This tutorial explains why do we need to clear browser cache and different methods to Clear Cache in browsers like Chrome, Firefox, etc.:
A few decades back no one would have ever imagined that a connection of numerous computers can lead to an evolution of the world’s largest network, which has been made possible by the Internet. To access such a vast network and to be a part of it, there are various browsers available on the Internet.
In this article, we will get answers to our queries like what is a browser cache, why we should clear the browser cache, and how to clear the cache in a browser.
What You Will Learn:
What Is A Browser Cache
The word cache might seem familiar but let’s understand what a browser cache is. Whenever a user visits a website, the website sends its data packets to the system which contain data like images, text, and HTML, and this data is stored in the system as temporary data. Most of the time, this temporary memory gets cleaned automatically, but sometimes it requires manual clean up.
The cache proves to be very useful as it makes it easier for the browser to reestablish the connection with the website as the required files to access the website are already present on the system.
Why Clear The Cache Memory
The cookies store the credentials and other important data. You must have noticed that whenever a user login to any mail and reloads it, then the account reloads without asking the user to log in again with the credentials. This remains one of the threats posed by the cookies in the system as the credentials are saved in the browser and can be traced back by accessing the cookies.
This can be considered as a threat because if any other person with the wrong intent comes into the hold of this cache memory, then he/she can easily access sensitive information of your devices. Also, the person can steal passwords, bank details, and other confidential information, which can lead to data theft.
The corrupted cache can prove harmful for the system too, as it may be responsible for various bugs and errors faced by the system. These errors can be fixed at the moment the cookies are cleared from the system.
The cache memory also contains the information of your location, and therefore, it can be risky to keep such files in the system. Therefore, it is best advised to clear the cache memory to be on the safer side.
Read the article further to learn how do you clear cache memory.
Suggested Reading =>> What is DNS Cache
Methods To Clear Cache In Various Browsers
In this section, you will get the answer to “how do I clear my cache” in each of the browsers in different ways.
Method 1: Clear Browser Cache in Google Chrome
Google Chrome is one of the most used browsers, and therefore it offers its users the feature to delete their history and the cookies stored on the system. This can be done quickly by following the steps mentioned below:
#1) Open Chrome browser, click on the Menu and then click on “Settings” as shown in the image below.
#2) Now, click on “Clear browsing data”.
#3) A dialog box will appear, then click on “Clear data” as shown in the image below.
By following the above steps, the Google Chrome cache will be cleared. Also, you can press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to clear the cache.
Method 2: Clear Browser Cache In Internet Explorer
The user can also clear the cache present in Internet Explorer easily by following the steps mentioned below:
#1) Click on the menu, and then click on “Settings” as shown in the image below.
#2) Click on “Choose what to clear” as shown below.
#3) Tick all the storage to be cleared and click on “Clear”.
This way, the cache will be cleared easily in Internet Explorer. You can also clear the cache by pressing the shortcut keys “Ctrl+Shift+Delete.”
Method 3: Clear Browser Cache In Opera
The user can easily clear the cache memory in the browser by following the steps mentioned below:
#1) Open Opera browser and click on “Clear” on the label “Browsing data” as shown in the image below.
#2) Now, click on “Clear data” as shown in the image below.
The cache memory in the Opera will be cleared by following the above steps. If you want to quickly clear the cache, you can also press “Ctrl+Shift+Delete.”
Method 4: Clear Browser Cache In Safari
Safari is the browser, which is most commonly used on the Apple systems. Follow the steps mentioned below to clear the cache memory in Safari:
#1) Click on Safari and further click on “Preferences” as shown in the image below.
#2) Now click on “Advanced” as shown below and then click on “Show Develop menu in menu bar” as shown in the image below.
#3) Click on “Develop” and further click on “Empty Caches” and a dialog box to empty caches will appear.
By following the steps mentioned above, the user can easily clear the cache in the browser, and also this could be done easily by pressing “Cmd + Alt + E” from the keyboard.
Method 5: Clear Browser Cache In Mozilla Firefox
#1) Open Firefox browser, click on the menu option and then click on “Options” as shown in the image below.
#2) A window will open, now click on “Privacy & Security” and then click “Clear Data..”.
#3) A dialog box will appear; now click on “Clear,” as shown below.
By following the steps mentioned above, the cache can be cleared on Firefox. Users can also press “Ctrl+Shift+Delete” to clear the cache on Firefox.
Tip: There is a special feature that clears cache memory once the user exits from the browser. Click on the checkbox titled “Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed” to enable the feature.
Method 6: Clear Browser Cache In Microsoft Edge
You can easily clear cache memory in Microsoft Edge by following the steps mentioned below:
#1) Open Microsoft Edge and click on the menu. Now click on “Settings” as shown in the image below.
#2) Click on “Privacy, search and services” as shown below and further click on “Choose what to clear”.
#3) A dialog box will open, now click on “Clear now” as shown in the image below.
You can also press “Ctrl+Shift+Delete” to clear the cache easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q #1) How to clear cache for a specific website?
Answer: The user can clear the cache for a particular website by following the steps mentioned below:
- Click on the menu, click on “More tools” and then click on “Developer tools”.
- Now open the website and right-click on the refresh button.
- Click on “Empty cache and Hard Reload.”
Q #2) How to clear my router’s cache?
Answer: The user can easily clear the router cache memory by pressing the reset button for more than 3 seconds, then the lights will blink, and the router will be reset. Now, the cache memory would be cleared.
Q #3) How do I clear my cache without deleting history?
Answer: The user can easily clear the cache without deleting history by un-checking the clear history option and then clicking on “Clear data.”
Q #4) How do I clear my computer’s cache?
Answer: The user can easily clear the cache by following the steps mentioned below:
- Open the browser and press “Ctrl + Shift + E” from the keyboard.
- Click on “Clear data,” and the cache memory will be cleared.
Also Read =>> Top CCleaner Alternatives
Conclusion
Browsers have been very useful as they are considered as a portal to access the internet. Browsers have also facilitated the uploading and downloading of various software and applications on the system.
In this article, we understood what is a browser cache memory and why do we need to clear it. Also, in the latter part of the article, we discussed how to clear cache memory from various browsers.
Suggested read =>> Quickly open recently closed tabs in Chrome