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Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies

  • Updated
  • This article is maintained by the Office of Information Technology
Applies to: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Platform: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
Affiliation: Everyone

A browser cache is intended to slightly improve browsing speed by locally storing some web content on your device. Additionally, cookies are intended to remember who you are when visiting a website, which allows you to "stay logged in" for example. Certain browsing issues can often be caused by your browser's cache or cookies, therefore you may be advised to clear this data to potentially resolve those issues. Instructions can be found below based on your device type and browser.

Windows

  1. Open Google Chrome. Ensure all active tabs are closed before proceeding (you should just have a blank tab open).
  2. Click the three dots in the top-right corner of the window
  3. Select More Tools followed by Clear Browsing Data
  4. Set the Time range to All time
  5. Ensure the boxes for Cookies and other site data as well as Cached images and files are checked, the rest are optional
  6. Click Clear Data

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox. Ensure all active tabs are closed before proceeding (you should just have a blank tab open).
  2. Click the three horizontal bars in the top-right corner of the window
  3. Select Options
  4. Click Privacy & Security on the left
  5. Under the heading Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data
  6. Ensure both Cookies and Site Data as well as Cached Web Content are checked
  7. Click Clear

  1. Open Microsoft Edge. Ensure all active tabs are closed before proceeding (you should just have a blank tab open).
  2. Click the three dots in the top-right corner of the window, then click Settings
  3. Click Privacy, search, and services on the left
  4. Under the heading Clear browsing data click Choose what to clear
  5. Set the Time range to All time
  6. Ensure the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked, the rest are optional
  7. Click Clear Now

macOS

  1. Open Safari. Ensure all active tabs are closed before proceeding (you should just have a blank tab open).
  2. Click Safari in the menu bar followed by Clear History...
  3. Choose the time range to clear and then click Clear History

  1. Open Google Chrome. Ensure all active tabs are closed before proceeding (you should just have a blank tab open).
  2. Click the three dots in the top-right corner of the window
  3. Select More Tools followed by Clear Browsing Data
  4. Set the Time range to All time
  5. Ensure the boxes for Cookies and other site data as well as Cached images and files are checked, the rest are optional
  6. Click Clear Data

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox. Ensure all active tabs are closed before proceeding (you should just have a blank tab open).
  2. Click the three horizontal bars in the top-right corner of the window
  3. Select Preferences
  4. Click Privacy & Security on the left
  5. Under the heading Cookies and Site Data, click Clear Data
  6. Ensure both Cookies and Site Data as well as Cached Web Content are checked
  7. Click Clear

Mobile Devices

  1. Open the Settings app
  2. Scroll down to Safari
  3. Tap Clear History and Website Data
  4. Tap Clear History and Data

  1. Open Google Chrome. Ensure all active tabs are closed before proceeding (you should just have a blank tab open).
  2. Click the three dots in the upper-right corner
  3. Select Settings, then Privacy, followed by Clear Browsing Data
  4. Set Time range to All time
  5. Check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files
  6. Click Clear Data

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