Clearing browser cache and cookies

Web browsers store copies of frequently accessed pages in their cache in order to quickly reload pages without having to retrieve them from the Internet. Cookies commonly track website activity. Clearing both cache and cookies can sometimes help resolve errors that occur when loading pages or accessing campus resources. Specifically, if you are having trouble logging into or loading a page on one computer but not another, it would be beneficial to clear the cache and cookies. Below are instructions for most common browsers.

 Google Chrome

  1. On the browser toolbar, click the Chrome menu.
    The location of the Chrome menu button located to the right of the address bar and looks like three dots in a vertical line
  2. Select History > History
  3. On the left margin of the page, select Clear browsing data
  4. Select Advanced
  5. Set Time range to All time
  6. Check only these checkboxes, and un-check all others:
    • Cookies and other site and plugin data
    • Cached images and files 
    • Passwords
  7. Click Clear data
  8. Close and restart your browser

 Google Chrome Mobile (Android/iOS)

Android

  1. Tap the Chrome menu, then tap Settings.
  2. Tap (Advanced) Privacy.
  3. Tap Clear browsing data.
  4. Tap the Clear data from the dropdown.
  5. Select a time period, such past hour or past day.
  6. Select all data types listed.
  7. Tap Clear data.

iPhone or iPad

  1. Tap the Chrome menu, then tap Settings.
  2. Tap Privacy.
  3. Select all data types listed.
  4. Tap Clear.

 Apple Safari

  1. Click Safari > Preferences... > Privacy
  2. Click Manage Website Data...
  3. Click Remove All, then click Done
  4. Restart Safari (⌘ + Q)

 Apple Safari Mobile (iOS)

  1. Open Settings > Safari
  2. Tap Clear History and Website Data and confirm
  3. Close all browser windows and re-open the browser.

 Mozilla Firefox

  1. Select Menu (the three horizontal bars in the top right corner of Firefox), then select Library.
  2. Select History and click Clear Recent History.
  3. Set Time range to clear to Everything.
  4. Click the arrow next to Details, then make sure Cookies and Cache are checked.
  5. Click Clear Now.
  6. Close all browser windows and re-open the browser.

 Mozilla Firefox for Mobile (Android/iOS)

  1. Select Menu ((the three horizontal dots in the top right corner of Firefox)
  2. Select Settings > Clear Private Data
  3. Ensure that the Cookies & active logins and Cache boxes are checked and click Clear Data

 Opera on Windows

Click here for a video guide
  1. Click the Opera button in the top left corner.
  2. Hover over More tools and select Clear browsing data.
  3. Set Obliterate the following items from to the beginning of time.
  4. Check Delete cookies and other site and plug-in data, Empty the cache, and Clear saved passwords checkboxes, and un-check all other checkboxes.
  5. Click Clear browsing data.
  6. Close and restart Opera.

 Opera on Mac

Click here for a video guide
  1. Select Opera > Clear Private Data...
  2. Set Obliterate the following items from to the beginning of time.
  3. Check Delete cookies and other site and plug-in data, Empty the cache, and Clear saved passwords checkboxes, and un-check all other checkboxes.
  4. Click Clear browsing data.
  5. Close and restart Opera.

 Microsoft Edge

  1. View your browsing history by selecting Hub (the three dots in the top-right corner), then scroll down to Clear browsing data.
  2. Select Choose what to clear.
  3. Make sure Cookies and saved website data and Cached data and files are checked, then select Clear.
  4. Close all browser windows and re-open the browser

 Microsoft Internet Explorer 11

  1. Select Tools (the gear icon in the top right corner), then select Safety > Delete browsing history....
  2. In the Delete Browsing History window, uncheck Preserve Favorites website data.
  3. Check Temporary Internet Files and Cookies.
  4. Click Delete.
  5. Close all browser windows and re-open the browser

For additional assistance please contact the IT Support Center at 847-491-4357 (1-HELP) or consultant@northwestern.edu.



Keywords:cache, cookies, error, login, blank page, blank, failure, webSSO, history   Doc ID:67941
Owner:IT Support Center .Group:Northwestern
Created:2016-10-20 20:01 CDTUpdated:2018-05-04 10:55 CDT
Sites:Northwestern
CleanURL:https://kb.northwestern.edu/cache-cookies
Feedback:  15   4