How to clear a web browser's cache and cookies

This article describes how to clear the cache and cookies for a variety of popular web browsers.

Web browsers use caching to speed up the browsing experience. Normally, this is not a problem. However, when you are developing pages for your web site or configuring domain settings, the browser's local cache and cookies can get in the way. For example, you might update one of your web pages. When you view the page in your web browser, however, you may see the old (cached) version instead of the new version that you expected.

To clear cache and cookies, follow the appropriate procedure below for your web browser.

Mozilla Firefox

To clear the cache and cookies in Firefox, follow these steps:

1. On the History menu, click Clear Recent History. The Clear All History dialog appears.
   Alternatively, press Ctrl-Shift-Delete to display the Clear All History dialog immediately.
2. In the Time range to clear list box, select the length of time to clear data. To clear the entire cache, select Everything.
3. To clear the cache, under History, select the Cache check box.
4. To clear the cookies, under History, select the Cookies check box.
5. Click Clear Now.

Microsoft Edge

To clear the cache and cookies in Microsoft Edge, follow these steps:

1. Click the  icon, and then click Settings.
2. Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear.
3. To clear the cookies, select the Cookies and saved website data check box.
4. To clear the cache, select the Cached data and files check box.
5. Click Clear.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

To clear the cache and cookies in Microsoft Internet Explorer, follow these steps:

1. To access the Delete Browsing History dialog:
   Alternatively, press Ctrl-Shift-Delete to display the Delete Browsing History dialog immediately.
   • If you are using Internet Explorer 8, on the Tools menu, click Delete Browsing History.
   • If you are using Internet Explorer 9 or 10, click the  icon, click Safety, and then click Delete browsing history.
2. Clear the Preserve Favorites website data check box.
3. To clear the cache, select the Temporary Internet files check box.
4. To clear the cookies, select the Cookies check box.
5. Click Delete.

Google Chrome

To clear the cache and cookies in Google Chrome, follow these steps:

1. Click the  icon, click More tools, and then click Clear browsing data. The Clear browsing data dialog appears.
   Alternatively, press Ctrl-Shift-Delete to display the Clear browsing data dialog immediately.
2. Click the Basic tab.
3. In the Time range list box, select the length of time to clear data. To clear the entire cache, select All time.
4. To clear the cookies, select the Cookies and other site data check box.
5. To clear the cache, select the Cached images and files check box.
6. Click Clear data.

Google Android

To clear the cache and cookies in Android, follow these steps:

1. Start the web browser.
2. Tap the settings icon, and then tap Settings.
3. Under Advanced, tap Privacy.
4. Tap Clear browsing data.
5. Tap the BASIC tab.
6. In the Time range list box, select the length of time to clear data. To clear the entire cache, select All time.
7. To clear the cookies, select the Cookies, media licenses and other site data check box.
8. To clear the cache, select the Cached images and files check box.
9. Tap CLEAR DATA.

Apple Safari

The procedure to follow for clearing the cache and cookies on Safari depends on whether you are running Mac OS X or iOS (previously iPhone OS).

Mac OS X

To clear the cache and cookies in Safari on Mac OS X, follow these steps:

1. On the Safari menu, click Clear History.
2. In the Clear list box, select the length of time to clear data. To clear the entire cache, select all history.
3. Click Clear History.

iOS

To clear the cache and cookies in Safari on iOS, follow these steps:

1. On the home screen, tap Settings, and then tap Safari.
2. Tap Clear History and Website Data.
3. To confirm, tap Clear History and Data.

Opera

To clear the cache and cookies in Opera, follow these steps:

1. In the left sidebar, click the O (menu) icon, and then click Settings.
2. Click Advanced, and then click Privacy & security.
3. Click Clear browsing data.
4. Click the Basic tab.
5. In the Time range list box, select the length of time to clear data. To clear the entire cache, select All time.
6. To clear the cookies, select the Cookies and other site data check box.
7. To clear the cache, select the Cached images and files check box.
8. Click Clear data.