browsing data heading
5. Change the time frame to "all time" and make sure all the check boxes have been checked, then click on Clear Now
6. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Internet Explorer 11

1. Select Tools > Safety > 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. You will see a confirmation at the bottom of the window when the process is complete.
4. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Safari 8 and later

1. If you do not already see the Develop menu at the top of your screen, please first go to the Safari menu > click on Settings > switch to the Advanced Tab > click on the checkbox to "Show Develop menu in menu bar" > then exit the Safari Settings window
2. Click on the Develop menu then click on "Empty Caches"
3. Go to back to the Safari menu > click Quit Safari or press Command-Q to exit the browser completely.