How do I clear my web browser's cache?

Each time you access a file through your web browser, the browser caches (stores) it. In this way, the files (including any images on the page) do not have to be retrieved anew from the remote web site each time you click the Back or Forward buttons. You should periodically clear the cache to allow your browser to function more efficiently.

On this page:

• Windows
  • Internet Explorer 7
  • Internet Explorer 4.x, 5.x, and 6.x
  • Netscape 8
  • Netscape Navigator 7.1
  • Firefox 2.0
  • Firefox 1.0 and 1.5
  
  
• Mac OS and Mac OS X
  • Safari
  • Firefox 1.x and 2.0
  • Netscape 6.x or later

Internet Explorer 7

1. From the Tools menu, select Internet Options... .
   
   
2. Choose the General tab.
   
   
3. Under Browsing history, click Delete... .
   
   
4. Next to "Temporary Internet Files", click Delete files... .
   
   
5. Click Close, and then click OK to exit.

Internet Explorer 4.x, 5.x, and 6.x for Windows

1. From the Tools menu (for version 4.x, the View menu), select Internet Options... .
   
   
2. Choose the General tab.
   
   
3. In the "Temporary Internet Files" section, click Delete Files... .
   
   
4. To confirm the deletion, click OK.
   
   
5. In the Internet Options dialog box, click OK.

Netscape 8 for Windows

1. From the Tools menu, select Options... .
   
   
2. Click Privacy.
   
   
3. Next to "Cache", click the Clear button.
   
   
4. If you'd like to set the size of the cache and set the browser to clear the cache when you close it, click the + (plus sign) next to "Cache" and change the settings as needed.
   
   
5. Click OK.

Netscape 7.1 for Windows

1. From the Edit menu, select Preferences... .
   
   
2. In the left panel of the Preferences dialog box, click the + (plus sign) in the box to the left of Advanced. Click Cache.
   
   
3. Click Clear Cache.
   
   
4. In the Preferences dialog box, click OK.

Firefox 2.0 for Windows

From the Tools menu, select Clear Private Data, and then choose Cache.

Firefox 1.0 and 1.5 for Windows

1. From the Tools menu, select Options... , and then click Privacy.
   
   
2. In 1.5, select the Cache tab, and then click the Clear Cache Now button. In 1.0, next to Cache, click the Clear button, and then click OK.

Safari

1. From the Safari menu, select Empty Cache... .
   
   
2. When prompted, click Empty to confirm that you want to empty the cache.

Firefox 1.x and 2.0 for Mac OS X

1. From the Firefox menu, select Preferences... .
   
   
2. From the sheet that drops down, select Privacy. In 2.0, click Clear Now. In 1.5, click Clear Cache Now. In 1.0, next to Cache, click the Clear button, and then OK.

Netscape 6.x or later for Mac OS and Mac OS X

1. In Mac OS X, from the Netscape or Mozilla menu, select Preferences... . In Mac OS 9.x or earlier, from the Edit menu, select Preferences... .
   
   
2. In the left panel of the Preferences dialog box, click the arrow to the left of Advanced. Click Cache.
   
   
3. Either click the Clear Cache button, or click both the Clear Memory Cache and Clear Disk Cache buttons.
   
   
4. In the Preferences dialog box, click OK.

Also see:

• In a web browser, how do I speed up purging the cache?
• In Internet Explorer 6 or 7, how do I remove a stored password or other stored information?
• In Netscape Navigator 6.2, 7.1, or 7.2, how do I remove a stored password?