How do I clear my web browser's cache?

Each time you access a file through your web browser, the browser caches (stores) it. In this way, the files (including any images on the page) do not have to be retrieved anew from the remote web site each time you click the Back or Forward buttons. You should periodically clear the cache to allow your browser to function more efficiently. Once you clear your cache please close your browser and reopen it.

On this page:

• Windows
  • Internet Explorer 8
  • Internet Explorer 7
  • Internet Explorer 4.x, 5.x, and 6.x
  • Netscape 8
  • Netscape Navigator 7.1
  • Firefox 3.5
  • Firefox 2.0
  • Firefox 1.0 and 1.5
  
  
• Mac OS and Mac OS X
  • Safari
  • Firefox 1.x and 2.0
  • Netscape 6.x or later

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Internet Explorer 8

1. From the Tools menu, select Delete Browsing History...
   
   
2. Select "Temporary Internet Files".
   
   
3. Click on "Delete".

Internet Explorer 7

1. From the Tools menu, select Internet Options... .
   
   
2. Choose the General tab.
   
   
3. Under Browsing history, click Delete... .
   
   
4. Next to "Temporary Internet Files", click Delete files... .
   
   
5. Click Close, and then click OK to exit.

Internet Explorer 4.x, 5.x, and 6.x for Windows

1. From the Tools menu (for version 4.x, the View menu), select Internet Options... .
   
   
2. Choose the General tab.
   
   
3. In the "Temporary Internet Files" section, click Delete Files... .
   
   
4. To confirm the deletion, click OK.
   
   
5. In the Internet Options dialog box, click OK.

Netscape 8 for Windows

1. From the Tools menu, select Options... .
   
   
2. Click Privacy.
   
   
3. Next to "Cache", click the Clear button.
   
   
4. If you'd like to set the size of the cache and set the browser to clear the cache when you close it, click the + (plus sign) next to "Cache" and change the settings as needed.
   
   
5. Click OK.

Netscape 7.1 for Windows

1. From the Edit menu, select Preferences... .
   
   
2. In the left panel of the Preferences dialog box, click the + (plus sign) in the box to the left of Advanced. Click Cache.
   
   
3. Click Clear Cache.
   
   
4. In the Preferences dialog box, click OK.

Firefox 3.5

1. After the browser opens, click on "Tools".
   
   
2. Now click on Clear Recent History. Alternatively, you can access this menu directly by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete.
   
   
3. Now, beside "Time range to clear", click "Everything".
   
   
4. Click on Details and select only Cache.
   
   
5. Select Clear Now.

Firefox 2.0 for Windows

From the Tools menu, select Clear Private Data, and then choose Cache.

Firefox 1.0 and 1.5 for Windows

1. From the Tools menu, select Options... , and then click Privacy.
   
   
2. In 1.5, select the Cache tab, and then click the Clear Cache Now button. In 1.0, next to Cache, click the Clear button, and then click OK.

Safari

1. From the Safari menu, select Empty Cache... .
   
   
2. When prompted, click Empty to confirm that you want to empty the cache.

Firefox 1.x and 2.0 for Mac OS X

1. From the Firefox menu, select Preferences... .
   
   
2. From the sheet that drops down, select Privacy. In 2.0, click Clear Now. In 1.5, click Clear Cache Now. In 1.0, next to Cache, click the Clear button, and then OK.

Netscape 6.x or later for Mac OS and Mac OS X

1. In Mac OS X, from the Netscape or Mozilla menu, select Preferences... . In Mac OS 9.x or earlier, from the Edit menu, select Preferences... .
   
   
2. In the left panel of the Preferences dialog box, click the arrow to the left of Advanced. Click Cache.
   
   
3. Either click the Clear Cache button, or click both the Clear Memory Cache and Clear Disk Cache buttons.
   
   
4. In the Preferences dialog box, click OK.