How to Clear Cache, Cookies, History and Bookmarks

What is Cache, Cookies, and History and How Do You Clear Them...

Each time you use a web browser (Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, etc), the browser saves (or caches) your information so it won't have to retrieve the same files or images each time you click Back or Forward. You should periodically clear the cache to allow your browser to function more efficiently.

A cookie is a file created by a web browser, at the request of a web site, that is stored on a computer. These files typically store user-specific information such as selections in a form, shopping cart contents, or authentication data. Browsers will normally clear cookies that reach a certain age, but clearing them manually may solve problems with web sites or your browser.

A browser's history is a log of sites that you visit. When you press a browser's Back button, you are moving back one entry in the history log. Browsers will normally clear history at regular intervals, but you may want to clear it manually for privacy reasons.

See below on how to delete cache, cookies and history for your browser version. To find out what browser version you are on, select the Help button at the top of your browser window and select the About option.

How to clear cache in Firefox:

  • Click the Menu buttonMenu buttonin the top right corner of your Firefox browser window. Select "Settings".
  • Select the "Privacy and Security" Panel on the left side of the screen
  • Scroll down to the "Cookies and Site Data" section, select "Clear Data"
  • With "Cookies and Site Data" and "Cached Web Content" checked, click the "Clear" button
  • For more information, visit: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-clear-firefox-cache

How to clear cache in Chrome:

  • Click the Menu buttonSelect More in Chromein the top right corner of your Chrome browser window.
  • Select  "Clear browsing data"
  • At the top of the 'Clear Browsing Data' box, choose a time range from the drop-down.  To delete everything, select "All time"
  • Next to the "Browsing History", "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files", check the boxes. 
  • Click "Clear data
  • For more information, visit: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/32050?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en&oco=0

How to clear cache in Microsoft Edge:

  • Click the three dotsin the upper right corner
  • Click on History
  • Click on the three dots ... to the right of the History tab
  • Select Open History Page
  • Select Clear Browsing Data
  • Click the dropdown for Time Range and select All Time
  • Select all boxes: Browsing History, Download History, Cookies and other site data and Cached Images and files
  • Click on Clear Now
  • For more information on clearing Edge data, visit:  https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/search/results?query=clear+edge+cache&isEnrichedQuery=false

How to clear cache in Safari on Mac

  • In the Safari app Safari appon your Mac, choose "History", select "Clear History", click the pop-up menu
  • Choose how far back you want your browsing history cleared. 
  • For more information, visit https://support.apple.com/

How to clear cache in Internet Explorer (IE)

Support for Internet Explorer 11 has ended on June 15, 2022

Internet Explorer 11 will no longer be accessible after February 14, 2023. If any site you visit needs Internet Explorer 11, you can reload it with Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge. 

 

How To Clear/Delete Bookmarks  

Chrome Browser

To remove bookmarks in Chrome:

  1. Click the 3-dot menu in the upper-right corner of Chrome > Bookmarks and Lists > Show Bookmarks Bar. Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)
  2. Uploaded Image (Thumbnail) Right-click on the bookmark and select delete. Education Week website that was bookmarkedYou can also delete bookmarks by going to the page, click the solid star in the URL bar and select Remove
     
  3. Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)

Note: You can also delete bookmarks by going to the page, click the solid star in the URL bar and select Remove.
 

To use the bookmark manager, go to chrome://bookmarks/ > to the right of the bookmark you want to delete > Delete. To delete all bookmarks, go to the bookmark manager, select all, and click Delete.

A screenshot of a computer of the chrome bookmarks manager page

 

A white and blue background with bookmarks and access to the three dots to delete bookmarks 

Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)

Edge Browser

To delete bookmarks or favorites in Edge:

1. Open the Edge browser.
2. Click the Hub 

three dots on Edge browser shortcut to bookmarks menu (three lines icon).

3. Under Favorites 

image shortcut of Star to bookmark site

(Star icon).

4. Right-click a favorite/bookmark or folder and select Delete.

two images to access bookmarks
A screenshot of a computer showing Star icon and three menu dots A screenshot of a computer showing where to click to delete bookmark

Firefox Browser

To delete bookmarks in Firefox:

  1. Go to the page in your bookmarks that you want to remove. 
  2. Click on the star icon to the right of your search bar. Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)
  3. From within the Edit Bookmark window, click Remove Bookmark.

Thumbnail image of booked website to select Remove Bookmark option

 

100% helpful - 1 review
Print Article

Details

Article ID: 85666
Created
Tue 8/27/19 12:18 PM
Modified
Fri 2/16/24 3:31 PM