This wikiHow teaches you how to clear your browser's cache information, on both computer and smartphone platforms. Cache information helps speed up loading websites, but it also prevents you from seeing the latest version of the loaded web page. Sometimes, the cache also causes the page to load incorrectly (or not load at all). You can clear the cache on all popular browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer, and Safari.
Step
Method 1 of 8: Google Chrome (Desktop Computer)
Step 1. Open Google Chrome
The app icon resembles a red, yellow, green, and blue ball.
Step 2. Click
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Select More tools
It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu. After that, a pop-out menu will be displayed.
Step 4. Click Clear browsing data…
It's in the pop-out menu. After that, a window with data clearing options will be displayed.
Step 5. Determine the timeframe
Click the "Time range" box, then click " all time ” in the drop-down menu to ensure that all cached images and files will be deleted.
You can also choose other options (eg. Last hour ” or the last hour) if desired.
Step 6. Check the "Cached images and files" box
It's in the middle of the window.
- If this box is already checked, skip this step.
- You can uncheck every other box on this page if you just want to clear the cache.
Step 7. Click CLEAR DATA
It's a blue button in the lower-right corner of the window. After that, the cache of the Google Chrome browser will be emptied.
Method 2 of 8: Google Chrome (Mobile Device)
Step 1. Open Google Chrome
Open the Chrome app icon which resembles a red, yellow, green, and blue ball.
Step 2. Touch the button
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Touch History
This option is in the drop-down menu.
Step 4. Touch Clear Browsing Data…
It's in the lower-left corner of the screen.
On Android devices, this option appears at the top of the screen
Step 5. Touch the Cached Images and Files option to mark it
After that, a blue tick will appear next to the selection.
- If a check mark is already displayed next to the selection, skip this step.
- You can uncheck every other box that appears if you only want to clear the cache.
Step 6. Touch Clear Browsing Data
It's at the bottom of the screen.
On the Android device, touch “ CLEAR DATA ”.
Step 7. Touch Clear Browsing Data when prompted
After that, the Chrome browser cache will be emptied.
On the Android device, touch “ CLEAR ' when prompted.
Method 3 of 8: Firefox (Desktop Computer)
Step 1. Open Firefox
The app icon resembles an orange fox surrounding a blue globe.
Step 2. Click the button
It's in the upper-right corner of the window. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Click Library
It's at the top of the drop-down menu.
Step 4. Click History
It's at the top of the menu Library ”.
Step 5. Click Clear Recent History…
It's at the top of the menu. After that, a window containing Firefox history and other content will be displayed.
Step 6. Determine the timeframe
Click the "Time range to clear" drop-down box, then click " Everything ” in the drop-down menu.
You can also choose a different timeframe (eg. Today ” or today) if desired.
Step 7. Click the "Details" drop-down box
It's in the lower-left corner of the window. After that, a list of content that you can delete will be displayed.
Step 8. Check the box " Cache"
Click the empty box next to the " Cache " option.
- If this box is already checked, skip this step.
- You can uncheck the other boxes in the " Details " section if you only want to clear the cache.
Step 9. Click Clear Now
It's at the bottom of the window. After that, the Firefox browser cache will be emptied.
Method 4 of 8: Firefox (Mobile Device)
Step 1. Open Firefox
Tap the Firefox app icon, which resembles an orange fox surrounding a blue globe.
Step 2. Touch
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. After that, the menu will be displayed.
On the Android device, touch the “ ⋮ ” in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Step 3. Touch Settings
This option is in the menu.
Step 4. Scroll down and tap on Clear Private Data
This option is in the "PRIVACY" option section.
On Android devices, the option “ Clear private data ” is in the middle of the page.
Step 5. Touch the white “Cache” switch
This switch is in the middle of the page. Once touched, a change in the color of the switch will indicate that the files stored in the cache will be deleted.
- If the switch is already blue, skip this step.
- On Android devices, check the " Cache " box.
- If you only want to clear the cache, tap the other blue switch (or box marked) on this page to turn off deleting non-cached content.
Step 6. Touch Clear Private Data
It's at the bottom of the screen.
On the Android device, touch “ Clear data ”.
Step 7. Touch OK when prompted
After that, the files stored in the cache will be deleted from the Firefox browser.
Skip this step on Android devices
Method 5 of 8: Microsoft Edge
Step 1. Open Microsoft Edge
This app icon looks like a dark blue letter “e”.
Step 2. Click
It's in the upper-right corner of the window. After that, a pop-out menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Click Settings
It's at the bottom of the pop-out menu.
Step 4. Click Choose what to clear
This option is under the "Clear browsing data" heading.
You may need to scroll through the “Settings” bar to see this option
Step 5. Check the "Cached data and files" box
This box is in the middle of the list of marked boxes.
- If this box is already checked, skip this step.
- You can uncheck the other boxes in this segment if you only want to clear the cache.
Step 6. Click Clear
It's in the middle of the menu. After that, the Edge browser cache will be emptied.
Method 6 of 8: Internet Explorer
Step 1. Open Internet Explorer
The app icon resembles a light blue “e” wrapped in a yellow ribbon.
Step 2. Open the “Settings” menu
Click the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the window. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Click Internet options
It's at the top of the drop-down menu.
Step 4. Click Delete…
This option is on the right side of the “Internet Options” window in the “Browsing history” section.
If you don't see the option, click the tab “ General ” at the top of the “Internet Options” window first.
Step 5. Check the cache box (“Cache”)
Make sure the "Temporary Internet files and website files" and "Cookies and website data" boxes are checked.
- If both boxes are already checked, you don't need to click on them again.
- You can uncheck the other boxes on this page if you just want to clear the cache.
Step 6. Click Delete
It's at the bottom of the window. After that, the Internet Explorer browser cache will be emptied.
Step 7. Click Apply, then click OK.
These two options are at the bottom of the window. After that, the changes will be saved and the Internet Options window will close.
Method 7 of 8: Safari (Desktop Computer)
Step 1. Open Safari
The Safari app icon looks like a blue compass and is usually displayed in your computer's Dock at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2. Click Safari
It's in the top-left corner of the screen. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
If you look at the menu " Develop ” at the top of the screen, go to the “Click” step Develop ” in this method.
Step 3. Click Preferences…
It's at the top of the drop-down menu " Safari " After that, the “Preferences” window will be opened.
Step 4. Click the Advanced tab
This tab is in the far-right corner of the “Preferences” window.
Step 5. Check the box "Show Develop menu in menu bar"
It's at the bottom of the " Preferences " window.
Step 6. Close the “Preferences” window
You can now see the menu Develop ” in the menu bar at the top of the computer screen.
Step 7. Click Develop
It's at the top of the screen. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 8. Click Empty Caches
It's in the middle of the drop-down menu Develop ”.
When asked to confirm your selection, click “ Empty Cache " (or " OK ”, or similar options).
Method 8 of 8: Safari (Mobile Device)
Step 1. Open the iPhone settings menu (“Settings”)
Touch the gray gear icon. After that, the iPhone settings page (“Settings”) will be displayed.
Step 2. Swipe the screen and touch Safari
This option is in the lower third of the “Settings” page.
Step 3. Scroll down and select Clear History and Website Data
It's at the bottom of the “Safari” page.
Step 4. Touch Clear History and Data when prompted
After that, Safari data stored on the device, including cached files and pages, will be deleted.
Tips
- When clearing any form of data from the browser, it is a good idea to close and reopen the browser after the clearing is complete to end the process.
- Deleting browser cache is not the same as deleting browser cookies.
