Clearing Cache

Every web browser stores a cache of the websites you visit (e.g. HTML pages, images) to reduce bandwidth usage and server load.
This is called the browser's cache.

Clearing it occasionally can free up space on your computers hard drive if it's running low. Since every browser is different, the following sections will outline the steps involved in clearing the cache for the more popular web browsers.

Internet Explorer 9
Internet Explorer 8
Internet Explorer 7
Firefox 3.5/3.6/4.0
Firefox 1.5/2.0/3.0
Firefox 1.0
Google Chrome
Safari Mac OS X
Safari Windows
Opera
Flock Windows
Flock Mac

 

Internet Explorer 9.
​

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer 9.

Step 1

Click 'Tools' (the Gear-shaped button on the top-right section of the browser), point to 'Safety' and click 'Delete Browsing History...' (Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + Del or Ctrl + t + d).



Step 2

Choose the desired options you would like to delete (Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, etc) and click 'Delete'.





Step 3

Internet Explorer 9 will now silently delete the items you've chose. Once finished, the notification bar (the bar at the bottom of the screen replacing the Information Bar in older IE browsers) appears stating that the selected browsing history has been deleted.

 

Internet Explorer 8.​

Internet Explorer 8.

Note: IE8 has a "feature" which retains some cookies even after you clear your cache if you do not UNCHECK the "Preserve Favorites Website Data." If you truly need to clear your cache, you will want to uncheck this!

Step 1

Once your browser is open, click the Tools menu. Or, optionally you may simply press Ctrl-Shift-Delete to open the Delete Browsing History window (and skip step 2)




Step 2

Click on Delete Browsing History.



Step 3

Select Temporary Internet Files.



Step 4

Click the Delete button near the bottom of the window to delete your temporary files(i.e. clear your cache).
Step 5

If you want the browser to automatically clear the cache whenever you close it, click the Advanced tab. Click to check the box next to the Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed option (in the section labeled Security). Click OK. This will delete everything except cookies

 

Internet Explorer 7
​

Internet Explorer 7

Step 1

Open IE 7 and click the Tools menu. Click the Delete Browsing History link at the top.




Step 2

Under the Temporary Internet Files heading, click Delete files.




Step 3

Click Yes when you see the prompt asking if you are sure you want to delete all temporary files.



Step 4

Alternatively, clear your cache for just the current page you're visiting. Press and hold [Ctrl] on your keyboard, then Press [F5] or click on the Refresh button (square button on the toolbar with opposite-facing arrows).

 

Firefox ​ Firefox Firefox 3.5/3.6/4.0 Step 1 Click the Tools menu, then select Clear Recent History. Step 2 Choose the time range of cache you'd like to clear. Step 3 Click on Details and make sure Cache is checked. Step 4 Select Clear Now.

 

Firefox 1.5/2.0/3.0​

Firefox 1.5/2.0/3.0

Step 1

Go to Tools and select Options. (on Linux, go to Edit then Preferences).




Step 2

Go to the Privacy tab and click the Settings button.



Step 3

Make sure Cache is checked on the list of options to clear.



Step 4

Return to the Options menu and click the Clear Now button.

 

Firefox 1.0
​

Firefox 1.0

Step 1

Click the Tools menu and select Options (on Linux, go to Edit then Preferences).

Step 2

Click the Privacy button and select the Cache tab.

Step 3

Click the Clear Cache Now button.

 

Google Chrome
​

Google Chrome

Step 1

Once your browser is open, select the Tools menu (the wrench in the upper-right corner) and select Settings.





Step 2

Click on history heading.



Step 3

Select Clear all browser data .


Step 4

You can also choose the period of time you wish to delete cached information using the Clear data from this period drop down menu.



Step 5

Once you have chosen the time frame click the Clear Browsing Data button ( shown in the above photo).

 

Safari​

Safari

Safari for Mac OS X

Step 1

Once your browser is open, click the Safari menu and select Empty Cache.




Step 2

Click Empty

 

Safari for Windows​

Safari for Windows

Step 1

Once your browser is open, click the Edit menu and select Empty Cache.

Step 2

Click Empty

 

Opera
​

Opera

Step 1

Once your browser is open, select the tools menu (red opera tab in the top left corner) scroll down to settings and select Delete Private Data.


Step 2

Click Detailed Options.

Step 3

If you do not wish to delete cookies, saved passwords, etc., remove checks from them in the list.


Step 4

Click Delete

 

Flock
​

Flock

Flock for Windows

Step 1

Go to the Tools menu and click on Options




Step 2

Go to Under the Hood and then, click Clear privacy data



Step 3

Now Select Everything from the drop down box (Or the desired limit), and click Clear browsing data.

 

Flock v1.0.8 for Mac Instructions
​

Flock v1.0.8 for Mac Instructions

Step 1

Go to the Flock menu and click on Preferences

Step 2

Go to Privacy tab and then, under Private Data (bottom field), click on the Clear Now... button Select the Cache checkbox (only, or in combination with other desired options)
Step 3

Click the Clear Private Data Now button