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Clearing Browser Cache

Why Do You Need To Clear Cache and Cookies?

Clearing the cache and cookies from a web browser is an important first troubleshooting step for almost any internet browsing issue you may have. The 'cache' is a tool used by your internet browser to speed up the page loading process. However, sometimes it can cause a problem when websites are updated and developed as files saved in the cache may conflict with what's actually coded into the website. Clearing cache and cookies is a way we can be sure that any issues you may come across are actually something wrong with the website, rather than inconsistencies caused by using different browsers.

Keyboard Shortcut for Most Browsers

If you are using Internet Explorer, Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox you can quickly clear cache with a keyboard shortcut. While in your browser, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete simultaneously on the keyboard to open the appropriate window.

IMPORTANT: Be sure and close/quit the browser and restart it after clearing the cache and cookies.

Google Chrome:

  1. Click the Tools menu (three dotted lines in the upper-right corner).
  2. Select History. 

    Google Chrome history menu showing Clear browsing data

    3. Select Clear Browsing Data from the left-hand side. Set the Time Range set to All Time. Check-mark Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files and select Clear Data.

    Opened clear browing data menu with All time, cookeis and other site data, and cached images and files selected

    4. If on a Windows computer, close and re-open Chrome to save your changes. If on an Apple computer, go to the Chrome menu on the top menu bar and select Quit for the changes to take effect.

     

    Mozilla Firefox:

    1. Click on the Tools bar (three bars in the top-right corner).
    2. Click History.

     

    History menu highlighted after choosing Tools menu button in Mozilla Firefox

         3. On the menu to the right, select Clear Recent History.

         4. In the Clear All History menu, select the time range to Everything.
         5. Select the options, Cookies, Cache, Active Logins, Site settings, and Offline website data.

     

    Pop-up box with the Clear All History options. Selected Time range to clear is set to everything.Under History, Active logins, Cookies, and Cache are checked. Under data, Site settings and Offline website data are checked.

        6. Click OK.
        7. If on a Windows computer, close and re-open Firefox to save your changes. If on an Apple computer, go to the Firefox menu on the top menu bar and select Quit for the changes to take effect.

Microsoft Edge: 

  1. Click the Tools menu (three dotted lines in the upper-right corner), and open the Settings menu.

    Settings menu highlighted in Settings and more (Alt + F4) menu in Microsoft Edge


     
  2. Click Privacy, search, and services on the left-side menu.
  3. Under the section Clear browsing data, Click Choose what to clear.

    Clear browsing data menu in Microsoft Edge with Choose what to clear button


     
  4. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
  5. Click Clear Now.

    Clear browsing dat amenu in Microsoft Edge with All time, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files selected


     
  6. Close Microsoft Edge completely for your changes to take effect.