Clearing Browser Cache & Cookies

This article instructs you on how to clear browser cache and cookies for specific internet browsers.  This information is subject to change from the time of this writing and your experience may differ somewhat from what is explicitly written depending on computer platform, operating system, and browser version.  Last written October 2020.

How Cache & Cookies Work

Cookies are files created by sites you visit.  They make your online experience easier by saving browsing data.

The cache remembers parts of pages to help them open faster during your next visit.

What Happens After You Clear This Information

After you clear cache and cookies:

• Some settings on sites gets deleted. For example, if you were signed into a site, you’ll need to sign in again.
• Some sites may seem slower to load because some content needs to load again.

Microsoft Edge

1. Go to the 3-dot menu and select Settings (or may say Settings and more) > Privacy & Security (or may say Privacy and services).
2. In the fly-out menu, click the button under Clear Browsing Data that reads Choose what to clear.
3. If asked for a time range, choose a time range which encompasses when you’ve used the Owl.
4. To clear the cookies, select the Cookies and saved website data checkbox.
5. To clear the cache, select the Cached data and files check box.
6. Click Clear.

Internet Explorer

1. To get to the Delete Browsing History dialog:
   1. If you are using Internet Explorer 8, go to the Tools menu and click Delete Browsing History.
   2. If you are using Internet Explorer 9 or 10, click the Tools icon (looks like a gear), then click Safety, then click Delete Browsing History.
2. To clear the cache, select the Cached images Temporary Internet Files check box.
3. To clear the cookies, select the Cookies check box.
4. Click Delete.

Chrome

1. Go to the 3-dot menu and select More tools > Clear browsing data.
2. At the top, choose a time range.
3. Check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
4. Click Clear data.

Firefox

1. Go to the 3-line menu and select Preferences.
2. Select the Privacy & Security panel
3. In the Cookies and Site Data section, click Clear Data…
4. Check the boxes next to Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content.
5. Click on Clear.

Safari

1. In the History menu, click Clear History. If presented with a pop-up window, pick a timeframe for how far back you want to go.  This also removes your cookies and cached data.
2. If you’d prefer to keep your history and remove cookies and cached data separately, go to Preferences > Privacy where you can delete cookies, and then go to the Develop menu and pick Empty Caches. Note:  If you don’t have a Develop menu in Safari, you can enable it by going to Preferences > Advanced and check Show Develop Menu in Menu Bar at bottom.

Safari on iOS

1. On the iOS Home Screen, tap Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap Safari.
3. Scroll down and select Clear History and Website Data.
4. Select Clear History and Data.

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