How To Clear Your Browser's Cache

Every web browser stores web pages, images, cookies, and other downloaded content on the computer. This is called the browser's cache. Clearing it occasionally or regularly can protect your privacy and free up some space in your computer. Since every browser is different, the following sections will outline the steps involved in clearing the cache for several popular web browsers.

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer 8

1. Once your browser is open, press ALT on keyboard,click the Tools menu. 
2. Image:Step_2_ _Copy_932.p ng

   Delete Browsing History...
   Click on Delete Browsing History...
3. Select "Temporary Internet Files". 
4. Click on "Delete". 
5. Once the files have been deleted, you can dismiss the "Internet Options" dialogue by clicking the "Okay" button.

Internet Explorer 7

1. Once your browser is open, press ALT on keyboard, click the Tools menu and select Internet Options.
2. Make sure the General tab is selected.
3. Under "Browsing History" click "Delete"
4. In the new window, click Delete Files in the Temporary Internet Files section. If you want, you can also opt to delete cookies and browsing history.
5. 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).

Internet Explorer 6

1. Once your browser is open, click the Tools menu and select Internet Options.
2. Make sure the General tab is selected.
3. Click Delete Files in the Temporary Internet Files section and click OK.
4. 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.

Firefox

Firefox 3.5

1. After the browser opens, click on "Tools". 
2. Now click on Clear Recent History... 
3.   Now, beside "Time range to clear", click "Everything". 
4.   Click on Details and select only Cache. 
5. Select Clear Now.

Firefox 1.5 / 2.0 / 3.0

Below is the full method, although it is possible to simply go to Tools, and select Clear Private Data, or to just press Ctrl+Shift+Delete. Please note that these options clear what you have set the browser to clear in Tools > Options... > Privacy, which can mean the cache, although it may also include passwords, and search and browsing history, so be careful.

1. Go to Tools and select Options.... 
2. Go to the Privacy tab, and click Settings... (in the blue box in the image). 
3. Select what you would like to have cleared. 
4. Return to the Options menu. If you want your cache cleared automatically, every time you close the browser, click the appropriate checkbox (shown in red in an earlier image).
5. Press "Clear Now" under the Settings button.

Firefox 1.0

1. Once your browser is open:
2. Click the Tools menu and select Options....
3. Click the Privacy button and select the Cache tab.
4. Click the Clear Cache Now button.

Mozilla SeaMonkey

1. Once your browser is open, click the Edit menu and select Preferences.
2. In the left-side list, open the Advanced node and select Cache.
3. Click the Clear Cache button.

Google Chrome

1. Once your browser is open, select the tools menu. (the spanner(UK) / wrench(US) in the upper-right corner). 
2. Select Clear Browsing data.... 
3. Select the Empty the cache checkbox. 
4. If you do not wish to delete cookies, etc., remove checks from them in the list.
5. Select the period of time for which you wish to delete cached information using the Clear data from this period: dropdown menu. (If in doubt select Everything).
6. Click the Clear Browsing Data button. 

Opera

1. Once your browser is open, select the tools menu and click delete private data.
2. Click the details button.
3. If you do not wish to delete cookies, saved passwords, etc., remove checks from them in the list.
4. Press delete.

Safari

1. Once your browser is open, click the Safari menu and select Empty Cache
2. Confirm the action by clicking Empty in the pop-up window

Konqueror

1. Once your browser is open, click the Settings menu and select Configure Konqueror.
2. Scroll down in the list of images and select Cache.
3. Click Clear Cache.

Tips

• It is a good practice to clear your cache and delete your cookies regularly.
• You can also use a third-party software, like CCleaner.
• You can also disable the cache entirely in the Options screen. The cache speeds up access to sites by loading data from the cache rather than downloading it, but on broadband connections, you really won't see a benefit.
• If it's just privacy you're concerned with, you can use Portable Firefox, which will keep your cache, cookies, and more, as well as your own bookmarks, settings, passwords, and authenticated login sessions on a USB flash drive or portable hard drive.