Tech TIP: How to Clear Your Browser’s Cache

At times, when programming changes are made to a website, your browser may not always “refresh” properly and allow you to experience those changes. In some cases it might inhibit your use of the site.

Below are instructions for some of the most common browsers:

Chrome: Clear Browsing Data

In Google Chrome, clearing the cache is done via the Clear browsing data area in Settings. From there, check Cached images and files (as well as anything else you want to remove) and then tap or click the Clear browsing data button.

Assuming you’re using a keyboard, the quickest way to Clear browsing data is via the Ctrl+Shift+Del keyboard shortcut.

Without a keyboard, tap or click the Menu button (the icon with three stacked lines) followed by More tools and finally Clear browsing data….

See How To Clear the Cache in Chrome [support.google.com] for more details.

Tip: Choose the beginning of time from the Obliterate the following items from: option at the top of the Clear browsing data window to make sure you get everything.

In Chrome’s mobile browser, go to Settings and then Privacy. From there, choose Clear browsing data. In this menu, check Cached images and files and press the CLEAR DATA button. Don’t forget to choose beginning of time from the Clear data from the option at the top.

Internet Explorer: Delete Browsing History

In Microsoft Internet Explorer, the browser that comes pre-installed on most Windows computers, clearing the cache is done from the Delete Browsing History area. From here, check Temporary Internet files and website files and then click or tap Delete.

Like with other popular browsers, the fastest way to the Delete Browsing History settings is via the Ctrl+Shift+Del keyboard shortcut.

Another option is via the Tools button (the gear icon), followed by Safety and then Delete browsing history….

Tip: Internet Explorer often refers to the cache as temporary internet files but they’re one in the same

Firefox: Clear All History

In Mozilla’s Firefox browser, you clear the cache from the Clear All History area in the browser’s Options. Once there, check Cache and then tap or click Clear Now.

The Ctrl+Shift+Del keyboard shortcut is probably the fastest way to open this tool. It’s also available from Firefox’s Menu button (the three-lined “hamburger” button) via Options, then Privacy, and finally the clear your recent history link.

Tip: Don’t forget to choose Everything from the Time range to clear set of options, assuming that’s the time frame you want to clear the cache over.

Safari: Empty Caches

In Apple’s Safari browser, clearing the cache is done via the Develop menu. Just tap or click Develop and then Empty Caches.

With a keyboard, clearing the cache in Safari is super easy with the Option-Command-E shortcut.

See How To Clear the Cache in Safari [help.apple.com] if you need more help.

Tip: If you don’t see Develop on your Safari menu bar, enable it via Preferences, then Advanced, followed by selecting the Show Develop menu in menu bar option.

Opera: Clear Browsing Data

In Opera, clearing the cache is done via the Clear browsing data section that’s part of Settings. Once open, check Cached images and files and then click or tap Clear browsing data.

The fastest way to bring up the Clear browsing data window is via the Ctrl+Shift+Del keyboard shortcut.

Without a keyboard, click or tap Menu, then More tools,and finally Clear browsing data.

See How To Clear the Cache in Opera [help.opera.com] for detailed instructions.

Tip: Be sure to choose the beginning of time option at the top so you’re sure to erase everything!

More About Clearing Caches in Web Browsers

Most browsers have at least basic cache management settings where, at a minimum, you can choose how much space you’d like the browser to use for cached website data.

Some browsers even let you choose to automatically clear cache, as well as other data that might contain private information, every single time you close the browser window.