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What is my browser's cache and how do I clear it?
What is my browser's cache and how do I clear it?

Sometimes a website just doesn't load correctly because it is loading outdated information, clearing your cache can resolve this issue.

James Ramsay avatar
Written by James Ramsay
Updated over a week ago

The first question you may have upon opening this help article is:

What is a browser's cache?

The cache on your browser is like a memory for your browser that stores recently viewed web pages. The idea behind this is to speed up your browser so it doesn't have to keep reloading data it has already viewed before. Making for a better user experience across the web.

The one negative to the browser cache is that it can sometimes remember outdated information or code, so things just don't work as they should.

Fear not! Browser creators know this issue all too well and have created a couple of options for reloading a page correctly or even clearing the cache completely.

Option 1 - A hard reload (Try me first)

Instead of clearing the entire cache, we can force a browser to completely reload a page rather than using the cache. This can be done on a particular page that is not loading correctly.

Windows PC

Hold down Ctrl and press F5

Apple Mac

Hold down ⌘ Cmd and ⇧ Shift and then press R

Option 2 - Clear the cache (If at first you don't succeed, try me)

This option will clear the cache for your browser, you won't lose any data but you may experience a slightly slower experience the first time you access websites again as the browser will need to redownload the entire page to its cache.

Mobile browsers

Android

The steps to clear your cache, cookies, and history may differ depending on the model of your Android device and your preferred browser, but you should be able to clear your cache and data from your application management settings menu:

  1. Go to Settings and choose Apps or Application Manager.

  2. Swipe to the All tab.

  3. In the list of installed apps, find and tap your web browser. Tap Clear Cache.

  4. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Chrome for Android

  1. Tap Chrome menu > Settings.

  2. Tap (Advanced) Privacy.

  3. From the "Time Range" drop-down menu, select All Time.

  4. Check Cached Images and Files.

  5. Tap Clear data.

  6. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Safari for iOS

  1. Open your Settings app.

  2. Tap Safari.

  3. Tap Clear Website Data and confirm.

  4. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Chrome for iOS

  1. Tap Chrome menu > Settings.

  2. Tap Privacy.

  3. Tap Clear Browsing Data.

  4. Only select Cache images and files.

  5. Tap Clear Browsing Data.

  6. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Desktop browsers

Chrome

  1. In the browser bar, enter: chrome://settings/clearBrowserData

  2. At the top of the "Clear browsing data" window, click Advanced.

  3. Only select Cache images and files.

  4. To clear your entire cache, select All time.

  5. Click CLEAR DATA.

  6. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Firefox

  1. From the History menu, select Clear Recent History. If the menu bar is hidden, press Alt to make it visible.

  2. From the Time range to clear: drop-down menu, select the desired range; to clear your entire cache, select Everything.

  3. Next to History, only select Cache

  4. Click OK

  5. Exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

Microsoft Edge

  1. In the top right, click the Hub icon (looks like star with three horizontal lines).

  2. Click the History icon (looks like a clock), and then select Clear all history.

  3. Select Cached data and files.

  4. Click Clear.

  5. After the "All Clear!" message appears, exit/quit all browser windows and re-open the browser.

For any further assistance with this please contact our Eagle Support Team;
P: (03) 9016 0444 E: [email protected]

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