# Clear Browser Session

When things go funky with websites and logins, clearing your cache forces your browser to retrieve the newest copy available from the website, something that should happen automatically but sometimes does not. Internet cookies (the non-edible type) are tiny files stored on your hard drive by your browser that contain information about your visit to a particular website, like login status, personalization, and advertising preferences, etc. The steps below describe how to clear the cache and cookies for each of the major browsers. This document is also available as an [article](https://sdsu-its.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/2914355-clearing-your-browser-session) in the [Desk](https://sdsu-its.gitbook.io/policy-operations-guide/operations-faculty-support/desk.com) Knowledge Base, so it can easily be shared with clients via macros.

## Chrome: Clear Browsing Data

In Google Chrome, clearing the browser cache and cookies is done via the *Clear browsing data* area in *Settings*. From there, check **Cached images and files** and **Cookies and other site data** (as well as anything else you want to remove) and then tap or click the **CLEAR BROWSING DATA** button.

Assuming you're using a [keyboard](https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-keyboard-2618153), the quickest way to *Clear browsing data* is via the **Ctrl+Shift+Del** keyboard shortcut.

Without a keyboard, tap or click the **Menu** button (the icon with three stacked lines) followed by **More tools** and finally **Clear browsing data...**.

See [How to Clear the Cache in Chrome](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2392709?visit_id=0-636388181934126876-2271256505\&rd=1) for more details on clearing your cache. See [How to Delete Cookies in Chrome](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en) for additional information like how to delete cookies from specific websites, how to allow or deny websites from leaving cookies, and more.

**Tip:** Choose **the beginning of time** from the *Clear the following items from* option at the top of the *Clear browsing data* window to make sure you get everything.

In Chrome's mobile browser, go to **Settings** and then **Privacy**. From there, choose **Clear Browsing Data**. In this menu, check **Cached Images and Files**, as well as **Cookies, Site Data** and press the **Clear Browsing Data** button once, and then again for confirmation.

## Internet Explorer: Delete Browsing History

In Microsoft Internet Explorer, the browser that comes pre-installed on most Windows computers, clearing the cache is done from the *Delete Browsing History* area. From here, check **Temporary Internet files and website files** and then click or tap **Delete**. Also, find the option for cookies, which is called **Cookies and website data** and then click or tap **Delete**.

Like with other popular browsers, the fastest way to the *Delete Browsing History* settings is via the **Ctrl+Shift+Del** keyboard shortcut.

Another option is via the **Tools** button (the gear icon), followed by **Safety** and then **Delete browsing history...**.

See [How to Clear the Cache in Internet Explorer](https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-clear-the-cache-in-internet-explorer-2624707) for a full set of instructions. See [How to Delete Cookies in Internet Explorer](https://support.microsoft.com/errors?) for more help, like how to delete cookies in older versions of Internet Explorer.

**Tip:** Internet Explorer often refers to the browser cache as *temporary internet files* but they're one in the same.

## Firefox: Clear All History

In Mozilla's Firefox browser, you clear the cache and Cookies from the *Clear Recent History* area in the browser's *Options*. Once there, check **Cache** and **Cookies** and then tap or click **Clear Now**. Delete cookies in Mozilla's Firefox browser through the *Clear All History* window of its *Options* section. Choose the **Cookies** option and then the **Clear Now** button to erase the cookies in Firefox.

The **Ctrl+Shift+Del** keyboard shortcut is probably the fastest way to open this tool. It's also available from Firefox's Menu button (the three-lined "hamburger" button) via **Options**, then **Privacy & Security**, and finally the **clear your recent history** link from the *History* area. You will then also need to go in and choose **Options > Privacy > clear your recent history** to open the *Clear All History* section.

See [How to Clear the Cache in Firefox](https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-clear-the-cache-in-firefox-2624704) for a complete tutorial on clearing your cache in Firefox. See [How to Delete Cookies in Firefox](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/delete-cookies-remove-info-websites-stored) if you need more help or you want to know how to delete cookies from specific websites only.

**Tip:** Don't forget to choose **Everything** from the *Time range to clear:* set of options, assuming that's the time frame you want to clear the cache over.

If you're using Firefox's mobile app, tap the menu from the bottom right and then choose **Settings** from that menu. Find the *PRIVACY* section and tap **Clear Private Data**. Make sure **Cache** is chosen and then tap **Clear Private Data**. Confirm with an **OK**.

## Safari: Clearing Sessions

In Apple's Safari browser, clearing the cache is done via the *Develop* menu. Just tap or click **Develop** and then **Empty Caches**. Deleting the cookies in Apple's Safari web browser is done through the *Privacy* section of *Preferences*, under the \_Cookies and other website data \_section. Click or tap **Remove All Website Data...** to delete all the cookies, or choose **Details...** to delete website-specific cookies.

Whether you're on macOS or Windows, you can get to this section of the browser's settings through the *Action* menu (the gear icon at the upper-right corner of Safari).

Select the **Preferences...** option and then the **Privacy** tab. The buttons I mentioned above are under the section called *Cookies and other website data*.

If you use the **Remove All Website Data...** button, choose the **Remove Now** button to delete all of Safari's cookies. If you want to delete cookies from specific websites, pick the **Details...** button and then select the cookies you want to remove - click or tap **Remove** to delete them.

With a keyboard, clearing the cache in Safari is super easy with the **Option-Command-E** shortcut.

See [How to Clear the Cache in Safari](http://help.apple.com/safari/mac/9.0/#/sfri20948) if you need more help clearing your cache.

**Tip:** If you don't see *Develop* on your Safari menu bar, enable it via **Preferences**, then **Advanced**, followed by selecting the **Show Develop menu in menu bar** option.

Clearing the browser cache from mobile Safari, like the one on your iPad or iPhone, is accomplished in a different app. From your device, open the **Settings** app and then find the **Safari** section. In there, scroll toward the bottom and tap **Clear History and Website Data**. Tap **Clear History and Data** to confirm.

## Opera: Clear Browsing Data

In Opera, clearing the cache is done via the *Clear browsing data* section that's part of *Settings*. Once open, check **Cached images and files**, as well as **Cookies and other site data** and then click or tap **Clear browsing data**.

The fastest way to bring up the *Clear browsing data* window is via the **Ctrl+Shift+Del** keyboard shortcut.

Without a keyboard, click or tap the main menu button (the Opera logo from the upper-left hand side of the browser), then **Settings**, **Privacy & security**, and finally the **Clear browsing data...** button. Check the **Cached images and files** option and then press **Clear browsing data**.

See [How to Clear the Cache in Opera](http://help.opera.com/Windows/12.10/en/cache.html) for detailed instructions on clearing your cache; and See [How to Delete Cookies in Opera](http://blogs.opera.com/news/2015/08/how-to-manage-cookies-in-opera/) for some additional information on viewing, deleting, and managing cookies.

**Tip:** Be sure to choose **the beginning of time** option at the top so you're sure to erase everything!

You can clear the cache from the mobile Opera browser too. Tap the Opera icon from the bottom menu and then navigate to **Settings > Clear...** to choose what to delete: saved passwords, browsing history, cookies and data, or all of it.

## Edge: Clear Browsing Data

In Microsoft's Edge browser, included in their newer versions of Windows, clearing the cache is done via the *Clear browsing data* menu. Once open, check **Cached data and files**, as well as **Cookies and saved website data** and then tap or click **Clear**.

The fastest way to the *Clear browsing data* menu is via the **Ctrl+Shift+Del** keyboard shortcut.

Another option is via the **More** button (that little icon with three horizontal dots), followed by **Settings** and then the **Choose what to clear** button under the *Clear browsing data* heading.

See [How to Clear the Cache in Microsoft Edge](https://support.microsoft.com/errors?) for more extensive help clearing the cache, as well as See [How to Delete Cookies in Microsoft Edge](https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10-microsoft-edge-and-privacy) for detailed instructions on clearing your cookies in Microsoft Edge.

**Tip:** Tap or click **Show more** while in the *Clear browsing data* menu for additional items you can erase while clearing cached files and images.

To delete cache files from the Edge mobile browser, go into the menu using button on the right side of the menu, and choose **Settings**. Go to **Privacy > Clear browsing data** and choose what you want removed; you can pick cache, passwords, form data, cookies, and more.