Clear Your Web Browser’s Cache, Cookies, and History

As you use your browser daily, it stores and accumulates traffic data designed for convenience. This cache helps pages load faster and keeps you logged into your favorite sites. However, over time, stored data can become cluttered or outdated, leading to browser issues.

From malfunctioning website features to pages or embeds failing to load, or strange formatting problems, these behaviors often trace back to your browser's cache and history. Clearing these stored items refreshes your browser, helping it run smoothly and efficiently. This guide will walk you through clearing your browsing history and cache on different browsers.

Choose Your Browser

Click to expand the guide for your browser below:

Google Chrome

Chrome is widely recommended for educational use due to its simplicity and compatibility with sites like Canvas.

Computer

Open Chrome and select the three-dot More menu in the upper right corner.
Select History > History (or press Ctrl+H on Windows or Command+Y on Mac).
On the left, select Delete browsing data.
Change the Time range to "All time".
Ensure at least Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files are checked.
Select Delete from this device.

Mobile

Clear cache & cookies in Chrome for Desktop, iOS, Android

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is widely recommended for educational use due to its simplicity and compatibility with sites like Canvas.

Computer

Open Edge and select the three-dot More menu in the upper right corner.
Select Delete browsing data.
Change the Time range to "All time".
Ensure at least Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files are checked.
Select Clear now.

For more detailed instructions: View and delete browser history in Microsoft Edge

Firefox

Computer

Open Firefox and select the three-line Menu icon in the top right.
Select History.
Select Clear Recent History...
Next to Time range to clear, choose Everything from the drop-down menu.
Ensure at least Browsing & Download History, Cookies and site data, and Cache are checked.
Select Clear Now.

For more detailed instructions: How to clear the Firefox cache

Mobile

Safari

Safari is only available on macOS devices and is the default browser on all macOS and iOS devices.

Computer

Open Safari and select Safari from the menu bar at the top.
Choose Clear History...
Next to Clear, choose all history from the drop-down menu.
Select Clear History.

For more detailed instructions: Clear your browsing history in Safari for Mac

Mobile

Clear the history, cache, and cookies from Safari on iOS

Opera

Computer

Open Opera and select the Opera menu in the top left corner.
Select History (or press Ctrl+H on Windows or Command+Y on Mac).
Select Clear browsing data.
Change the Time range to "All time".
Ensure at least Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files are checked.
Select Clear data.

Mobile

Clear cache and browsing data in Opera for mobile and desktop

Brave Browser

Computer

Open Brave and select the three-line Menu icon in the top right.
Choose Clear browsing data...
Next to Time range, choose "All time" from the drop-down menu.
Ensure at least Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files are checked.
Select Clear data.

For more detailed instructions: How do I Clear Cookies and Site Data in Brave?

Mobile

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when I clear my browsing cache and history?

When you clear your browsing cache and history, several things occur:

Your browser will need to re-download fresh versions of websites
- Clearing the cache removes temporary files, so websites are downloaded anew the next time you visit.
Clearing the cache can solve website issues
- Removes outdated temporary files, allowing a "clean slate" for websites to load without problems.
You recover disk space
- Cache files occupy space on your device; clearing them frees up storage.

What is a "cache"?

A cache in web browsers is a collection of temporary files stored on your device to help websites load faster by reusing previously downloaded data. To learn more about caches and how web browsers work, explore "What is a cache" for an overview.

Will I be logged out of my accounts?

Yes, clearing cookies and site data will log you out of most websites. You'll need to sign back in after clearing your cache and history.

How often should I clear my cache?

Clear your cache when experiencing website issues or every few months as routine maintenance. You don't need to clear it regularly unless you're troubleshooting specific problems.