Clear Browser Cache & Cookies

TL;DR

Your browser stores data like cookies and cached files to speed up websites. This can sometimes cause problems with logins, website display, or privacy. Here’s how to clear it in popular browsers.

Clearing Cache & Cookies: Step-by-Step Guides

1. Google Chrome

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac).
• In the “Time range” dropdown, select “All time”.
• Make sure “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files” are checked.
• Click “Clear data”.

Mozilla Firefox

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac).
• Select “Everything” in the Time range to clear all data.
• Make sure “Cookies and Site Data” and “Cached Web Content” are checked.
• Click “Clear”.

Microsoft Edge

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac).
• Select “All time” in the Time range.
• Make sure “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files” are checked.
• Click “Clear now”.

Safari (macOS)

• Go to Safari > Preferences.
• Click the “Privacy” tab.
• Click “Manage Website Data…”.
• You can remove specific websites or click “Remove All”.
• To clear cache, go back to Preferences and select the “Advanced” tab. Check “Show Develop menu in menu bar”. Then, go to Develop > Empty Caches.

Clearing Specific Cookies (All Browsers)

• Most browsers allow you to view and delete cookies for individual websites. This is useful if you only want to remove a cookie causing problems with one site.
• The settings are usually found within the browser’s Privacy or History section, under “Cookies” or “Site Data”.

Important Considerations

1. Logins: Clearing cookies will log you out of most websites. You’ll need to re-enter your usernames and passwords.
2. Website Settings: Some website preferences (like language or theme) are stored in cookies and will be reset.
3. Performance: After clearing the cache, websites may load slightly slower initially as they rebuild cached files.
4. cyber security: Regularly clearing your browsing data can improve your cyber security by removing tracking cookies and potentially malicious files.