Clearing a Web Browser's Cache

How to clear your web browser's cookies/cache to troubleshoot browser-related issues.

Introduction

 

Web Browser cache is a temporary storage area in memory or on your computer hard drive or phone storage.  This storage that contains a collection of web pages, including the text, images, and most other media and data contained in a web page.

Cached pages allow you to return quickly to prior pages or update content on a page with out having to go back to the web and download all that code again.  This allows for quicker display times in your browser.  Over time the browser cache can become large,  taking up space on your hard drive and/or causing issues when downloading an older page version that partially loads or does not look properly formatted.

It is important to clear the cache to allow your browser to function more efficiently and retrieve updated current information from the website you are accessing. 

 

A few good reasons to clear your cache:

• • Clearing your cache forces your browser to retrieve the newest copy available from the website, something that should happen automatically but sometimes does not.
  •  You might also want to clear the cache if you're experiencing issues like “404 errors” or “502 errors” (among others), sometimes indications that your browser's cache is corrupted.
  •  Another reason to delete cache files is to recover disk space. The cache on some browsers can take up lots of space,even in the gigabyte range.  This is especially helpful on mobile devices since they don't have as much storage as computers.
  •  Regardless of why you might want to do it, clearing your cache is really easy to do in all the popular browsers in use today.

Please note:

• • Students and faculty can use Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer to work in Brightspace.
  • Students and faculty are advised to continue using Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox when working with Empire State University administrative applications such as Registration, DP Planner and PLA Planner.

Instructions for Clearing a Web Browser's cache:

Mozilla Firefox

Google Chrome

Microsoft Edge

Safari

Mobile Device OS

 

Mozilla Firefox ( Firefox Website )

In Firefox browser, you clear the cache from the Clear All History area in the browser's Options. Once there, check Cache and then tap or click Clear Now.

 

1. If using a keyboard, the quickest way to clear browsing data is the press and hold the Ctrl+Shift+Del keys to open this tool.
2. Using your computer mouse, it is also available from Firefox's Menu button (the three-lined "hamburger" button) >Options, >Privacy, and finally the clear your recent history link.
   • Tip: Don't forget to choose Everything from the Time range to clear set of options, assuming that's the time frame you want to clear the cache over.

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Google Chrome ( Chrome Website )

1. If you are using a keyboard, the quickest way to clear browsing data is press and hold the Ctrl+Shift+Del keys to open the Clear browsing data window.
2.  Without a keyboard, tap or click the Menu button (the icon with three stacked dots in upper right of menu bar) >  More tools > Clear browsing data.
   •  Tip: Choose the beginning of time from the Clear the following items from option at the top of the Clear browsing data window to make sure   you get everything.

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Microsoft Edge

In Microsoft's Edge browser, clearing the cache is done via the Clear

browsing data menu.

1. The fastest way to the Clear browsing data menu is press and hold the Ctrl+Shift+Del keys shortcut.
2. Once open, ensure the Time Range is set to  All Time,  and the Cached data and files and Cookies and her site data boxes are checked, then tap or click Clear.
3. Another option is via the Settings And More button (the icon is three horizontal dots), followed by Settings and then Privacy and Services. From here click the Choose what to clear button under the Clear browsing data heading.

• Tip: Tap or click Show more while in the Clear browsing data menu for additional items you can erase while clearing cached files and images.

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Safari

In Apple's Safari browser, clearing the cache is done via the Develop menu. Just tap or click Develop and then Empty Caches.

1. With a keyboard, clearing the cache in Safari is super easy with the Option-Command-E shortcut keys on your keyboard.

• Tip: If you don't see Develop on your Safari menu bar, enable it via Preferences, then Advanced, followed by selecting the Show Develop menu in menu bar option.

 

Windows users can delete all of Safari's stored data through the menu button and then Preferences... > Privacy > Remove All Website Data....

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Mobile Device iOS and Android

Chrome for iOS (mobile browser):

1. Touch Chrome menu > Settings;
2. Touch Privacy;
3. Choose the data type you want to clear
4. Touch Clear;
5. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Android stock browser (up to Android 2.3)

1. Open the browser
2. Touch the menu button 
3. Select More or More options
4. Select Settings
5. Hit Clear cache and Clear cookies

Safari Apple iOS (Mobile Browser)

Applies to newest version of Mobile Safari for iOS.

1. Open your Settings app;
2. Tap Safari
3. Tap Clear History and Website Data and confirm
4. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

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