Clear Cache and Cookies in your Web Browser

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Clearing your browser’s cache and cookies is an important first step when troubleshooting website issues such as login problems, pages not loading correctly, or features not working as expected.

  • Cache stores website files to speed up page loading, but outdated files can sometimes cause errors.

  • Cookies store site data such as login sessions and preferences

Clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites. If you want to test whether this helps without clearing data, try opening the website in an Incognito or Private browsing window first.


Quick Keyboard Shortcut (Most Desktop Browsers)

For, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox:

  • Windows: Ctrl + Shift + Delete

  • macOS: Command + Shift + Delete (or the Delete/Backspace key on Mac keyboards)

This opens the browser’s data‑clearing menu.

✅After clearing cache and cookies, completely close and reopen the browser before testing the website again. This ensures the browser loads fresh website data.


Laptop/Desktop Browser Directions

Google Chrome (Windows & macOS)

  1. Select the three‑dot menu in the upper‑right corner.

  2. Select HistoryDelete browsing data.

  3. Set Time range to All time.

  4. Check Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.

  5. Select Delete data.

  6. Close and reopen Chrome (Windows) or select Chrome → Quit (macOS).

 

Mozilla Firefox (Windows & macOS)

  1. Select the menu button (☰) and choose Settings.

  2. Select Privacy & Security.

  3. Under Cookies and Site Data, select Clear Data.

  4. Check Cookies and site data and Temporary cached files and pages.

  5. Select Clear.

  6. Close and reopen Firefox (Windows) or select Firefox → Quit (macOS).

Microsoft Edge (Windows & macOS)

  1. Select the three‑dot menu (… ) and choose Settings.

  2. Select Privacy, search, and services.

  3. Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.

  4. Check Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.

  5. Select Clear now.

  6. Close Edge completely, then reopen it.

 

Safari (macOS)

  1. Select Safari from the top menu and choose Settings.

  2. Select the Privacy tab.

  3. Select Manage Website Data.

  4. Select Remove AllRemove Now.

  5. Select Safari → Quit to save change


Mobile Browser Directions

Safari (iPhone & iPad)

  1. Open the Settings app.

  2. Select Safari.

  3. Select Clear History and Website Data.

  4. Confirm the action.

 

Google Chrome (iPhone & iPad)

  1. Open Chrome.

  2. Select the menu button (bottom‑right).

  3. Select Delete browsing data.

  4. Set Time Range to All time.

  5. Check Cookies, Site Data and Cached Images and Files.

  6. Select Delete browsing data.

Google Chrome (Android)

  1. Open Chrome.

  2. Select the three‑dot menuSettings.

  3. Select Privacy and securityDelete browsing data.

  4. Set Time range to All time.

  5. Check Cookies, site data and Cached images and files.

  6. Select Clear data.

 

Firefox (Android)

  1. Open Firefox.

  2. Select the three‑dot menuSettings.

  3. Select Privacy & securityDelete browsing data.

  4. Choose the data you want to remove and select Delete browsing data.

 
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