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You are here Internet and Network Services > Accessing Internet and Network Services > Web Browsers > Clearing the web browser cache/history

Clearing the browser cache or history

As you browse the web, certain information is stored locally on your computer in a 'cache'.

This cache can contain the contents of particular web pages - stored locally so that the pages load more quickly the next time you visit them. Typically, a history of which web pages you have visited is also stored. Browsers can also store passwords for certain websites and a range of other settings and information that you have entered into web forms.

Sometimes it can be necessary to clear the cache, for example if you do not think your browser is returning the most up-to-date version of a web page or document.

You may also wish to clear the cache and history periodically in order to delete the records of any passwords stored or other information.

Steps to clear the browser cache

The steps to take are different depending on the web browser you are using, please identify your web browser to select the correct instructions.

Microsoft Edge

  1. Launch the Edge browser
  2. Click the Tools button (three dots) towards the top right corner of the window
  3. Select Settings

    Edge Tools Settings

  4. Under 'Clear browsing data' select Choose what to clear

    5. Edge Tools Cache

  5. Select/tick the items that you wish to clear and then select the Clear button


    6. Edge Tools Options

  6. Click the Tools button (three dots) towards the top right corner, to close the settings menu.

Internet Explorer

  1. Click Tools (the Gear icon), then choose Internet Options

    Internet Explorer menu

  2. Click the Delete button located under Browsing history on the General tab

    Internet Explorer General options

  3. Untick Preserve Favourites website data

  4. Tick the boxes for the items you wish to delete, for example:

    'Temporary Internet files and website files'
    'Cookies and website data'
    'History'

    Internet Explorer delete browsing history

  5. Click Delete

  6. Click OK to close the Internet Options window

Google Chrome

  1. Click the menu button (three dots), then choose History, and from the submenu click on History again.

    Chrome History

  2. Click Clear browsing data from the side menu

    3. Chrome Clear Data

  3. To clear all selected browsing data, choose 'From the beginning of time' from the 'Obliterate the following items from' drop-down menu
  4. Select the items you wish to clear, for example:

    'Browsing history'
    'Cookies and other site and plug-in data'
    'Cached images and files'

  5. Click Clear browsing data

    Chrome Clear browsing data


Mozilla Firefox

  1. Click the menu button (three lines), then click Options (or Preferences in some versions of Firefox)

    Firefox menu

  2. Click the Privacy tab in the left sidebar

  3. Under History, click the clear your recent history link

    Firefox privacy menu


  4. To delete all selected browsing data, choose Everything from the Time range to clear drop-down menu

  5. Tick the boxes for the items you wish to clear, you may need to click the Details option to see these items:

    'Browsing & Download History'
    'Cookies'
    'Cache'

  6. Click Clear now

    7. Firefox Clear Options

Safari

  1. From the Safari menu choose Reset Safari

    Safari menu

  2. Select the items you wish to clear/remove, then click Reset

    Reset Safari options