Clearing a Web Browser's Cookies, History, and Cache

Web browsers use a small portion of your local computer's storage to save page elements of visited sites in your web browser's history.  This behavior helps your web browser to load pages more efficiently, but sometimes browsers may pull up cached pages, and not the most recent version of the page. Clearing this information can also help improve your web browser's performance.

Clearing Cookies, History, and Cache in Mozilla Firefox (Windows)

Image of the Mozilla Firefox web browser with the following annotations: 1.Click on the Open Menu button (the button with the three horizontal lines) on the right edge of the screen by the address bar.2.Click on the History icon (with the clock) in the menu that appears.

To clear cookies, history, and cache in Mozilla Firefox,

  1. Click on the Open Menu button (the button with the three horizontal lines) on the right edge of the screen by the address bar.
  2. Click on the History icon (with the clock) in the menu that appears.

Clearing History, Part 2

Image of the list of most recently visited sites with Clear Recent History outlined in a red circle with instructions to select Clear Recent History

You will then see a screen that lists the most recently visited sites.  To clear the browser's history, select the option labeled Clear Recent History at the top.

Clearing History, Part 3

Image of the Clear All History dialog box with the following annotations: 1.Time Range to Clear: Select Everything from the menu.2.Under Details, leave the default checked items checked.3.Click the Clear Now button. Depending on how much information is stored on your computer, this may take a minute or so to complete.

You will now see a dialog box titled Clear All History:

  1. Time Range to Clear: Select Everything from the menu.
  2. Under Details, leave the default checked items checked.
  3. Click the Clear Now button. Depending on how much information is stored on your computer, this may take a minute or so to complete.

Clearing Cookies, History, and Cache in Mozilla Firefox (Mac)

Image of the Mozilla Firefox web browser with the following annotations: 1.Click on the Open Menu button (the button with the three horizontal lines) on the right edge of the screen by the address bar.2.Click on the History icon (with the clock) in the menu that appears.

To clear cookies, history, and cache in Mozilla Firefox,

  1. Click on the Open Menu button (the button with the three horizontal lines) on the right edge of the screen by the address bar.
  2. Click on the History icon (with the clock) in the menu that appears.

Clearing History, Part 2

Image of the list of most recently visited sites with Clear Recent History outlined in a red circle with instructions to select Clear Recent History

You will then see a screen that lists the most recently visited sites.  To clear the browser's history, select the option labeled Clear Recent History at the top.

Clearing History, Part 3

Image of the Clear All History dialog box with the following annotations: 1.Time Range to Clear: Select Everything from the menu.2.Under Details, leave the default checked items checked.3.Click the Clear Now button. Depending on how much information is stored on your computer, this may take a minute or so to complete.

You will now see a dialog box titled Clear All History:

  1. Time Range to Clear: Select Everything from the menu.
  2. Under Details, leave the default checked items checked.
  3. Click the Clear Now button. Depending on how much information is stored on your computer, this may take a minute or so to complete.

Clearing Cookies, History, and Cache in Google Chrome (Windows)

Image of a browser window in Google Chrome with the following annotations: 1.Click on the Customize and Control Google Chrome button (the button with the three horizontal lines).2.Select History from the menu that appears.

To clear the cache, cookies, and history in Google Chrome:

  1. Click on the Customize and Control Google Chrome button (the button with the three horizontal lines).
  2. Select History from the menu that appears.

Clearing History, Part 2

Image of the History options screen with the clear browsing data button outlined with a red circle.

On the next screen, click the Clear browsing data button.

Clearing History, Part 3

Image of the Clear Browsing Data button with the following annotations: 1.Obliterate items from: Select the option labeled From the Beginning of Time from the dropdown menu.2.From the list of checkboxes, leave the items checked by default.3.Click the Clear Browsing Data button to clear the history, cookies, and cache.

You will now see a screen labeled Clear Browsing Data.

  1. Obliterate items from: Select the option labeled From the Beginning of Time from the dropdown menu.
  2. From the list of checkboxes, leave the items checked by default.
  3. Click the Clear Browsing Data button to clear the history, cookies, and cache.

Clearing Cookies, History, and Cache in Google Chrome (Mac)

Image of a browser window in Google Chrome with the following annotations: 1.Click on the Customize and Control Google Chrome button (the button with the three horizontal lines).2.Select History from the menu that appears.

To clear the cache, cookies, and history in Google Chrome:

  1. Click on the Customize and Control Google Chrome button (the button with the three horizontal lines).
  2. Select History from the menu that appears.

Clearing History, Part 2

Image of the History options screen with the clear browsing data button outlined with a red circle.

On the next screen, click the Clear browsing data button.

Clearing History, Part 3

Image of the Clear Browsing Data button with the following annotations: 1.Obliterate items from: Select the option labeled From the Beginning of Time from the dropdown menu.2.From the list of checkboxes, leave the items checked by default.3.Click the Clear Browsing Data button to clear the history, cookies, and cache.

You will now see a screen labeled Clear Browsing Data.

  1. Obliterate the following items from: Select the option labeled From the Beginning of Time from the dropdown menu.
  2. From the list of checkboxes, leave the items checked by default.
  3. Click the Clear Browsing Data button to clear the history, cookies, and cache.

Clearing Cookies, History, and Cache in Internet Explorer (Windows)

Image of the Internet Explorer browser with the following annotations: 1.Click on the Settings button (that looks like a cog or gear) in the upper right hand corner of the browser window.2.Select Safety from the menu.3.Select Delete Browsing History that appears as a submenu.

To clear the cookies, history and cache in Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on the Settings button (that looks like a cog or gear) in the upper right hand corner of the browser window.
  2. Select Safety from the menu.
  3. Select Delete Browsing History that appears as a submenu.

Clearing History, Part 2

Image of the Delete Browsing History screen with the following annotations: 1.Uncheck the box labeled Preserve Favorites Website Data.2.Check the boxes for Temporary Internet Files and Website Files, Cookies and Website Data, and History3.Click the Delete button.

You will now see a screen labeled Delete Browsing History:

  1. Uncheck the box labeled Preserve Favorites Website Data.
  2. Check the boxes for Temporary Internet Files and Website Files, Cookies and Website Data, and History
  3. Click the Delete button.

Clearing Cookies, History, and Cache in Safari (Mac)

Image of the Apple menu for Safari with the following annotations: 1.Time Range to Clear: Select Everything from the menu.2.Under Details, leave the default checked items checked.3.Click the Clear Now button. Depending on how much information is stored on your computer, this may take a minute or so to complete.Zoom: Image of the Apple menu for Safari with the following annotations: 1.Time Range to Clear: Select Everything from the menu.2.Under Details, leave the default checked items checked.3.Click the Clear Now button. Depending on how much information is stored on your computer, this may take a minute or so to complete.

To clear cookies, history, and cache in Safari, go to the Apple menu at the top of the screen:

  1. Click on History
  2. Select Clear History from the menu.

Clearing History, Part 2

Image of the Are you sure you want to clear history? dialog box with the following annotations: 1.Check the checkbox for Also reset Top Sites.2.Click on the Clear button.

You will now see a dialog box asking "Are you sure you want to clear history?":

  1. Check the checkbox for Also reset Top Sites.
  2. Click on the Clear button.