How do I clear my browser cache or data?
What is the difference between browser cache and cookies?¶
When you browse the Internet and visit sites, your browser stores frequently accessed or recently used styles, images, icons, scripts, and other on-page resources in a temporary storage area, to improve the loading speed of applications and websites. This space is called a cache.
Cookies, however, store user-specific information and preferences. Usually, you have to accept or refuse cookies the first time you enter a website that uses this.
There are other ways data of a surfing session can be temporarily stored (eg. localStorage) but the principles and clearing of it is largely the same.
All of these can be cleared if you are experiencing issues surfing a website.
What is a hard refresh?¶
A hard refresh clears your browser cache, for the page you are currently on. If the page you are on doesn't look quite right, often times a hard refresh can rectify the situation.
This does NOT remove cookies or session data.
How to do a hard refresh.¶
Google Chrome¶
Windows: hold down Ctrl or Shift and then press F5 on your keyboard
Mac: hold down Cmd and Shift and then press R on your keyboard
Firefox¶
Windows: hold down Ctrl or Shift and then press F5 on your keyboard
Mac: hold down Cmd and Shift and then press R on your keyboard
Safari¶
Mac: hold down Opt and Cmd and then press E on your keyboard
Microsoft Edge¶
Windows: hold down Ctrl or Shift and then press F5 on your keyboard
How to clear your cookies (or browser data)¶
In some cases, clearing the cache alone is not enough. You may need to start your surfing experience fresh by clearing your data and cookies. Be aware that after doing this, passwords and usernames saved in the browser, will also be forgotten and no longer prefilled.
Google Chrome¶
- Click on the upper right in the menu on the 3 vertical stripes, the hamburger menu.
- Click on 'Settings'.
- Find click on 'Privacy and security'.
- Click on 'Clear browsing data'.
- Choose a 'Time range' and the components you want to delete.
We suggest checking checking 'Cookies and other site data' and 'cached images and files' - Click on 'Clear data'.
Firefox¶
- Open the menu beneath Tools (Extra) and choose 'Options'
- Or look open the menu beneath Firefox and choose 'Settings'
- Click on 'Privacy & Security'
- Scroll to 'Cookies and Site Data'
- Click on 'Delete now'
Safari¶
- Open the menu beneath 'Safari' and choose 'Settings'
- Find and click the 'Privacy' item
- Look for 'Cookies and website data' and click the 'Manage Website Data' button
- Select all the sites you wish to delete the data & click 'Remove'
- Or click 'Remove all' to remove the data of ALL the sites you have visited in the past
- Confirm your action
Microsoft Edge¶
- Click on the upper right in the menu on the 3 vertical stripes, the hamburger menu.
- Click on 'Settings'
- Go to 'Delete browser data'
- Click on 'Choose what you want to delete'
- Check 'Data and files in the cache'
- Click on 'Delete'