By default, when you visit a website, your Internet browser stores temporary site data in the form of cache and cookies. This data is used to help the page load faster upon future visits, and remember your preferences to make your browsing experience easier.
Sometimes, however, erasing browser cache and cookies is beneficial. For instance, they can cause issues on certain websites. Furthermore, clearing only the cache and cookies, rather than your history altogether, lets you “refresh” your browser while still keeping track of the sites you’ve visited. To proceed, select your browser from the list below and follow the instructions.
Google Chrome
- Open the Google Chrome browser.
- Click the icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
- In the drop-down menu that appears, select Settings.
Most browsers today support the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Del to open the clear history settings.
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
Microsoft Edge
Safari
Opera
On the left side of the screen, click the Privacy and security option.
In the Privacy and security section, click the Clear browsing data selector.
In the window that opens, click the Advanced tab.
Select the Time range over which you’d like to clear data (A). Then, check only the box next to Cookies and other site data (B). Finally, click the Clear data button (C).
Mozilla Firefox
Open the Mozilla Firefox browser.
Click the menu icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
In the drop-down menu that appears, select Settings.
In the window that appears, click the Privacy & Security option in the left navigation pane.
In the Cookies and Site Data section, click the Clear Data button.
In the prompt that appears, make sure both boxes are checked and click the Clear button.
In the next prompt, click Clear Now.
Microsoft Edge
Open the Microsoft Edge browser.
Click the Settings and more icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
In the drop-down menu that appears, near the bottom, select Settings.
Under the Settings section on the left, click Privacy, search, and services.
Near the top of the Privacy, search, and services window, under the Clear browsing data section, click the Choose what to clear button.
In the prompt that appears, set the Time range to All time. Then, make sure the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked, then click the Clear now button.
Safari
Open the Safari browser.
Select from the menu bar in the top-left corner of the screen.
In the drop-down menu that appears, select Preferences.
Click the Privacy tab (A), and then the Manage Website Data button (B).
In the window that appears, click the Remove All button.
Confirm your choice in the prompt by clicking the Remove Now button.
Click the Done button in the previous window.
Opera
Open the Opera browser.
Click the button in the upper-left corner of the screen.
In the drop-down menu that appears, near the bottom, select Settings.
In the Settings window, click the button, and then select Privacy & security.
In the window that opens, click the Advanced tab.
Select the Time range over which you want to clear data (A). Then, check only the box next to Cookies and other site data (B). Finally, click the Clear data button (C).
Related information
- How to enable, disable, view, or delete Internet cookies.
- Are Internet cookies spyware?
- How to clear Internet browser history.
- How to clear your Downloads folder.
- Why does a browser need to save my history?
- How to set a browser to Incognito or private mode.
- Internet browser help and support.
