Browser / Clear cookies, cache, and history on computer

Objective

• To provide information and instruction on:
  • Clearing cookies, cache, and history from a computer browser
  • Performing basic browser maintenance (BBM)
  • Troubleshooting basic computer browser issues
    • When a search function is not responsive
    • When a computer will not load web pages properly
    • When you receive the error, Your connection is not private
    • When an Internet download crashes repeatedly
    • When a name error occurs as you attempt to log in to a Miami service on a shared computer
    • When you receive the error, Bad Message 431 — Reason: request header fields too large
• To provide links to the up-to-date support sites for Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari browsers

Environment

• University-owned Computer
• Personally Owned Computer
  • macOS
  • Windows
• Browsers
  • Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Internet Explorer
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Safari

Rationale

• Many issues can be resolved simply by clearing your web browser's cache, cookies, temporary files, and history

Resolution

Chrome

1. Click the More menu (three vertical dots ⋮) in the upper-right corner (or take the shortcut)
2. Click More tools
3. Click Clear browsing data
4. In the Clear browsing data window, select the Advanced tab
5. In the Time range drop-down, select All time
6. Check the following boxes:
   • Browsing history
   • Download history
   • Cookies and other site data
   • Cached images and files
7. Click the Clear data button
8. When your data has been cleared, close your browser
9. Reopen Chrome, and try going to your site again

Source: Review the Google Chrome support article, Clear browsing data

Microsoft Edge (Chromium)

1. Click the Setting and More menu (three horizontal dots …) in the upper-right corner
2. Click Settings
3. Click Privacy, search, and services
4. Scroll to the Clear browsing data section and then click on Choose what to clear
5. In the Time range drop-down, select All time
6. Check the following boxes:
   • Browsing history
   • Download history
   • Cookies and other site data
   • Cached images and files
7. Click the Clear now button
8. When your data has been cleared, close your browser
9. Reopen Edge, and try going to your site again

Source: View and delete browser history in Microsoft Edge

Firefox

1. In Firefox, select the Library button (four vertical lines) (or take the shortcut)
2. Click History
3. Click Clear Recent History
4. In the Time range to clear drop-down, select Everything
5. Click the arrow next to Details, and check the following boxes:
   • Browsing & Download History
   • Form & Search History
   • Cookies
   • Cache
6. Click the Clear Now button
   • The window will close and the items you've selected will be cleared
7. When your history has been cleared, close your browser
8. Reopen Firefox, and try going to your site again

Source: Review the Mozilla support article, Delete browsing, search and download history on Firefox

Internet Explorer (version 11)

1. In Internet Explorer, select Tools (the gear box) in the upper-right corner (or take the shortcut)
2. Select Safety
3. Select Delete browsing history
4. In the Delete Browsing History window, clear the Preserve Favorites website data check box
5. Check the following boxes:
   • Temporary Internet files
   • Cookies
   • History
   • Download History
6. Click the Delete button
   • You will get a confirmation at the bottom of the window when your cookies, cache, and history have been cleared
7. When your data has been cleared, close your browser
8. Reopen Internet Explorer, and try going to your site again

Source: Review the Microsoft support article, View and delete your browsing history in Internet Explorer

Microsoft Edge (legacy)

1. In Microsoft Edge, click the Hub icon (a star with three horizontal lines at top bar) (or take the shortcut)
2. Click the History icon (a clock-face framed with a counter-clockwise arrow)
3. Click Clear all history
4. Check the following boxes:
   • Browsing history
   • Cookies and saved website data 
   • Cached data and files
   • Download history
5. Click Clear
6. When your data has been cleared, close your browser
7. Reopen Microsoft Edge, and try going to your site again

• If you use Cortana and want to clear browsing history that's stored in the cloud, select Change what Microsoft Edge knows about me in the cloud, and then select Clear browsing history

Safari (macOS High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur)

1. In Safari, select Safari in the menu bar (or take the shortcut)
2. Select Preferences
3. Select the Privacy tab
4. Click the Manage Website Data button
5. Click the Remove All button
   • Note: Deleting cookies might remove auto-completed login usernames and passwords for sites
6. When prompted, click Remove Now to confirm your decision to clear your data
7. Click Done
8. Select History in the menu bar
9. Select Clear History
10. In the Clear drop-down, select All history
11. Click Clear History      
12. Close your browser
13. Reopen Safari, and try going to your site again

• If you have Safari turned on in iCloud preferences for your Mac and iOS devices, your browsing history will be removed from all of them

Source: Review the (Apple) Safari Help support article, Clear your browsing history 

Notes

• A shortcut to your history (in most browsers):
  • macOS: Command+Shift+Delete
  • Windows: Ctrl+Shift+Delete
     
• If you do not want to clear your cache or search history, launch a private browser session instead 
• For Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, or Safari support, visit these up-to-date vendor sites for everything you want to know about these popular browsers
  • Browse the Google Chrome Help site 
  • Browse the Mozilla Firefox Support site 
  • Browse the Microsoft Edge Support site
  • Browse the Microsoft Internet Explorer Support site 
  • Browse the Apple Safari Support site 
• Browse the Apple Support site for assistance with Mobile Apple devices