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 August 2024.

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. Open Edge browser, select Settings and more  in the upper right corner of your browser window. 
   
   

2. Select Settings  > Privacy, search, and services.

3. Navigate to Clear browsing data section and select Choose what to clear located next to Clear browsing data now. 

4. Under Time range, choose a time range from the list. 

5. Select Cookies and other site data, and then select Clear now.

Chrome

1. On your computer, open Chrome.
2. At the top right, click More   Delete browsing data.
3. Choose a time range, like Last hour or All time.
4. Select the types of information you want to remove.
5. Click Delete data.
   • If you delete cookies while signed in to Chrome, you won't be signed out of your Google Account.

Firefox

1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.
2. Select the Privacy & Security panel and go to the Cookies and Site Data section.
3. Click the Clear Data… button. The Clear browsing data and cookies dialog will appear.

   

4. Ensure Cookies and data site and Temporary cached files and pagesare checked.
5. Click Clear.

Safari

1. In the Safari app  on your Mac, choose Safari > Settings, then click Privacy.

2. Click Manage Website Data.

3. Select one or more websites, then click Remove or Remove All.

   Removing the data may reduce tracking, but may also log you out of websites or change website behavior.

Safari on iOS

1. Go to Settings > Safari.
2. Tap Clear History and Website Data.