Clearing Browser Cache, Cookies and History

Owned by Kai L Senese
Last updated: Feb 16, 2024
2 min read

Each time you access a file through your web browser, the browser caches (stores) it. By doing this, the browser doesn't have to newly retrieve files (including any images) 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.

A cookie is a file created by a web browser, at the request of a web site, that is then 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.

A browser's history is a log of sites that you visit. When you use a browser's Back button, you are moving back one entry in the history log. Browsers will normally clear the history at regular intervals, but you may want to clear it manually for privacy.

Please note that clearing your cookies, history, and cache will sign you out of any active logins that you have, so be sure to save anything you might be working on in your web browser before clearing.

On a computer

Chrome 

  1. Open Chrome.

  2. Click the 3 dots in the upper right corner of the browser.

  3. Click Clear Browsing Data...

  4. Choose All Time from the drop-down at the top.

  5. Make sure that the checkboxes for Browsing history, Cached images and files, and Cookies and other site data are checked.

  6. Click Clear Data. 

Firefox

  1. Open Firefox.

  2. Click the hamburger menu in the upper right corner of the browser.

  3. Click History.

  4. Click Clear Your Recent History.

  5. Next to the Time range to clear, select Everything from the drop-down menu.

  6. Select Browsing & Download History, Form & Search History, Cookies, Cache and Active Logins from the checkboxes.

  7. Click Clear Now.

Edge

  1. Open Edge.

  2. Click the 3 dots in the upper right corner of the browser.

  3. Choose History.

  4. Click the Trashcan icon in the upper right corner of the History menu.

  5. Under Clear Browsing Data set the time range to All time.

  6. Select Browsing History, Cookies and Other Website Data, Cached Images and Files, and Download History.

  7. Click Clear now.

Safari

  1. Open Safari.

  2. Click the Safari menu in the top bar, then Clear History...

  3. In the Clear field choose All History

  4. Click Clear History.

Opera GX

  1. Open Opera.

  2. Tap the clock icon for history in the left side bar.

  3. Click Clear Browsing Data.

  4. Choose All Time from the drop-down at the top.

  5. Make sure that the checkboxes for Browsing history, Cached images and files, and Cookies and other site data are checked.

  6. Click Clear Data. 

On a Mobile Device

Chrome

  1. Open Chrome.

  2. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner.

  3. Tap Privacy and Security.

  4. Tap Clear Browsing Data.

  5. Set the time range to All Time.

  6. Make sure that the checkboxes for Browsing history, Cached images and files, and Cookies and other site data are checked.

  7. Click Clear Data. 

Firefox

  1. Open Firefox.

  2. Tap the three dots in the lower right corner.

  3. Tap Settings.

  4. Scroll down and tap Delete Browsing Data.

  5. Make sure Browsing History, Cookies and Site Data, and Cached images and files are checked.

  6. Tap Delete Browsing Data.

Safari

  1. Open your device settings.

  2. Open Safari.

  3. Tap Clear History and Website Data