How to Clear Your Web Browser’s Cache Cookies And History

How to Clear Your Web Browser’s Cache Cookies And History

Posted By Nitish Khanna | June 20, 2019 | No Comments | Guide

A good thing about the internet is that it never forgets! It knows exactly where you have you been and what you have been reading and consuming. However, at times, this information can interfere with your browsing speed and create obstacles in logging in.

According to the SEO specialists, to maintain your browser’s health, you must regularly clear the cache, cookies and history to ensure privacy and smooth functioning of the system. The browser has the capability to store a variety of data including cached images, download history, passwords, search history, site preferences etc.

These can lead to the slowing down of the browser so you must get rid of them whenever possible. Here is how to get it done.

Know More About The Three Terms

Web Cache: It is also called HTTP cache and involves storage or caching of web documents for a temporary period. It stores web pages, images, and other multimedia in order to decrease the server lag. The system basically collects copies of the documents passing through it. For more information, click here.

 HTTP Cookies: Cookie is the data sent by a website which gets stored in the user’s desktop or mobile phone by the browser being used for browsing. They are beneficial in retaining important information such as the items in shopping cart, browsing activity, passwords, credit card information, etc. For more information, click here.

 Web Browsing History: It refers to the record of recently visited web pages maintained by the user’s web browser for a specific time period. The history allows the user to revisit a page viewed earlier easily. For more information, click here.

A Word Of Caution Before You Get Started

When you clear the cache, cookies and history, you unintentionally end up removing all the saved passwords, shopping cart items and address bar predictions which can save a lot of time while browsing. Thus you can either save this information or use a private browsing window in your browser. The list of private windows is given below for your assistance.

Private Browsing (Firefox)

Browse in private with Incognito mode (Chrome desktop and Android)

Browse In Private in Microsoft Edge

Browse privately (Safari)

Turn Private Browsing on or off on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Points To Remember

To make sure that the menu opens quickly for clearing cache, cookies and history, the browser must be open and selected before you press ‘Ctrl-Shift-Delete’ for Windows and ‘Command-shift-Delete’ for Mac.

If you are unable to do so, then follow the steps given below. In case you see a different format on your screen, you will have to update your browser to the latest version.

You can also search your browser’s ‘Help’ menu to find ‘Clear Cache’. If you don’t know the version you are using, you need to select ‘About [Browser Name]’. If you are unable to see the menu bar in Firefox or Internet Explorer, then press the ‘Alt’ button on the keyboard.

Mobile Phone Browsers

 Android        

The instructions for clearing cache, cookies and history can vary depending on the device and browser being used. However, it is possible to get the job done through the application management settings menu using the following steps:

1. Go to ‘Settings’ and touch ‘Apps’ or ‘Application Manager’.

2. Now touch the ‘All’ tab.

3. You will get a list of the installed apps. Here choose your web browser.

4. Now select ‘Clear Data’ and then ‘Clear Cache’.

5. Exit all the browser windows and open the browser again.

Chrome for Android

1. Select ‘Chrome Menu>Settings’.

2. Tap your finger on ‘(Advanced) Privacy’.

3. Now select ‘All Time’ from the ‘Time Range’ drop-down menu.

4. Check ‘Cookies and Site Data’ and ‘Cached Images and Files’.

5. Now select ‘Clear Data’.

6. Quit all the browser windows and re-open.

Safari for iOS

1. Go to the Settings app.

2. Choose ‘Safari’.

3. Select ‘Clear History and Website Data’ and confirm.

4. Now quit Safari and open the browser again.

 Chrome for iOS

1. Place your finger on ‘Chrome menu> Settings’.

2. Tap ‘Privacy’.

3. Now choose ‘Clear Browsing Data’.

4. You need to select the data type which needs to be cleared.

5. After that tap on ‘Clear Browsing Data’.

6. Quit the browser window and re-open.

Desktop Browsers

 Chrome 

1. Go to the browser bar and enter the following text:

chrome://settings/clearBrowserData

2. On the top of the ‘Clear Browsing Data’ window you will see ‘Advanced’, click on it.

3. Now select the following items from the list that appears:

  • Browsing history
  • Download history
  • Cookies and other site data
  • Cached images and files

4. You can specify the timeframe for which you want to clear the cache by going to the ‘Time Range’ drop-down menu. To clear the entire record, click on ‘All Time’.

5. Now select ‘Clear Data’.

6. Quit all the browser windows and open it again.

Firefox

1. Go to the ‘History’ menu and select ‘Clear Recent History’. If the menu bar is not visible, then you will have to press ‘Alt’ on your keyboard.

2. Select the time period for which you want to remove the history from the ‘Time Range to Clear’ drop-down menu. If you want to get rid of everything from the beginning, select ‘Everything’.

3. Click the down arrow next to ‘Details’ to select the items which need to be cleared. To remove the entire data, select ‘All items’.

4. After that select ‘Clear Now’.

5. Quit the browser windows and open the browser again.

Microsoft Edge

1. Click on the ‘Hub’ icon on the top right, which appears like a star with horizontal lines.

2. Now click on the ‘History’ icon which appears like a clock and then click on ‘Clear all History’.

3. Choose ‘Browsing History’ followed by ‘Cookies and saved Website Data’ and ‘Cached Data and Files’. Lastly, click on ‘Clear’.

4. You will receive the ‘All Clear’ message.

5. Quit all the browser windows and open the browser again.

Opera

1. Go to the ‘Opera’ menu and click on ‘Settings’ followed by ‘Privacy & Security’ and ‘Clear Browsing Data….’.

2. A dialog box will open from the “Obliterate the following items from:” drop-down menu. Click on ‘The beginning of time’.

3. Now select the following:

  • Browsing history
  • Download history
  • Cookies and other site data
  • Cached images and files
  • Click ‘Clear Browsing Data’.

4. Quit all the browser windows and open the browser again.

 Internet Explorer 11

You must upgrade to the latest operating system which supports Internet Explorer 11. In case you encounter any challenges, turn off the compatibility mode.

1. Select ‘Tools > Safety > Delete browsing history….’ If the menu bar is not visible, then press ‘Alt’ on your     keyboard to make it visible.

2. Deselect ‘Preserve Favorites Website Data’, and select the following:

  • Temporary Internet files or Temporary Internet files and website files
  • Cookies or Cookies and website data
  • History

3. Click ‘Delete’. You will get a confirmation when the process is completed.

4. Quit all the browser windows and open the browser again.

Safari 8 and Later

1. Go to the ‘Safari’ menu and click on ‘Clear History…’ or ‘Clear History and Website Data….’

2. Choose the preferred time range, and then click ‘Clear History’.

3. Now go to ‘Safari > Quit Safari’ or press ‘Command-Q’ on your keyboard to quit the browser.

 Endnote

 Thus if you are facing trouble with the speed of your browser or need to secure your browsing history from prying eyes, then follow the steps mentioned above and enjoy a hassle-free browsing experience.