How to Clear your Browser Cache

A cache is a temporary storage for website data, which is used to improve your browsing experience. The 'cache' is a tool used by your internet browser to speed up the page-loading process and helps fix errors like formatting issues. Website owners can also use the caching mechanism to boost their website performance and improve user satisfaction.

Clearing the cache and cookies from a web browser is a vital first step for any troubleshooting. This ensures that any issue you have is actually a development or server error rather than inconsistencies from the browser.

Many of the websites you visit are made up of thousands of media files, and sometimes it may take a while for a browser application to load all the website’s content. The first time you visit a site, your browser downloads the original data of the website to make it load faster the next time you visit it; this process is called caching.

It’s a necessary diagnostic when having website issues. But what does clearing your browser cache mean, and how do you clear the cache for your specific browser? If you are using Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, you can quickly clear the cache with a keyboard shortcut. While in your browser, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete simultaneously on the keyboard to open the appropriate window (or Option + Command + E for Safari users). Be sure to close the browser and restart it after clearing the cache and cookies.

Why You Should Clear Cache

When you use a browser, it saves some website data in your cache. It does this to avoid downloading the same files when you revisit the site. You might make a change to your site, but you’re unable to see that change because your browser is still serving up the cached version of that resource. Or, the cache might have become corrupted or misconfigured.

For these reasons, clearing your browser cache is a very good first step whenever you encounter an issue on your site or someone else’s site. It won’t always fix the issue, but it is an essential first diagnostic step to rule out before assuming that it is more complicated.

How to Clear Your Browser Cache

Depending on the browser you are using, we have curated a step-by-step guide on how to clear your browser cache in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari.

Clearing the Browser Cache in Chrome

1. Open Chrome on your computer and click the ellipsis (three dotted lines) in the upper-right corner.

2. Go to the More tools menu option and select Clear browsing data.

3. Pick a time frame from the drop-down menu.

4. Check or uncheck boxes based on your preference. Options include Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files.

5. Click Clear data.

Clearing the Cache in Firefox

1. Open Firefox on your computer and click the three horizontal lines at the upper right corner of the screen.

2. Choose Settings.

3. Click on the Privacy & Security panel.

4. Scroll to the Cookies and Site Data section and click Clear Data.

5. Check or uncheck boxes based on your preference (Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content).

6. Click the Clear button.

Clearing the Cache in Safari

1. Click the Safari menu tab from the bar on top of the screen and select Preferences.

2. Click on Advanced.

3. Check the Show Develop menu in menu bar box.

4. Click on the Develop tab on the Safari menu bar and select Empty Caches.

With caching, the browser saves some temporary internet files upon a user’s first visit to a specific site. As a result, the page loads faster the next time the user accesses the same website.

Clearing your browser cache can fix loading errors, and it also helps to improve web security as it prevents others from accessing outdated or potentially sensitive information.