Emptying the browser cache

Occasionally, outdated content may be displayed in a web browser. When this occurs, emptying the browser cache will often resolve the problem.
The browser cache is a temporary storage area for web pages. When users visit a web page, certain parts of it such as images, CSS or JavaScript files are saved to the user’s hard drive. As a result, instead of having to download everything all over again the next time the user visits the same page, the browser can reuse the files stored in the browser cache, and the page can be loaded and displayed more quickly.
However, the browser may not always notice that more recent content is available on the server, and may incorrectly display old content from the cache instead. In this case, it is often helpful to empty the browser cache.
The following instructions will walk you through the process of emptying your browser cache.

Emptying the browser cache

Depending on which browser you’re using, the cache can be emptied either through the appropriate browser setting or with the (universally valid) keystroke combination Ctrl + Shift + Del.

Note that, depending on your browser version, the cache settings may be found at a different location than the one described here.

Google Chrome

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Del
• Next to “Clear the following items from”, select “the beginning of time”
• Check the box for “Cached images and files”, then click on “Clear browsing data”
  

Alternatively:

• Click on the menu icon next to the address bar
• Select “More tools”
• Select “Clear browsing data...”
• Next to “Clear the following items from”, select “the beginning of time”
• Check the box for “Cached images and files”
• Click on “Clear browsing data”

Mozilla Firefox

Emptying the browser cache in Firefox 57, as well as Firefox version 4 through 56:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Del
• A new window will open. Under “Details”, check the box for “Cache”, then click on “Clear Now”

Alternatively:

• Press the Alt key to show the menu bar at the top of the window
• Open the “History” menu and click on “Clear Recent History...”
• A new window will open. Under “Details”, check the box for “Cache”, then click on “Clear Now”

Emptying the browser cache in Firefox 2 and Firefox 3:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Del
• A new window will open. Check the box for “Cache”, then click on “Clear Private Data Now”

Alternative option 1:

• Open the “Tools” menu and click on “Clear Private Data...”
• A new window will open. Check the box for “Cache”, then click on “Clear Private Data Now”

Alternative option 2:

• Open the “Tools” menu and click on “Preferences”
• Select the “Privacy” tab
• Find the “Private Data” section, then click on “Clear Now...”
• A new window will open. Check the box for “Cache”, then click on “Clear Private Data Now”

Microsoft Edge

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Del
• Check the box for “Cached data and files”, then click on “Clear”

Alternatively:

• Click on the “...” icon at the top right
• Click on “Settings”
• Find the “Clear browsing data” section, then click on “Choose what to clear”
• Check the box for “Cached data and files”
• Click “Clear”

Microsoft Internet Explorer

IE 11, 10 and 9

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Del
• Check the box for “Temporary Internet files and website files”, then click “Delete”

Alternatively:

• Click on the gear icon at the top right
• Click on “Internet options”
• Select the “General” tab
• Find the “Browsing history” section, then click “Delete...”
• A new window will open. Uncheck the box for “Preserve Favorites website data” and check the boxes for “Temporary Internet files and website files” and “Cookies and website data”
• Click “Clear”

IE 8

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Del
• Check the box for “Temporary Internet files and website files”, then click “Delete”

Alternatively:

• Open the “Tools” menu and click on “Internet options”
• Select the “General” tab
• Find the “Browsing history” section, then click “Delete...”
• A new window will open. Uncheck the box for “Preserve Favorites website data” and check the boxes for “Temporary Internet files and website files” and “Cookies and website data”
• Click “Clear”

IE 7

• Open the “Tools” menu and click on the item for “Internet options”
• Select the “General” tab
• Find the “Browsing history” section, then click “Delete...”
• Click on “Delete files”
• Confirm the action by clicking “Yes”

Clearing the browser cache in IE 6:

• Open the “Tools” menu and click on “Internet options”
• Select the “General” tab
• Find the “Temporary Internet files” section, then click on “Delete files...”
• Check the box for “Delete all offline content”
• Click “Yes”

Apple Safari

• Press Cmd + Alt + E

Alternatively:

• Open the “Safari” menu and click on “Clear history...”
• Select the option for “from the last hour”
• Then click the “Clear history” button

Opera

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Del
• A new window will open. Select “since the beginning of time” for the time period
• Check the boxes for “Browsing history”, “Download history”, “Cookies and other site data”, “Cached images and files”, and “Third-party plugin data”
• Click the “Clear browsing data” button at the bottom of the window

Alternatively:

• Click on the Opera / menu button in the title bar of your browser window
• Open the “Settings” menu and click on “Privacy & security”
• Click the “Clear browsing data...” button in the “Privacy” section
• A new window will open. Select “since the beginning of time” for the time period
• Check the boxes for “Browsing history”, “Download history”, “Cookies and other site data”, “Cached images and files”, and “Third-party plugin data”.
• Click the “Clear browsing data” button at the bottom of the window