Web Browsers - Clearing Cache

Often referred to as the cache, the Temporary Internet Files folder contains image files, sound files, entire Web pages, even cookies that you have picked up while surfing the web. These items are downloaded when you view a website, and are stored in the Temporary Internet Files folder or cache.

By storing these files in your cache, your browser will appear faster because it can call up files from your cache, rather than downloading from the website each time you visit. For the most part, this a very useful feature for optimizing your web surfing. After a while, your cache can become full, and you may experience problems browsing your favorite sites. Cookies are not able to be placed in a full cache, so often times things that used to work, stop working. Periodically clearing your cache can improve these problems.

Choose the browser you are using from the list below for information on how to clear the browser's cache:

 

 

For help clearing cache in the latest version of Internet Explorer, visit the Microsoft.com website:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/260897

 

Internet Explorer 6.x - Windows

  1. To clear the cache in Internet Explorer, select Tools-> and then Internet Options.
  2. Click on the Delete Files button in the "Temporary Internet file" section of the window.
  3. The "Delete Files" confirmation window is displayed. Click OK (Usually its not necessary to check "Delete offline content").

Internet Explorer 7.x - Windows

  1. Select Tools-> and then Internet Options.
  2. Click on the General tab and then the Delete... button.
  3. Click the Delete files... button and then Yes on the Delete Files confirmation window.
  4. Click the Close button and then the OK button.

Internet Explorer - Mac

  1. Start Internet Explorer
  2. Select Explorer->Preferences from the toolbar.
  3. Select the Web Browser menu.
  4. Select the Advanced menu.
  5. Then on the right-side of the "Preferences" window in the Cache section, click on Empty Now.

Netscape/Mozilla - Windows

  1. To clear the cache in Netscape, you need to select Edit | Preferences to display the "Preferences" window.
  2. Click on the + in front of the "Advanced" menu.
  3. Click once on Cache to display the cache options on the right-side of the "Preferences" window
  4. Click on the Clear Cache button.
  5. Click OK to close the "Preferences" window.

Netscape/Mozilla - Macintosh

  1. Select Edit | Preferences.
  2. Select Advanced.
  3. Select Cache.
  4. Then on the right-side of the "Preferences" window, click on the Clear Cache button.
     

Firefox - Latest Versions

http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-clear-firefox-cache

 

Firefox 1.5 - Windows

  1. Click on Tools | Options.
  2. Click on the Privacy icon.
  3. View the "Cache" tab and click on Clear Cache Now.

Firefox 2.x - Windows

  1. Click on Tools | Options.
  2. Click on the Privacy icon.
  3. Click on Clear Now under the Private Data section.
  4. Click on the OK button to return to browsing.

Firefox 1.5 - Mac

  1. Click on Firefox | Preferences.
  2. Click on the Privacy icon.
  3. View the "Cache" tab and click on Clear Cache Now.

Firefox 2.x - Mac

  1. Click on Firefox | Preferences.
  2. Click on the Privacy icon.
  3. Click on Clear Now under the Private Data section.
  4. Click on the red close window button to return to browsing.

Safari 2.x - Mac

  1. Click on Safari | Empty Cache.
  2. A window will appear asking if you want to clear cache. Click on Empty.