How to Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies

Why Clear Your Cache and Cookies?

Your browser stores copies of websites you visit (cache) and small data files from those sites (cookies). This speeds up browsing, but sometimes causes problems:

• Websites not loading properly or showing old content
• Login issues or being logged out unexpectedly
• Forms not submitting correctly
• Error messages that should not appear
• Slow browser performance

Clearing your cache and cookies often fixes these issues quickly.

Before You Start

What You Will Lose

• Cache: Saved copies of website images and files (sites may load slower temporarily)
• Cookies: Login sessions (you will need to sign in to websites again)
• Saved passwords: Usually NOT deleted unless you specifically choose to clear them

Save Your Work First

Close any important tabs and save your work before clearing cache, as you may be logged out of websites.

Google Chrome

Clear Cache and Cookies

• Click the three dots menu (top right corner)
• Go to Settings
• Click Privacy and security in the left menu
• Click Delete browsing data
• Choose a time range (select All time for a complete clear)
• Tick Cookies and other site data
• Tick Cached images and files
• Click Delete data

Keyboard Shortcut

Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac) to open the clear data window directly.

Clear for One Website Only

If only one website is causing problems:

• Visit the website
• Click the padlock icon in the address bar
• Click Site settings
• Click Clear data

Microsoft Edge

Clear Cache and Cookies

• Click the three dots menu (top right corner)
• Go to Settings
• Click Privacy, search, and services
• Under "Clear browsing data", click Choose what to clear
• Choose a time range (select All time for complete clear)
• Tick Cookies and other site data
• Tick Cached images and files
• Click Clear now

Keyboard Shortcut

Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the clear data window directly.

Mozilla Firefox

Clear Cache and Cookies

• Click the three lines menu (top right corner)
• Click Settings
• Click Privacy & Security in the left menu
• Scroll down to "Cookies and Site Data"
• Click Clear Data
• Tick Cookies and Site Data
• Tick Cached Web Content
• Click Clear

Keyboard Shortcut

Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the clear data window directly.

After Clearing

What to Expect

• Websites may load slightly slower the first time you visit (cache is rebuilding)
• You will need to log in to websites again
• Some website preferences may be reset

If Problems Persist

If clearing cache and cookies does not fix your issue:

• Try a different browser to see if the problem is browser-specific
• Check if the website is down using a service like downdetector.com.au
• Restart your computer
• Check your internet connection

Preventing Future Issues

Regular Clearing

Consider clearing your cache monthly to prevent buildup. Most browsers let you set this to happen automatically when you close the browser.

Use Incognito/Private Mode for Testing

If a website is not working, try it in a private/incognito window first. This uses no cached data and helps determine if cache is the problem.

Need Help?

If you continue experiencing browser issues, contact helpdesk@netlumait.com.au or call 1300 521 162.