Deleting Cookies and Clearing Your Web Browser Cache

Overview

About cache, cookies, and history

Your internet browser's cache stores certain information about the webpages that you browse so that the pages load more quickly on your next visit. You should periodically clear the cache to enable your web browser to function more efficiently.

A cookie is a text string that is created by a web browser and then stored on a computer. These files typically house user-specific information such as usernames or user IDs. Although web browsers will  clear cookies periodically, clearing them manually may help to resolve problems with websites or your browser.

A browser's history is a list of the websites that you visit. When you press a browser's Back button, you are moving back one entry in the history list. Again, although browsers may clear the history periodically, clearing the history manually will ensure better privacy.

Follow the steps below to clear your  cache, cookies, and history based on your browser type.

Detail

Android

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Chrome app.
2. At the top right, tap More.
3. Tap History and then Clear browsing data.
4. At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.
5. Next to "Cookies and site data" and "Cached images and files," check the boxes.
6. Tap Clear data.

Learn how to change more cookie settings in Chrome.

Chrome

1. On your computer, open Chrome.
2. At the top right, click More.
3. Click More tools and then Clear browsing data.
4. At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.
5. Next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files," check the boxes.
6. Click Clear data.

Learn how to change more cookie settings in Chrome. For example, you can delete cookies for a specific site.

Internet Explorer 11

1. Click Tools (the Gear icon), select Safety, then Delete Browsing History... 
2. Deselect Preserve Favorites website data, and select Temporary Internet files, Cookies, and History.
3. Click Delete.

Edge

1. Select Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services .
2. Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.
3. Choose a time range from the Time range drop-down menu.
4. Choose the types of data you want to clear. For example, you may want to remove browsing history and cookies but keep passwords and form fill data.
5. Select Clear now.

Firefox

1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and select Preferences.
2. Select the Privacy & Security panel.
3. In the Cookies and Site Data section, click Clear Data….
4. Remove the check mark in front of Cookies and Site Data. For more information about managing site data, see Manage local site storage settings.
5. With Cached Web Content check marked, click the Clear button.
6. Close the about:preferences page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.

Mobile Safari for iPhone OS (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad)

To clear cache and cookies:

1. From the home screen, tap Settings
2. Tap Safari.
3. Tap Clear History and Data. Confirm when prompted.

To clear history:

1. From the home screen, tap Safari.
2. At the bottom of the screen, tap the Bookmarks icon.
3. Tap the Clock Icon at the top of the screen.
4. Tap Clear.
5. Select your desired time frame (All time is suggested)

Safari

1. From the home screen, tap Settings
2. Tap Safari.
3. Tap Advanced at the bottom of the page.
4. Click Website Data
5. Tap Remove all website data at the bottom of the page. Both cookies and cach will be cleared.